——基于人际传播“谈话分析理论”对电影《消防员》的解读
电影《消防员》讲述了一位丈夫用40天“爱的挑战”唤醒了自己对爱的理解以及妻子对爱情的珍重的故事。故事的转折点，发生在故事男主人公的父亲，将一本40天的“爱的挑战”交给男主人公，让他每日完成功课。
这40天“爱的挑战”的第一天任务是：
The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often reflect the condition of our heart. For the next day, resolve to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It's better to hold your tongue than to say something you'll regret. Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry.
“爱的挑战”第一天的任务和谈话分析理论所关注的问题无疑是互相契合的。
谈话分析理论中的传播观是什么呢？
谈话分析把传播看作构建行为的一种手段。它以“关于对话、其他形式的谈话以及互动过程中的行为的现场记录作为研究数据，并对使人的行为成为可能的那些机制建构系统进行描述。” “对于关系传播而言，与其说社会结构和个人差异被看作是具有散乱结果的自变量，不如说交流者也通过其交流行为塑造、构建或者做出‘关系’”。
之所以“爱的挑战”把“不说有负面作用的话”放在第一个需要完成的任务，正是基于谈话理论的这一关注点：即我们说了什么将对我们的关系产生影响。我们使用的语词往往反映了我们的内心状态，这种内心状态的反映被僵硬的语词给欺骗，并对互动之中交谈双方的人际关系产生影响。所以正如，“爱的挑战”中第一天所讲的：如果脾气上来了，倒不如啥也不说；啥也不说，总比说一些伤害别人，而让自己后悔的话要强。
谈话分析理论的三个主要特征是什么呢？
1. 交谈即行为。
交谈是交流者用来做事情的手段，这是交谈最重要的方面。我们往往认为当某人在说某事时，他们不仅仅是描述，或者说不主要在描述，不主要是传递信息或者赋予意义，而是他们正在做某件事情。 对一句话的理解，将会体现在它是如何被回应的过程之中。
如A1-A6（见文后附录）：当Caleb问Catherine：“You have breakfast already?”时，即使是母语非英语的人也可以发现，这个问句不是正常的语法结构；它最大特点在于突出了already（将already放到最后）。对此，Catherine的回答非常简单，简单到只回答：“Yes”。
谈话分析理论支持这样的观点，我们的谈话内容和方式构建了我们的关系。那么当我们将这个命题反过来讲，当我们发现谈话内容和方式，不符合谈话双方当下所处的关系时，那么我们便可以得出结论，即谈话双方的关系发生了变化。
举个例子，如果大街上一个路人问你：“对不起，你有表吗？”，而你却回答“我有”就扬长而去。在我看来，Catherine的这个回答方式和我所举的比较荒诞的例子是一样的。在这个例子中，这样的回答方式，透露出两种可能的信息：一是你不明白那位路人其实想知道的是，你能否告诉他时间，而并非是不是确实有一块手表；二是你其实明白了对方的意图，但你拒绝告诉对方时间。
谈话分析理论认为：从事某种行为的一个实践行为——这种行为表明请求是可以用某种其他方式来表达的，而不是这种明确的提出方式。Caleb在此显然表示了这样一种希望，希望Catherine能够在他辛劳地结束这一天工作后，给他准备一些吃的，或希望同Catherine同他一起吃晚饭，但是Catherine显然应该是拒绝了，而不是没有明白Caleb的渴望。
在影片中，Catherine和Caleb是夫妻关系。Catherine若不是无法理解Caleb问这个问题的意图，就是拒绝和Caleb对此做更多交流。无论是哪一种情况，在夫妻二人关系中，都是有问题的传播方式。
2. 谈话是有结构的。
谈话的结构使得传播双方除了可以做其他私情之外，还可以做到：调节交谈行文，使他们轮流表达，而不是同时说话；协调他们与他人的行为，以建构模式化的行为序列。
举电影中的例子说明，如B22-27：Catherine问Caleb：“What are you doing?”时，Caleb的回答是：“I see you left me no pizza.”。在我看来，这又是一次奇怪的交谈方式。在人际传播谈话理论下，有这样一个术语称为“邻近对子”（Adjacency pair），如A问：“猜猜发生了什么事？”B回答：“什么事？”这样的一个基本的谈话模式就是一个邻近对子。邻近对子在生活中日常谈话中，应该是非常常见的，特别是像夫妻关系，这样保持持久联系的二人浪漫关系中，邻近对子在日常交流中所占的比重应该非常多。生活中很多的传播内容，其形式的意义要大过内容的重要性。
