Conversation Analysis and Discourse Analysis: A Comparative and Critical Introduction

`This is one of those books that, researchers, students and teachers want to have on their desks, because it answers questions, clarifies confusing areas, and provides accessible overviews of sometimes technical work - and all in prose that is unpretentious and engaging′ - British Journal of Sociology `There is no doubt that conversation analysis (CA) is an impressive and valuable approach to studying discourse, and Wooffitt does an excellent job of demonstrating its analytical sophistication and rigour′ - European Journal of Communication `This is an excellent book: clear, engaging and authoritative. It treads a path through the many confusions and provides a map of the fields of conversation analysis, discourse analysis, critical discourse analysis and discursive psychology which is better than any currently available. It will be a valuable resource in teaching′ - Professor Jonathan Potter, Loughborough University `An excellent exposition: concepts are explained and put into context, and the reader is guided from introductory to advanced levls of discussion. Wooffitt sets out and answers the kinds of questions typically raised by students and others about relations and differences between discourse and conversation analysis… engaging and useful′ - Professor Derek Edwards, Loughborough University This significant text by Robin Wooffitt is the first to systematically examine the complex relationship between conversation analysis and discourse analysis. It comes at a timely moment: despite the close connection between the two forms of analyses in academic research, no other existing text explains these links methodically, comprehensively and for the benefit of undergraduate and master′s students. Key features of this text: - It takes students from first principles up to more advanced debates, and is therefore suitable for under grad and MA/PhD students. - Careful illustration of methodological approaches through detailed analysis of data. - Clarity of writing; lengthy chapter summaries; further readings; glossary of CA/DA terminology as an appendix. Conversation Analysis and Discourse Analysis shows how the methods and findings of conversation and discourse analysis may inform the development of empirical research questions. It will therefore be an invaluable resource for social science students on courses which require them to undertake practical or empirical exercises.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Origins and Orientations Two Key Studies Method and Critique Similarities and Differences Persuasion and Authority CA and the Rhetorical Turn in Discourse Studies Discursive Psychology Critical Approaches to Discourse Analysis Methodological Disputes How Should We Analyse Talk? Conversation Analysis and Power

About the Author :
After a DPhil in Sociology at the University of York, Robin worked as a Research Fellow, then Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Surrey. From 2001-2 he was a Visiting Fellow in the Koestler Parapsychology Unit at the University of Edinburgh, and took up his post at York in October 2002.

Review :
This three-part book supposes no prior knowledge and is thus an excellent book to use with undergraduate students or those postgraduates who wish to develop their knowledge in another field. Its provision of useful background material and of exemplars in the final chapters, make it a really useful book for anyone interested in either CA or DA. As the work has such a wide scope, i would suggest that it would appeal to researchers and students in many disciplines."