Are you even listening?

An examination of the speakers face in a situation with a non active listener

Abstract

This article is focused on the facial expressions of speakers, in a situation where they are exposed to non active listening. Four participants tell a personal story to a recipient who does not react to what they are saying.  By using the Conversation analytic method and gesture research, it is shown how participants, via facial resources, attempt to achieve understanding or reaction with a non responsive recipient, and how it affects the story when this response fails to appear. A key finding is that the face and facial expressions emphasize the response seeking functions of voice, gaze and gesture. The analysis also shows that participants actively seek eye-contact during important sentences, however, mutual gaze alone is not considered a sufficient proof to speakers, that the talk is being heard or understood.