On Turn Construction in Deep Hypnosis

Abstract

Conversation analytic studies have established that the organisation of taking turns to talk is fundamental to ordinary conversation and to other forms of talk-in-interaction. In branching out, this paper investigates turn-taking in deep hypnosis. This investigation is empirically based on audiovisual recorded data. The investigation concentrates on some specific aspects of the interaction of hypnotist and hypnotised client in the construction of the turn at talk in deep hypnosis, that is, after the hypnotist and the client have established that the client is in a profoundly altered state of conscious awareness. First, the paper describes the special state of orientation between hypnotist and hypnotised client in deep hypnosis. Second, it demonstrates the relevance of this particular state of orientation or engagement to the structure of the turn. In so doing, this paper demonstrates the strength of the conversation analytic approach for the systematic and rigorous investigation of how deep hypnosis works, while extending into a new domain for conversation analytic investigation.