edited by

A study investigated time factors in two-person telephone conversations, in which visual clues were absent. The lengths and occurrencls of vocalizations, pauses, turns, switching pauses, and simultaneous speech were measured with the aid of a computer program. The timing patterns of three conversation types were compared: two Finns speaking in Finnisht two Americans speaking in English; and a Finn and an American speaking in English. Clear differences were found between the two kinds of same-culture conversation: Finns allowed more numerous and longer switching pauses and thereby tolerated more silence, whereas Americans vocalized more and 'ised shorter switching pauses. The differences diminished in the intercultural conversation, with adaptation more obvious for the Finns than the Americans. Simultaneous speech was very common in the two-culture conversations, with Finns speaking during the Americans&apos