STARN: Scots Teaching and Resource Network
Gender, Speech Styles and the Assessment of Discussion
Group 3
There are four participants in the discussion, G4, B5, B6, & B7. B5 is the speaker graded by the S.E.B., and G4 is the chairperson. The teacher is walking around the classroom, making occasional comments and contributions to the discussion. The group has been asked to consider what arguments could be put forward to convince someone of the existence of the Loch Ness Monster. They are allocating cards to appropriate columns depending on whether the statements support or deny the existence of the monster. Where it was impossible to distinguish the speaker, the transcript is marked with a ?. The discussion lasts 5 minutes 30 seconds.
1. B5: the way he's talking (.) it is there (.) cos he's
B6:
B7:
G4:
2. B5: not needing the money that he'll get (.) for finding
B6:
B7:
G4:
? : but
3. B5: nessie (.) cos he's got a lot of money see ken he's
B6:
B7:
G4:
? : (XXXX)
4. B5: famous ken (.) a famous naturalist (.) (I say again that)
B6:
B7:
G4:
5. B5: I think it should be I think I'd believe in it (.)
B6:
B7:
G4:
6. B5: I still don't believe in it ken=
B6:
B7:
G4: =you'd believe in it
7. B5: yeah
B6: (.) go onto
B7:
G4: but you still wouldn't believe in it ((laugh))
8. B5: I dinna really ken (.) ken
B6: the next one= (XXXX) oh sh
B7:
G4: =right (.) Loch Ness is is very large deep
9. B5: well tha. that's true (.) it's deep
B6: (it's large XXXX)
B7:
G4: dark (and also of the XXXX)
10. B5: it's deep= but as as as
B6:
B7: it's hard to get (to get to the bottom)
G4: =it's deep
11. B5: I said in uh question number one (.) the solar scan
B6:
B7:
G4:
12. B5: would have found that= =it's just (.) it's just
B6: =(ah but not in a cave (.) it's
B7:
G4: =mhmm= aye
13. B5: but it's (.) there should be a cave there (.) that's
B6: in a cave)
B7:
G4: but it's
14. B5: the rumour (right yous ken) but I don't think there's a
B6:
B7:
G4: deep
15. B5: cave= it would have came up
B6:
B7:
G4: =but it could be hiding out (those XXXX)
16. B5: on the solar scans (.) it's going to have to be some
B6:
B7:
G4: (2 secsXXXX)
17. B5: size of cave (.) and all the (.) speed boats going
B6:
B7:
G4:
18. B5: about and (.) the waves underneath the water and that
B6:
B7:
G4:
19. B5: (.) (so) you're not going to get none are you (XXXX)
B6:
B7:
G4: mhmm (but XXXX)
20. B5: cos you're going to get eh all rocks and that
B6:
B7: (XXXX)
G4: they didn't go round the full
21. B5: (XXXX)
B6:
B7: (XXXX) they didn't do
G4: loch (.) Christopher (.) they did the sonar scan
22. B5:
B6:
B7: the full loch (XXXX)
G4: just round the castle they did the sonar scan just round
23. B5: (1) they
B6:
B7:
G4: the castle they never done it anywhere else
24. B5: did (.) they went round the full loch= yeah they did
B6:
B7: =no
G4: =no they didn't (.)
25. B5:
B6: =mmm
B7: =aye
G4: it was just round the castle wasn't it=
26. B5:
B6:
B7:
G4: it was just round the castle (.) they went (.) they
27. B5: okay
B6:
B7:
G4: tried to keep (.) the boat in a straight line (.) in the
28. B5: okay okay (XXXX)
B6:
B7: they searched the uh full loch
G4: water
29. B5:
B6:
B7: (according to this thing here)
G4: (.) aye I know but it'd've
30. B5: (1) the bit where they didn't
B6:
B7:
G4: taken too. far too much money
31. B5: (.) search (.) there was there was (.) the water wasn't
B6:
B7:
G4:
32. B5: deep enough (.) for it (.) that's what I'm saying
B6:
B7: the reasons for searching
G4:
33. B5:
B6:
B7: beside the castle was (cos that's where it's seen most)
G4: aye
34. B5: (XXXX)
B6:
B7: deepest, uhuh (XXXX)
G4: (that's where XXXX deepest) but you can see (.)
