‘Yet his silence said volumes’: a pragmatic analysis of conversational silence in rapport management

Silences are crucial in interpersonal communication, serving as essential components of interpersonal relationships. The current study utilizes naturally occurring linguistic data and draws upon Spencer-Oatey’s Rapport Management Theory to examine the pragmatic functions of conversational silence in the context of rapport management. The findings reveal that within the framework of rapport orientation, silence plays a pivotal role and can be categorized into four fundamental types: rapport maintenance, rapport neglect, rapport challenge and rapport destruction. The results indicate that the interpretation of silence extends beyond a simplistic and negative process of withholding meaning; rather, it involves a multifaceted method of constructing meaning. As a non-discursive practice, silence can maintain harmonious relationships, avoid controversy, and even trigger conflicts.