Second Language Conversations

Conversations involving speakers whose first language is not the language in which they are talking have become widespread in the globalized world. In this collection of essays Conversation Analysis is used to explore natural, casual talk between speakers in a second language. English, German, French, Japanese, Finnish and Danish are all analyzed as second languages within a variety of professional, educational and social situations. Naturally occuring second language conversations are presented in order to show what speakers in these situations do: how they utilize first language conversational practices, and whether or not grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation help or hinder the construction of meaning.