35. B5:
B6:
B7:
G4: their arguments against Christopher's cos he's the one
36. B5: (XXXX)
B6:
B7: (XXXX)
G4: who's (.) who doesn't believe in it right (.)
37. B5:
B6:
B7: (XXXX)
G4: there are many still photographs of Nessie (.) and quite
38. B5: but (2 secsXXXX)
B6:
B7:
G4: a few moving shots (1) but = (2.5 secsXXXX)
39. B5: and the one on the
B6:
B7:
G4: the photographs (.) but there are the photographs
40. B5: it's moving (.) you see it's a faraway sight=
B6: (XXXX)
B7: =yeah
G4: but we can't expl.
41. B5: look that could be a that could be a speed boat that.
B6: mmhmm
B7: see (.) right yeah
G4:
42. B5: or anything like that or a wee a wee underwater boat
B6:
B7: yeah
G4:
43. B5: or something like that (.) just racing about loch
B6: mmm
B7: (cos) they
G4:
44. B5: (1) ah but (.)
B6:
B7: had no (XXXX)=
G4: =aye no they had no (XXXX)
45. B5: look (.) I don't think (XXXX) (1) that could be two
B6: (what do you mean)
B7: (XXXX)
G4:
46. B5: that could be two boats
B6:
B7:
G4: (.) how could it be two boats
47. B5: =it could be two boats
B6: it couldn't be (.) it couldn't be
B7:
G4: Christopher= you've got a bit
48. B5: two boats I'd say=
B6: two boats boats =(it could be a
B7:
G4: of a (.) weird (.) imagination
49. B5:
B6: XXXX hidden under the water)= =(and a tail)
B7:
G4: =aye I know= it's just
50. B5: (XXXX) rubber fish=
B6:
B7: =(XXXX)=
G4: like see if you're in the swim. =just like
51. B5: =that's a hand=
B6: =aye=
B7:
G4: he's in the swimming baths= =tuh
52. B5: an arm
B6: an arm (.) and a hand
B7:
G4: (.) who's got an arm as thick as
53. B5: (XXXX) that's an arm (.) you could take that in
B6: (1.5secsXXXX) the joint the joint
B7:
G4: that? yeah I know
54. B5: a puddle that could be a puddle (.) who says that's Loch
B6:
B7:
G4:
55. B5: Ness (.) is there any (.) any bits that you can say that
B6:
B7:
G4:
56. B5: is Loch Ness there= go on (.) go
B6:
B7:
G4: =aye I know but what'd be the point of
57. B5: on (.) is there any bit that says that that is Loch
B6:
B7:
G4:
58. B5: Ness (.) that (XXXX) (XXXX)
B6:
B7:
G4: but look at the actual picture (.) it can tell
59. B5: well
B6:
B7:
G4: you it's no puddle (.) it's bigger than a puddle
60. B5: it isn't
B6: it can't be a (XXXX) anyway (.) because it's
B7:
G4:
61. B5: (XXXX)
B6: a (XXXX)
B7:
G4:
T : excuse me interrupting that's a famous
62. B5:
B6: uhuh
B7: (might just
G4:
T : surgeon's picture (.) would a would a surgeon
63. B5: (.) aye I think
B6:
B7: be a) hand=
G4:
T : =it could be a hoax you mean
? : =aye=
64. B5: it's a hoax=
B6:
B7:
G4: =Ch.Christopher says it's a puddle=
T : =would a
65. B5:
B6:
B7:
G4: with a hand (no (.) exactly) I don't
T : would a surgeon do that Christopher? or would
66. B5: =well look you ken surgeons don't get
B6:
B7:
G4: think so
T : that not matter=
67. B5: paid a lot (do they)=
B6:
B7:
G4: =they they get paid a
T : =oh they do
68. B5: (3 secsXXXX)
B6:
B7:
G4: lot Christopher (XXXX)
T : mmm
69. B5:
B6:
B7:
G4: but he's already he's already famous
70. B5: =it's not a famous s.surgeon=
B6: =but
B7:
G4: as a surgeon though=
71. B5:
B6: how could he have done that though (1)
B7:
G4: (but he's famous
72. B5:
B6: cos it's too th. thick at the joint=
B7:
G4: XXXX) =right
73. B5: but (.) but look at what that is (.) that is a hand there
B6:
B7: (but XXXX)
G4:
74. B5: =that is a
B6:
B7:
G4: it's not a hand (.) if you look at it closely=
75. B5: hand
B6:
B7:
G4:
T : (try and get that one soon (.) don't) get hung up o
76. B5:
B6:
B7:
G4:
T : that one (.) you've got a lot of other things to do
77. B5: (1.5secsXXXX)=
B6:
B7:
G4: =(.) it's not a hand though (.)
