Bi-plurilingual formulation practices in conversational writing interactions

Abstract

Abstract The present article approaches the subject of oral formulation practices in multilingual and conversational writing interactions. Within the framework of pluriliteracy in the context of foreign language practice at university, special emphasis is placed on the manifestations of linguistic repairs as a mechanism, integrated in sequences of interactive formulation. By analyzing extracts of an interaction between three students according to the method of conversation analysis (CA), linguistic and interactional particulars of these repairs are identified, allowing for a first typology of formulation procedures with embedded repair operation.A second aim is to demonstrate in what way different languages are being used during the formulation process. By doing so, the question of how students draw on their plurilingual resources is discussed. The overall issue is addressed through a theoretical framework of functional language distribution in conversational writing.