TURN-TAKING STRATEGIES IN ONLINE COMMUNICATION: A DISCOURSE-PRAGMATIC PERSPECTIVE

• Hamroyeva Muborak

  Master’s degree student of Webster university

  Author

Turn-taking is a fundamental mechanism in human communication, allowing interlocutors to manage the flow of conversation. In the context of digital communication, particularly online synchronous (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams) and asynchronous (e.g., email, discussion forums) platforms, traditional turn-taking norms are adapted or restructured. This article explores how participants manage turn-taking in these environments using discourse-pragmatic strategies. Drawing on frameworks from Conversation Analysis and Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC), the study investigates interactional features across platforms, including delays, interruptions, overlaps, and non-verbal substitutes like emojis or typing indicators. Findings indicate that while synchronous tools retain spoken-discourse-like turn-taking, asynchronous platforms depend on structural and textual cues. This research offers insights into communicative competence in digital environments and implications for online pedagogy, workplace collaboration, and intercultural communication.

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