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Abstract
This case study investigated the discourse features and acts used in an argumentative conversation. The study employed purposive sampling method to gather data, and drew on a cell phone audio-recording of a series of authentic conversation. The data were analyzed through interpretive analysis technique. The results of the analysis reveal an authentic argumentative conversation appears more of interactional rather than transactional. The finding indicates how discourse articulates the ethical, ideological and family or social ties. It mirrors how the different linguistic features and speech acts performed influence the nature of a conversation and how the participants engaged in the conversation tried to respect maxims of politeness, relations, manners, quality and quantity to have safe and sound interaction. This implies discourse is not only constructed using different linguistic features and speech acts, but also it echoes the beliefs, feelings, cultural perspectives, social norms and relations of participants using different language functions.
Supplementary materials
Title
Discuorse tact in spontaneous argumentative conversation
Description
This analysis is based on a true conversation held between a young Ethiopian girl and her aunt. They argued on who should inherit the property of their passed away relative. Their relative was named Asnake who was an engineer working in commercial Bank of Ethiopia. He died accidentally at the age of 52. Since he had no wife and children, there was no legal person to inherit his house and other properties unless decided by a court. The family gathered and assigned Asnake's younger sister called Ketemasch to process the court case. Ketemasch owned the legal representation of the family and began the legal process. In the meantime, the family allowed the dead person's brother's daughter, Sisay to live in the house for awhile. Unfortunately, Ketemasch changed her mind and tried to own the dead person's house individually. There, the argument began.
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