Meaning of 'speaking in turn'?

[bspkumar]

Hi,

I came across this phrase in an essay about Group Discussion process for MBA admissions. Could you please tell me the meaning? Does it mean a person speaking after another person completed speaking?

Here is the context:

"Avoid speaking in turn as it leads to an unnatural discussion. A GD involves a free-flowing exchange of ideas among participants. Even though there will definitely be chaos in most competitive GDs, as all participants will be keen to be heard, any suggestion of order, such as speaking, in turn, is unacceptable."

Thank you!

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi,

I came across this phrase in an essay about Group Discussion process for MBA admissions. Could you please tell me the meaning? Does it mean a person speaking after another person has finished speaking? Yes.

Here is the context:

"Avoid speaking in turn as it leads to an unnatural discussion. A GD involves a free-flowing exchange of ideas among participants. Even though there will definitely be chaos in most competitive GDs, as all participants will be keen to be heard, any suggestion of order, such as speaking, in turn, is unacceptable."

Thank you!

Bhai

 

[bspkumar]

Hi,

Thank you very much for the reply.

 

[BobK]

I'm not so sure. The writer is not against orderly discussion (where people 'take it in turns' to speak, and don't overlap). What's being discouraged is the sort of dicussion led by a question like "'What do you [delegate1] think?...'And what do you [delegate2] think?...'And what do you [delegate3] think?'..."

b

 

[Tdol]

It suggests some sort of sequence or order to me too in this context.

 

[bhaisahab]

It suggests some sort of sequence or order to me too in this context.

Yes, I agree. I didn't read the question carefully enough.

 

[susiedq]

Yes, "speaking in turn" suggests that people speak in the order of where they sit. They could be seated in a circle and the first one speaks, then one by one, go aroind the circle.

Yes, it can be very unnatural if you are trying to encourage a free-flow exchange or brainstorm or problem solve..

In other situations, it is necessary so that everyone gets to speak. This would be when reports that don't necessarily relate to each other are given, at a board meeting, for example.

 

[konungursvia]

My take is that the author finds that a sequence of 20 minute lectures, without conversational interruptions, is less effective than flexible dialogues in which there is more direct back-and-forth. Who knows.