Theories and approaches to the study of conversation and interactive discourse

Conversation is arguably the most fundamental means we have of interacting with others. Through conversation, people share information, form relationships, solve problems, and accomplish a multitude of everyday goals. From the time we acquire our first words in infancy, we spend much of our lives conversing–not only in person, but also via telephone, via email, and increasingly, via newer media online. Unsurprisingly, given its central importance as the primary setting for communication and social interaction, conversation in all its forms has been the focus of a great deal of scholarly work, as researchers from a variety of fields have sought to describe how people interact during conversation as well as the socio-cognitive mechanisms that shape these interactions.