The Language of Classical Literature44- Conversation Analysis and Classics

What happens when Conversation Analysis meets Greek and Latin literature? This volume shows how the methodology can transform the interpretation of ancient texts by revealing how talk-in-interaction is shaped in literary form. It introduces the core tools of Conversation Analysis and demonstrates how they illuminate turn-taking, sequence organization, actions in interaction, and the structuring of dialogue across drama, poetry, and narrative. Combining methodological guidance with detailed case studies, the book highlights both the potential and the challenges of adapting an approach originally developed for the study of naturally occurring conversation to ancient written sources. By bringing linguistic and literary perspectives together, it opens new paths for understanding the communicative dynamics of Classical texts.