Discourse features of an Ethiopian health radio phone-in

Abstract This study aims to describe the discourse features of an Ethiopian health radio phone-in program. More specifically, building on previous studies that draw on the methodological insights of CA/MCA, we demonstrate how topical discussion about public health issues on a radio phone-in show is accomplished. Our analysis is based on eight hours of recorded and transcribed talk data from a public FM radio station broadcasting in Amharic, FM Addis 97.1. Our analysis shows that the speech exchange between the host and callers is central to the organization of interactions in the talk show and comprises phases such as openings, topical talk, and closings. We further demonstrate using examples how what counts as ‘topical talk’ is initiated and pursued through reliance on a sequential development of relevant categories and identities, where one builds upon another during the course of the interaction. Our analysis reveals that interaction resources such as reminding callers of the theme/topic, posing a question relating to the theme of the talk, and using ‘ eshi’ (which translates as ‘ok’) or ‘ eshi’ prefaced statements or questions are employed to initiate topical talk as well as elicit callers’ membership categories vis-à-vis the theme. Such categorical information is in turn drawn upon to develop topical talk. Central to the development of topical talk in the program then is the elicitation of callers’ first-hand experiential accounts. Overall, we illustrate that the accomplishment of the topical talk involves a reflexive combination of categorical and sequential methods through which layers of background context are built and drawn upon by the participants in the talk show.