talkovers

Talkovers are a common phenomenon in everyday conversation. They occur when one speaker begins talking before the other speaker has finished their turn. This can happen for a variety of reasons, some of which are intentional and others unintentional.

Intentional talkovers can be used to assert dominance, interrupt a speaker who is perceived as going on too long, or to show enthusiasm and eagerness to contribute to the conversation. In some social contexts, quick interjections and overlapping speech can be a sign of engagement and camaraderie. However, they can also be seen as rude or disrespectful, depending on the cultural norms and the specific relationship between the speakers.

Unintentional talkovers often arise from a misunderstanding of conversational cues, such as a speaker pausing briefly with the intention to continue, but the other speaker interpreting the pause as an invitation to speak. This can also happen due to excitement, anticipation of what the other person is going to say, or simply a lack of awareness of the other person's speech flow. In group discussions, the natural overlap of speech can increase as more people try to participate. Managing talkovers effectively is a key aspect of successful communication, often involving strategies like active listening and polite turn-taking.