可是在影片中B22-23这个例子中，当Catherine问：“你在做什么时？”Caleb回答说：“我发现你没有给我留匹萨。”我想正常夫妻，或者处于一定关系中的人，会直接回答：“我正在做……”，因为这符合邻近对子的概念假设。奇怪的是，在这个本该用“我”语言来进行的回答，实质上Caleb用了“你”语言来进行回答，只不过用了“我发现”放在前面，使自己的回答和问题有所连结。这样的“你”语言带有明显的责备语气。
然而这种打破本应包括较多邻近对子的谈话结构始终处于非正常的阶段，在之后B24，Catherine对B23，Caleb的责备应该有所解释或者表示，然而她没有。她的回答是：“我刚把这蜡烛点燃，我喜欢这个味道。”可以说这两个人的交谈始终没有回到正常的轨道上，他们自己说自己的话，并不顾忌对方说些什么，更不用讲，对方所说背后的表达意图。“对这些有序的实践行为的违背，有助于确认各种人际行为。”
3.谈话是根据具体情境来组织的。
传播行为是根据具体的情境来组织的。谈话分析理论用了“语境”这样一个概念来进行分析。语境不是塑造和限制传播的，相反；除了塑造和限制互动着的行为意外，语境也是由互动者的行为“创造”和“实施”的。所以，谈话分析理论的第三个特点即强调：互动既是由境来塑造的，又是对语境的更新。
如B35-36中，Catherine和Caleb双方进行了非常有意思，同时非常深入的互动。在这一回合的交谈中，双方收到之前互动的影响，塑造了更加“积极”的语境，这里的“积极”是对争吵的激烈程度而言的。通过二人接连使用的排比句式，我们可以发现，双方的情绪都已经到达了最高点。排比句这种用来增强语势的修辞方法，在这里祈祷一样的效果，这种积极的互动，影响了语境，并对语境进行了更新，使之后的交谈（争吵）进入更激烈的阶段。
如B37-38这一个回合中，正是由于之前激烈的互动，对语境进行了更新，让二人扯破了脸皮，敢于在交谈中走入了一些禁区。在B37-38这一回合中，双方开始将互相的矛盾转移到“性”的问题上，并进行了互相指责。
并在B39-40这一回合到达了争吵的沸点。这种情境的推动作用在这段争吵中体现的特别清楚。
与此同时，在这一段对话中特别明显的揭示了争吵中的夫妻双方，在归因上的一些特点，把对方不好的事物归因于内在的稳定的和全面的可控制的原因；把对方好的事归因于对方外在的，稳定和全面的不可控制的原因。失去理智的双方在交谈中归因特点，也对这种情绪的抬升有推波助澜的作用。
试对比失败的交谈与成功的交谈？
在影片结束时，我们终于看到了一次成功的传播（交谈）。Catherine生命卧床，Caleb坐在床头，两人进行了唯一一次心平气和的交谈。我们可以从以下几点看出一次失败的交谈与成功交谈的区别：
1）、对于谈话分析来说，传播是由传播者根据谈话行为和身体行为而构建的活动所组成的。这也就是说，谈话内容对谈话质量有着构建作用，谈话时的身体行为也对谈话内容有着构建作用。非语言传播的作用很多时候不亚于语言传播的作用。在影片中D64-94这一段对话中：我们可以看到Caleb从身体行为上释放出了更多友善的符号：例如他主动买药给Catherine；而且相比B22-43争吵那一段话中，两人手舞足蹈互相对指，Caleb甚至用双手撑住墙壁，用一种威压的姿势逼迫Catherine停止语言反抗。在这里实际上，Caleb在身体行为上始终带着一种压迫感，这种身体行为让谈话无法再平静状态下进行。但是，最后D段对话，我们看到的是Caleb坐在床边，至少一开始两人就处于平等的低位，心平气和（体现为语速非常慢）进行交谈，最后Caleb甚至跪下身子，以低于Catherine的姿态来进行交谈。这时候，Caleb已经用自己的身体语言表达了自己对这段爱情的悔过，在非语言传播上，释放出了积极地信号。
2）、影片刚开始时，Caleb不管是对待Catherine，还是和父母，和他的好朋友Michael，始终都在强调Catherine对自己缺乏respect。Caleb在外是个大英雄，回到家后，他认为自己的妻子理应把自己当作英雄一样捧在手心，这种大男子主义也是这段婚姻产生问题的一个原因所在。Caleb认识到爱是无私的付出，不求回报的付出后，她这种大男子主义就消失了，到了最后的交谈时，是Caleb主动发下了Catherine没有去上班，而是卧床，并不厌其烦地问Catherine是不是身体不舒服，只有又主动为Catherine买药。在之后的交谈中，Caleb表示了更多的尊重D75、更多的理解91，更多的幽默D87和更多的坦诚D89，这时候夫妻的关系又被这种种身体语言和交谈内容建构出来。
总结：
人际传播的谈话分析理论认为，互动者们通过从事那种被认为是符合关系类别身份要求的行为，并通过认可互动对象所实施的恰当行为来维持特定身份应尽的责任。也就是说，存在着各种实践行为，而互动者在这种实践行为履行他们的特定关系中应尽的责任。这些实践都表明了“处于某种关系”（如夫妻关系）的状态是如何通过互动而建立起来的。
为了唤起这一类身份和关系，传播者必须积极采实际的互动步骤——即我们说了什么，做了什么，正如“爱的挑战”第一天的任务。
附录：
A
