‘Reality construction’ in L2 simulations

Abstract Using the ethnomethodological and conversation-analytic perspectives, this paper points out some directions for the sociological and linguistic analysis of simulation-games, based on the close inspection of video-recordings of actual examples of L2 learner game participation. Particular attention is focused on the game participant's own communicative activities and practices in sustaining the simulation game and in manifesting to each other that it is a simulation and ‘nor to be taken literally’, e.g. in language alternation (code switching). In pursuing this case, the authors argue against an analysis based on Erving Goffman's Frame Theory; instead of the simulation ‘frame’ giving rise to participants' actions and practices, it is argued that the reverse is the case. The simulation is treated as a locus of an array of conversational practices termed a ‘formal speech exchange system’, with features such as: (1) the ‘pre-allocation’ of turns at talk and of turn types, and (2) the working through of a ‘pre-set’ topic. It is argued that the transaction of a simulation game unrelievedly requires that participants utilize their currently-based ‘commonsense’ reasoning and communicative procedures (e.g. in describing and displaying their game categorizations), and several ways in which this is the case are indicated.