Syrian service encounters

This paper deals with interaction in Arabic (Syrian dialect). It is based on a corpus of service encounters, more precisely “shop encounters”, which were recorded small shops Damascus. The characteristics this type will be summarised the first part paper. analysis concentrate pragmatic level, ie. speech acts and activities, description pay particular attention to interpersonal relationships. methodological approach adopted describe “from inside” way each conversation unfolds. Therefore, it does not correspond straight-forward cross-cultural (even if, from time time, reference similar French situations made). paper’s main aim highlight double-faceted nature conversations, examine overall representation relation its actual temporal unfolding.