1. Caleb: You have breakfast already?
2. Catherine: Yes.
3. Caleb: What'd you eat?
4. Catherine: I had the last bagel and a yogurt.
5. Caleb: Are you planning on making a grocery trip soon?
6. Catherine: Caleb, you work 2 4 hours and then you're off for 48. You've got more time to go than l do.
7. Caleb: l asked a simple question.
8. Catherine: You don't need to get smart with me.
9. Caleb: At least save me some breakfast.
10. Catherine: I never know when you're coming or going. You don't tell me.
11. Caleb: Catherine, what is your problem? Did l offend you by walking in the door?
12. Catherine: You can't expect me to work every day and get the groceries......while you look at trash on the internet dreaming about your boat.
13. Caleb: You chose to take this job.-No one said you had to work full-time.-We need the income.
14. Catherine: Especially since you tuck away a third of your salary......saving for a boat we don't need. You've got $2 4,000 in savings when things in our house need fixing.
15. Caleb: Like what?
16. Catherine: The back door needs to be painted, the yard needs landscaping. And I wanna put more shelves in the closet.
17. Caleb: Those are called preferences. Those are not needs.
18. Catherine: There's a difference. If you wanna spend your money on that stuff, fine.
19. Caleb: I've been saving for my boat for years. You're not taking that from me.
20. Catherine: This is so pointless. I don't have time for this.
21. Caleb: Yeah, shut the door on your way out.
B
22. Catherine: What are you doing?
23. Caleb: l see you left me no pizza.
24. Catherine: I just lit that candle. I like the way it smells.
25. Caleb: Well, l don't. Did you leave me any dinner at all?
26. Catherine: I assumed you were eating with Michael.
27. Caleb: Does it not occur to you......that two people in this house both need to eat?
28. Catherine: You know what? If you would communicate with me......maybe l could have something for you.
29. Caleb: Why do you have to make everything so difficult?
30. Catherine: Oh, I'm making everything difficult? I'm carrying the weight around here while you're off doing your own thing.
