(no subject)

From: Phil Chappell (phil_chappell@access.inet.co.th)
Date: Thu Nov 28 2002 - 02:56:03 PST


This is a rather interesting new tool for analysing dialogues. Posted on a
SFL list to which I subscribe.
Phil

Announcing a website
for Dialogue Macrogame Theory (DMT)

Dialogue Macrogame Theory (DMT) is a method for systematic description of
human dialogues. It is organized around a distinction between collaborative
and non collaborative parts of dialogues.

Collaborative parts are described using "dialogue macrogames." These are
two-party constructs which are sometimes used to regulate long intervals of
interactions. At other times, using the same constructs, the intervals may
be very short. Macrogames make it possible for both parties to fully
control the course of the dialogue, because intentions for both parties are
accepted and dismissed in a coordinated, negotiated fashion.

Non collaborative parts of dialogues are describe using "unilaterals."
Currently 12 macrogames and 12 unilaterals are defined.

The website includes an introduction to DMT, definitions for the DMT
entities, 19 fully analyzed dialogues (over 800 turns) and instructions for
analysts.

These dialogues (along with other analyses not on the website) represent a
wide range of situations and individual goals or tasks. The types of
situations include:

· Apollo 13 spacecraft emergency radio
· An excerpt of "hostage negotiation"
· Mathematics tutoring
· Electronics tutoring
· Physician - Patient interaction
· Travel agent working
· Administrative telephone interaction
· On line human to human help with computers
· Laboratory interaction from Maptask and other sources
· Airline pre-crash radio interaction
· Courtroom questioning of witnesses.

The website, titled "Dialogue Resources" is at the following URL:

http://www-rcf.usc.edu/~billmann/dialogue

Please excuse multiple copies.
Bill Mann



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