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Article published In: ITL - International Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 137/138 (2002) ► pp.165–179

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Direction-giving Interactions in Korean High School English Textbooks

 | Kyonggi University (South Korea)
Published online: 1 January 2002
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https://doi.org/10.1075/itl.137-138.01kim
Abstract
This paper investigates the authenticity of conversational texts, particularly direction-giving interactions in Korean high school English textbooks. Previous studies (e.g., PEARSON & LEE 1992; SCOTTON & BERNSTEN 1986) of natural conversations of direction-giving have shown that the structure of native speakers' direction-giving turns is highly formulaic. They are composed of four main moves: 'insertion sequence' (SCHEGLOFF 1972), a set of directions, pre-closing, and closing. In addition, realizations of the moves were very much uniform across the studies.
The study demonstrates that 7 7 direction-giving interactions of the textbooks fall short of the features of authentic direction-giving. Specifically, the moves before or after a set of directions are usually not included, especially insertion sequence and pre-closing. Also, the forms of directives in a sequence of directions are more in favor of bald imperative than in naturalistic data. It is argued that in order to help language learners be better equipped to function outside the classroom, textbook conversations should reflect not the authors’ introspection but naturally occurring conversations.
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