A simplest systematics for the organization of turn-taking for conversation

The classic account of who speaks next, and when: a system run locally, by the people talking, with nobody in charge.

Sacks, H., Schegloff, E. A. & Jefferson, G. (1974). A simplest systematics for the organization of turn-taking for conversation. Language, 50(4), 696–735.

Type

Journal article

Find it

doi.org/10.2307/412243

Checked

Against the abstract, 15 September 2026

Why it is on the list

Sacks, Schegloff and Jefferson describe conversational turn-taking as locally managed and administered by the parties themselves. There is no referee and no published order, and yet everyone is expected to keep time. Week 4 starts here, then turns to the measurements that came later.