Clicks and percussives in English conversation
Clicks in English conversation have traditionally been assumed to convey affective meaning, generally negative. This is the lay interpretation of clicks.
We build on previous work which shows that clicks are also used in the management of sequences of talk. Firstly, we consider similarities and differences in the production of clicks and percussives.
Drawing on a wide range of conversational data from Britain and the USA, we show some of the functions of clicks and percussives in conversation, which include stance-taking and sequence management (projection of a turn constructional unit and word-search), and handling aspects of timing between turns. The meaning or function of clicks and percussives must be considered in a fuller interactional context.
Clicks and percussives in English conversation. (Journal of the International Phonetic Association, 43, 299-320.)
Richard Ogden. 2013.