Table_2_Multimodal Irregular Self-Selection in Chinese Postgraduate English as a Foreign Language Learners’ Conversation: When, How, and Why.xlsx

Irregular self-selection is a demonstration of active involvement in interaction. English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ talk-in-interaction is one of such cases. Yet, little research has explored when, how, and why learners implement this action. The aim of this article is to address these issues in Chinese postgraduate EFL learners’ conversations from the perspective of multimodal interaction. To this end, we provide descriptive statistics and use multimodal conversation analysis to investigate the detailed process of irregular self-selection. The results show the interactional sensitivity of learners, and all the successful irregular self-selection can be divided into the following three types: turn interruption (TI), turn competition TC), and turn holding abortion (THA). Learners implement this action by using multimodal resources, including lexis, syntax, pitch reset, intensity enhancement, gaze, and so forth. However, their body movements lack diversity, causing behaviors to be constrained and inactive. The main purpose of irregular self-selection is to provide knowledge that contributes to topical development. This study reveals that Chinese postgraduate EFL learners are interactionally competent members. They are able to achieve communicative goals but in a low diversity of body movements. The findings help to understand the detailed process of speakership claiming in EFL learners’ conversations.

不规则的自选性体现了在互动中的主动参与。作为外语（EFL）学习者的英语互动交流便是此类案例之一。然而，关于学习者何时、如何以及为何采取此类行为的探讨尚显不足。本文旨在从多模态互动的视角，针对中国研究生EFL学习者的对话，解决上述问题。为此，我们提供了描述性统计，并运用多模态对话分析来探究不规则自选性的详细过程。结果显示了学习者的互动敏感性，且所有成功的不规则自选性均可划分为以下三种类型：回合打断（TI）、回合竞争（TC）以及回合保持终止（THA）。学习者通过运用多模态资源，包括词汇、句法、音调重置、强度增强、目光等，来实现这一行为。然而，他们的身体动作缺乏多样性，导致行为受限且缺乏活力。不规则自选性的主要目的是提供有助于话题发展的知识。本研究揭示了，中国研究生EFL学习者是互动能力较强的成员。他们能够实现交际目标，但身体动作的多样性较低。研究结果表明，有助于理解EFL学习者对话中说话权声张的详细过程。