engleski

Cross-Influence between Language and Culture : Pause Structure as Proof of Cultural Difference in the Same Language

The research is based on recordings of spontaneous speech of Croatian speakers from two different regions (Istria and Dalmatia). The spontaneous speech has been analyzed in order to present the possible differences on all structural levels (phonology, prosody, lexis, morphosyntax) but the analysis is mainly concerned with the usage of pauses (duration, overlaps or interruptions in discourse). The hypothesis is that the structural levels are influenced by the language itself, while the differences in pause structure cannot be explained through language change, but only through regional and cultural diversification. The results of the analysis of Croatian speakers’ speech recordings have additionally been compared to those of the third group - of Italian speakers from Istria, which may either prove or dismiss the above mentioned hypothesis. The numerical facts illustrate a considerable difference in conversational dynamics of the two groups. The analysis revealed that Pula’s speakers converse using a considerable number of pauses, many of which are fairly long. On the contrary, Zadar’s speakers converse in a highly dynamic way. According to the analysis, they almost never use neither normal nor longer pauses, and, when they do, they have a rather distinctive stylistic effect. Their turns either latch onto or intrude into other speakers' turns often continuing in simultaneous talk, whereas in Pula’s case the analysis revealed a rather small percentage of overlaps, majority of which are categorized as minimal. On the other hand comparing Croatian speakers from Pula, the recordings of Italian speakers showed a much smaller percentage of longer pauses substituted with vocalized pauses and with emphatic expressions. Italian speakers from Pula are less tolerant towards slower conversational style and more flexible to latches, overlaps, interruptions and simultaneous talk.

pause ; turn-taking ; conversational style ; overlap ; Pula ; Zadar

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