Ways to leave your lover: A conversational analysis of literature

Abstract

A conversational analysis of lovers’ exiting dialogues in contemporary fiction revealed three metacommunicative strategies used to terminate a romantic relationship: (1) suspension of the conversational rule of “let it pass;”; (2) zero‐sum strategizing; and(3) consensus on dissensus (i.e., agreement to disagree). The study suggests that fiction is a viable source for conversational data. Particularly germane to research on disengagement strategies, fictive dialogue permits examination of the interactive work of communicators as they accomplish relationship termination.