Discourse Analysis of Informal Peer Conversation: Examining Language Strategies and Power Dynamics in Dialogue

Abstract

Discourse analysis (DA) offers critical insights into how language functions as a tool for communication, social interaction, and identity construction. This study applies conversation analysis (CA) methods to an informal discussion between two literature students, Elif and Shafaq, focusing on turn-taking, discourse markers, hedges, and power dynamics. By examining these conversational features, the study highlights the interplay of social and emotional strategies in everyday peer interactions. The findings contribute to the broader fields of linguistics, literary studies, and social psychology, illustrating how informal dialogues reflect complex social structures and intellectual engagements. The study emphasizes the relevance of language strategies in constructing and negotiating social roles, power dynamics, and emotional engagement in informal settings.