A notable feature of Caryl Churchill’s post-1979 plays is overlapping
speech notated in the play script. It can be variously interpreted by readers: as
marking interpersonal opposition, lack of interest, self-centredness - or enthusiasm
and support. So the reader’s understanding of overlapping may influence
his/her interpretation of the dramatic situation and character. I propose that
certain discursive features in the play script may affect this interpretation in
particular ways. I shall briefly analyse some extracts from Churchill’s
Top Girls using a Conversation Analysis- (CA) based
‘interactive’ approach to the overlapping dialogue. Essentially,
I suggest that co-participants’ reactions to conversational actions should
be attended to as they reflect the discursive significance of those actions.
Consequently, interpreting overlaps as disruptive interruptions will to a large
extent depend on the interruptee’s response format. An interpretative
resource is provided for the analyst with regard to the dramatic situation and character.
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