78. B5: =if you look there (.) that's a (.) right
B6:
B7:
G4: I don't think so=
79. B5: there (.) when you cl. clench your fist (.) that you said
B6: I can't
B7:
G4:
80. B5: that aye=
B6: (XXXX)
B7: =(XXXX)=
G4: =I don't think it's a
81. B5:
B6: =if you bend your hand down a bit (.) that
B7:
G4: hand though=
82. B5:
B6: comes out
B7: (.) aye but (not so thick though)=
G4: =I know but
83. B5: =a man's
B6: a man's arm would be that thick (.) a man's arm=
B7:
G4:
84. B5: arm or (1) can you not get a bit of plastic and make
B6:
B7:
G4:
85. B5: it into (1) a sculpture or something like that (.) or a
B6:
B7:
G4: (XXXX)
86. B5: bit of a bit of clay
B6:
B7:
G4: (going onto the other) questions (.)
87. B5: dinna hurry me I'm I'm trying to explain
B6:
B7:
G4: right (.) (.)
88. B5:
B6:
B7:
G4: right (where are we) =no we're not ready
T : (XXXX) are we ready=
89. B5: we've got to go on=
B6: =go on=
B7: =we'll go onto this
G4: yet=
T : =(3 secsXXXX)
90. B5: =in nineteen eighty one (.) a creature
B6:
B7: one cos (XXXX)=
G4:
91. B5: was discovered in Loch Ness (.) which was unknown to the
B6:
B7:
G4:
92. B5: (.) to scientists (.) a shrimp type animal (1) well that
B6:
B7:
G4:
93. B5: proves there that (.) anything can live in that water (.)
B6:
B7:
G4:
94. B5: in Loch Ness (.) it's that (.) deep and it's got fresh
B6:
B7:
G4:
? : aye
95. B5: water (.) fresh running water ken (.) and it's not (.)
B6:
B7:
G4: mhmm
96. B5: it's not polluted and that (.) so
B6:
B7:
G4: (.) and (.) it's got the
97. B5: peat (.) peat's not polluting it though
B6:
B7: aye and the peat peat
G4: peat
98. B5: aye=
B6: (keep)
B7: preserves things
G4: (no I know it keeps) see if (XXXX) if they
99. B5: you could bring into that though that
B6:
B7:
G4: can't even clean (XXXX)
100. B5: that there's not a lot of fish in Loch Ness=
B6:
B7:
G4: =mhmm
101. B5: they're all disappearing (.) there should be a lot seeing
B6:
B7:
G4: (2 secsXXXX)
102. B5: it's all fresh water and that
B6:
B7:
G4: (.) if you could
103. B5: the peat preserves
B6:
B7:
G4: clear (.) a certain amount (XXXX) I know but if peat
104. B5:
B6:
B7:
G4: preserves (.) what could be underneath that
105. B5: (but that should have) come up on the sonar test
B6:
B7: (1) (XXXX)
G4: (XXXX)
106. B5: (.) a
B6:
B7:
G4: but there's all these wee bits floating about
107. B5: sonar test would get through it (.) a sonar's like
B6:
B7:
G4:
108. B5: lasers (XXXX)
B6: (.) nuup
B7:
G4: what do you think Stephen (1) don't you think
109. B5:
B6:
B7:
G4: that (.) it'd be a good idea if they could clean a bit
T : (XX)