Collateral signals and conversation quality

Abstract

When we think of the quality of a conversation, what comes to mind? Generally, it is the content that was discussed during the conversation, with uplifting topics leading to positive experiences, and dispiriting topics leading to negative experiences. However, there is also a great deal of information that is exchanged in the process of conveying conversational content, such as how communicators get their words out, how they produce those words, and how they manage the conversations that support the exchange of content information. In this paper, we explore the possible influence of collateral signals on judgements of conversational quality. Specifically, we examine how juxtapositions, concomitants, inserts, and modifications may influence conversational quality. We provide examples of each type of collateral signal from a variety of sources, and we discuss the possible impact each signal may have on conversational quality. Based on our analysis of the examples included, we propose that collateral signals may have a direct influence on conversational quality judgements that are independent of conversational content. That is, the subjective evaluation of conversations by interlocutors may not end simply at what is said, but how it was said.