CONVERSATION AMONG FRIENDS IN A CAFÉ TALK: Patterns and Their Implications

Abstract

Conversation among friends in a café represents casual conversation that is usually taken for granted by people. This study is intended to reveal patterns of exchange structures underlying casual conversation and to find out implications behind these patterns. To achieve the objectives of the study, the writer applied Francis and Hunston‟s model of analysis (1992). Participatory observation is the technique used to collect the data. The method of analysis used in this study is referential method. Based on the analysis, it is found that there are 21 patterns constructing 1459 exchanges found in the data. Of the 1459 exchanges, 10 exchanges are found in organizational exchange category, and 1449 exchanges are found in conversational exchange category. Inform exchange, elicit exchange, and bound-elicit clarify exchange from conversational exchange category are the most prominent exchanges found in the data. Implications of the patterns can be seen through four different perspectives: prominent patterns implications, natures of casual conversation, power, and solidarity. In terms of high occurrences of I, I-R, and I-Rn patterns, it is found that the conversation being investigated has a dynamic pace, and its participants have good engagements in the conversation. In terms of natures of casual conversation, it can be concluded that such conversation still has to follow orderliness in its structures, and its participants have tendency to be initiators in the conversation. In terms of power and solidarity, it can be concluded that all of the participants have equal power and close intimacy.