Navigating the talk at sea: Expanding conversational sequences in maritime communication

Abstract

This article makes the case for the expanded conversational sequences observable in a specific type of professional, radio-mediated communication -- interaction of vessel traffic services (VTS). Within the theoretical framework developed by Schegloff (2007) and Kendrick et al. (2020), we examined patterns of sequential expansion in VTS interaction via Very High Frequency (VHF) radio at a major port located in China. Using the method of Conversation Analysis to analyze the authentic, audio-recorded language data, we illustrated how functional motivations for sequential expansion in informal, ordinary conversations can be mobilized into the mechanisms of routinized maritime communication. We argue that 1) expansions happening at different sequential positions perform specific communicative functions to execute institutional practices in VTS interaction; and 2) that communicative meanings constructed via expanded sequences in VTS interaction have important procedural consequences and demonstrate distinct institutional adaptations to the core properties of human interactive language use. The findings not only build on the main lines of development in the application of conversation analysis to interaction in contextualized, specialized discourse, but also bring to light the limitations of stipulated communication protocols in safety-critical, high-stake talk.