Laughter and Topic Transition in Multiparty Conversation

Abstract

This study explores laughter distribution around topic changes in multiparty conversations. The distribution of shared and solo laughter around topic changes was examined in corpora containing two types of spoken interaction; meetings and informal conversation. Shared laughter was significantly more frequent in the 15 seconds leading up to topic change in the informal conversations. A sample of informal conversations was then analysed by hand to gain further insight into links between laughter and topic change.