Abstract This paper explores, through the use of the observation checklist and Conversation Analysis (CA), the discourse functions elicited by the dialogic task of the Free University of Bolzano (IT) speaking test. It aims to contribute to content validation, which has been claimed to be especially relevant in paired speaking tests, where interaction is co-constructed by participants. Lazaraton has argued that the investigation of the process of the assessment of speaking competences represents, for todays’ research, a question of almost the same importance as outcome scores. The paper investigates the predictions of the construct through the actual elicitation of functions in the task performance of the test. Results are analysed qualitatively with respect to informational, interactional, and management-of-interaction functions. Some quantitative analysis was also conducted to determine the relative frequency of each function. Outcomes were found to be in line with previous research in the proportion of use of the three different types of functions, informational, interactional and management of interaction. The paper finally discusses the advantages and disadvantages of exploring test content through the lenses of observation checklists and CA, the first providing a general framework in which discourse functions can be outlined, and the second providing a more fine-tuned view of the data and of the complexity of exploitation of each function.

中文翻译：

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对话式口语测试任务中的语篇功能

摘要本文通过使用观察清单和会话分析（CA）探索了博尔扎诺自由大学（IT）口语测试的对话任务所激发的话语功能。它旨在为内容验证做出贡献，据称该验证在成对口语测试中特别重要，因为配对互动是由参与者共同构建的。拉扎拉顿认为，对口语能力评估过程的调查对于当今的研究代表着一个与结果评分几乎相同的问题。本文通过在测试任务执行中实际激发功能来研究构造的预测。就信息功能，交互功能和交互管理功能对结果进行定性分析。还进行了一些定量分析，以确定每个功能的相对频率。发现在使用三种不同类型的功能（信息，交互和交互管理）的比例方面，结果与先前的研究相符。本文最后讨论了通过观察清单和CA来探索测试内容的优缺点，第一个提供了概述话语功能的通用框架，第二个提供了对数据和信息的更精细调整的视图。开发每个功能的复杂性。互动和互动管理。本文最后讨论了通过观察清单和CA来探索测试内容的优缺点，第一个提供了概述话语功能的通用框架，第二个提供了对数据和信息的更精细调整的视图。开发每个功能的复杂性。互动和互动管理。本文最后讨论了通过观察清单和CA来探索测试内容的优缺点，第一个提供了概述话语功能的通用框架，第二个提供了对数据和信息的更精细调整的视图。开发每个功能的复杂性。