Confrontation talk: Aspects of ‘interruption’ in argument sequences on talk radio

Recognition of the Status of 'Interruption' äs a members' evaluative construct, rather than äs merely a subclass ofspeech overlap, is the basisfor an investigation ofthe ways in which doing interruptingand 'being interrupted' are ways members have of framing up a spate of talk äs confrontational. The use of Interruption is examined in bouts of confrontation talk found in argument sequences produced in a specialised cultural setting — the 'talk radio' broadcast — wifh three main results. First, both sequential and moral dimensions of 'interrupting' on the pari ofparties to an argument are shown to be closely bound up with the hearably confrontational character ofgiven spates of disputatious talk. Second, resistance strategies are located which show t hat Interruption is by no means definitively disruptive of a Speaker's topical line. And third, institutionally-grounded ways of using Interruption äs a way of doing 'being in control' of a disputatious exchange are isolated