31. Caleb: Excuse me? I'm working to pay this mortgage, and l pay for both of the cars.
32. Yeah, and that's all you do.
33. Catherine: I pay all of our bills with my salary.
34. Caleb: Which you agreed to do. That's fair. Do you not like this house? Do you not like your car?
35. Catherine: Caleb, who takes care of this house? Me. Who washes all the clothes? Me. Who gets all the groceries? Me. Not to mention l'm helping my parents every weekend. I've got all this pressure on me. The only thing you do for anybody is for yourself.
36. Caleb: Let me tell you, you don't know the first thing about pressure. All right? You think I put out house fires for myself? Or rush to car wrecks at 2 a.m. for myself? Or pull a child's body out of a lake for myself? You have no idea what l go through.
37. Catherine: Yeah, but what do you do around here other than watch TV......and waste time on the Internet? If looking at that trash is how you get fulfilled, that's fine. But l will not compete with it.
38. Caleb: Well, l sure don't get it from you. And you won't.
39. Catherine: Because you care more about saving for your stupid boat......and pleasing yourself than you ever did about me.
40. Caleb: Shut up! l'm sick of you! You disrespectful, ungrateful, selfish woman!-
41. Catherine: I'm not selfish.-How dare you say that?
42. Caleb: You constantly nag me and you drain the life out of me! I'm tired of it! If you can't give me the respect l deserve--Look at me!--then what's the point of this marriage? Catherine: I want out. I just want out.
43. Caleb: If you want out, that's fine with me!
C
44. Caleb: Catherine, are you okay?
45. Catherine: I'm fine.
46. Caleb: Aren't you going to work?
47. Catherine: No.
48. Caleb: Are you sick?
49. Catherine: I'll be fine.
50. Caleb: Is it your allergies?
51. Catherine: I said I'll be fine. Don't worry about me.
52. Caleb: Because if you need something, I can go to the store.
53. Catherine: No, I'm okay. You can go.
54. Caleb: Okay.
55. Caleb: Can you sit up for me? You got a fever. Here. You think you can take this?
56. Catherine: Why are you doing this?
57. Caleb: I have learned you never leave your partner. Especially in a fire.
58. Catherine: Caleb, what's happened to you?
59. Caleb: Dad asked me if there was anything in me......that wanted to save our marriage. And then he gave me something. I could let you read it.
60. Catherine: Was it this?
61. Caleb: How long have you known?
62. Catherine: I found it yesterday. So, what day are you on?
63. Caleb: Forty-three.
64. Catherine: There's only 40.
65. Caleb: Who says I have to stop?
66. Catherine: Caleb......I don't know how to process this. This is not normal for you.
67. Caleb: Welcome to the new normal.
68. Catherine: You didn't wanna do this at first, did you?
69. Caleb: No. But halfway through, l realized......that l did not understand what love was. And once I understood that, I wanted to do it.
70. Catherine: Caleb, I want to believe that this is real. But I am not ready to say that I trust you again.
71. Caleb: I understand that. But whether you ever reach that point or not......I need you to understand something. I am sorry. I have been so selfish. For the past seven years, I have trampled on you......with my words and with my actions. I have loved other things when I should have loved you. In the last few weeks......God has given me a love for you that I had never had before. And I have asked him to forgive me. And I am hoping, I am praying......that somehow you would be able to forgive me too.
72. Catherine, I do not want to live the rest of my life without you.
73. Catherine: I'm supposed to give those divorce papers......to my lawyer next week. I just....I need some time.....to think.
74. Caleb: You can have all the time you need.
