Conversation analysis

This chapter on conversation analysis (CA) has three aims. First, to introduce CA by tracing its origins in the work of Harvey Sacks, focusing in particular on Sacks' insight into the ways in which the construction of talk makes manifest how that talk is to be understood, which has its roots in ethnomethodology and Harold Garfinkel's "documentary method of interpretation". Second, to highlight the other ingenious invention of Sacks, namely Membership Categorisation Analysis (MCA), as an integral part of his oeuvre and to suggest the possibility, and necessity, of integrating CA and MCA in future research. Third, an outline will be offered of CA as an approach not only for the investigation of "everyday" and "institutional" talk but also of social interaction generally, including ones conducted within technology-enabled environments such as email and social media. This chapter concludes with notes and guidance on available CA studies.