15. Conversation Patterns in Icelandic and Italian People: Similarities and Differences in Rhythm and Accommodation

Conversation may be considered as a universal communication system which performs social and interactive cue of communication. Although it could appear casual, even chaotic and confused, due to its spontaneous nature, a deep and intrinsic organization, grounded on a shared social order, is involved in conversational stream which follows given cultural standards. In the present study a sequence structural analysis of conversation was carried out. In particular, rhythm and accommodation in conversation patterns in Icelandic and Italian people were focused to detect specific kinetic T-patterns by using the software THEME 2001. Forty conversations between Icelandic and Italian couples of known and unknown individuals have been videotaped and analysed zooming on gestures, turn-taking and body movements displayed during the conversation flow. Data highlighted the country effect on conversation rhythm: number and frequency of time patterns were deeply different between Icelandic and Italian couples, as the former turned out to manage the temporal organization in a more synchronous and regular way than the latter. Furthermore, peculiar gestures were recognized for Icelandic and Italian couples, underlining systematic differences in the cultural framework.