PA U L A M AC D O N A L D , N I C , M . S .

CONSUMING CONVERSATION STYLES

PAULA MACDONALD

• Degrees• A.A.S. Interpreting/Translation• B.A. “Multicultural Interpreting”• M.S. Interpreting with and emphasis in Pedagogy• Teaching Practicum at ITAT in Graz, Austria.

• Practitioner• Nationally Certified Interpreter: American Sign

Language/English• Educator• Consultant

OUR WORK TOGETHER

• Conversation Styles• Dr. Deborah Tannen

• Make our communication cake.

• How do/should Conversation Styles impact our work as Interpreters?

OBJECTIVES

• identify the components of communication.

• demonstrate your own communication style.

• assess the impact that communication styles have on their interpretations through group work.

Georgetown University, Washington, DC

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DR. DEBORAH TANNEN

THE MECHANICS OF CONVERSATION STYLES

Involvement Independence

WARM UP THOUGHTS

• Have you ever had to have a difficult or challenging conversation with someone at work, home or school?

• Why was it so difficult to have ‘that’ conversation?

“conversation is a turn-taking game (pg. 47)”

PAUSING AND PACING

• Holding the floor

• Intuition plays a role in when turn-taking occurs.

• Reasons• Breath, searching for words, effect, habit

CAKE: WILL YOU SHARE?

THINK, PAIR, SHARE

PITCH

• Changes the Metamessages

• Signals Meaning

• Questions• Uncertainty• Asking for approval

EXPECTATIONS

• Too few changes in pitches• Monotone• Bland

• Too many pitches• Overdramatic• Overemotional

WHAT DOES YOUR CAKE CONVEY?

THINK, PAIR, SHARE

“Anything you say has to be said [signed] at some level of loudness or softness, and as you speak, that level

can go up or down (pg. 49).”

LOUDNESS AND SOFTNESS

• Relational ideas

• Switching signals (Now, Wait)

• Express emotions

• Sign of respect (talking softer)

CAKE: HOW LOUD IS YOUR CAKE?

THINK, PAIR, SHARE

“the music of talk (pg. 51)”

INTONATION

• Combines all• Pace• Pausing• Loudness• Pitch

THINK, PAIR, SHARE

OUR WORK

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AS INTERPRETERS

• Additional considerations• Gender• Multicultural• Quality of Life• Value Systems• Mental Health-disjointed language

GENDERS-GENERALLY SPEAKING

Women

• Greater shifts in pitches

Men

MENTAL HEALTH

“…whose job

REVIEW: TOGETHER WE

• identify the components of communication.

• demonstrate your own communication style.

• assess the impact that communication styles have on their interpretations through group work.

MY CONTACT INFORMATION

Paula MacDonaldPaulaAMacDonald@gmail.com

651-366-7433

REFERENCES & RESOURCES

Tannen, D. (2011). That’s Not What I Meant! How Conversational Styles Makes or Breaks Relationships. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

http://faculty.georgetown.edu/tannend/scholarly_articles.html