Questions and the allocation,construction, and timing of turns in child discourse

The role of questions (i.e., interrogative forms with illocutionary force of questioning) in turn-taking was investigated. Turn-taking has three components: speaker selection, turn construction, and timing of turn transfer. Questions explicitly, via the verbal code, provide a clearance signal and a requested topic for the response, whereas assertions do not. Consequently, questions, in general, but not all linguistically defined sub-types of questions, contrast with assertions on the first two turn-taking components. It was shown that the probability of a turn transfer, of a relevant response, and of a turn transfer and relevant response is higher following questions, in general, than assertions. Questions also transmit an earlier speaker-selection signal (initial or terminal clausal position) whereas in the case of assertions speaker selection must be managed following clause completion. Questions do not seem to contrast with assertions on the third component as a result of this earlier clearance signal. Keeping the relevance of an utterance to prior text and the content of the response constant, switching pauses were about the same following both questions and assertions.This research was supported from funds of the Biomedical Research Support Grant, 5SO7RR07041-12 to The Johns Hopkins University and a grant from the Spencer Foundation to the second author.