Abstract
This study investigates how insecurity and reassurance are conversationally constructed in selected confidential exchanges between Safiya and Halima in Zaynab Alkali’s Invisible Borders. Drawing on the analytical framework of Conversation Analysis as developed by Sacks, Schegloff and Jefferson (1974), the study explores how turn-taking patterns, adjacency pairs, preference organization, repair sequences, and turn-eliciting cues shape the emotional dynamics of the interaction. The analysis reveals that Halima’s insecurity is subtly encoded in her minimal responses, hesitations, and ironic formulations, while Safiya’s reassuring stance emerges through supportive prompts, evaluative statements, and structurally preferred responses that guide the conversation toward emotional stability. The findings further show that confidentiality marked by Rabi’s exit from the interaction creates the discursive space in which vulnerability can be expressed and negotiated. Through fine-grained examination of the talk, the study demonstrates that insecurity and reassurance are not merely psychological states but collaborative achievements embedded within the micro-structure of conversational organization. The work underscores the value of Conversation Analysis for uncovering how speakers use ordinary linguistic practices to manage fear, reinforce solidarity, and navigate delicate social relationships within culturally situated contexts.
Keywords: Insecurity, Reassurance, Confidential talk, Conversational Analysis, Zainab Alkali
DOI: 10.36349/alqajolls.2025.v01i01.028
author/Racheal Musa Dada
journal/AL-QALAM JLLS 1(1) | December 2025
