The following are brief summarizations of the contents of each of the 60 discourse segments included in volumes 1-4 of the Santa Barbara Corpus. Participant names cited are pseudonyms, corresponding to the speaker labels used in the transcriptions.

Part [1] [2] 3 [4]

SBC031 Tastes Very Special
Face-to-face conversation recorded in a restaurant in Pullman, Washington. Sherry and Beth are sisters (in their late twenties), and Rosemary is their mother. The participants discuss what to order for lunch, interact with the waitress (Jamie) and engage in talk about family and friends while waiting for their food.

SBC032 Handshakes All Around
A face-to-face conversation that takes place at an outdoor neighborhood 'block party' in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The three main participants are neighbors, age 60 and upward, all of whom happen to be named Tom. Discussion centers on life histories, World War II experiences, and neighborhood gossip. The three are briefly joined by Tucker (the daughter of Tom_1), and Elaine (the wife of Tom_3).

SBC033 Guilt
A lively family argument/discussion recorded at a vacation home in Falmouth, Massachusetts. There are eight participants, all relatives or close friends. Discussion centers around a disagreement Jennifer (age 23) is having with her mother (Lisbeth).

SBC034 What Time is it Now?
A late-night face-to-face conversation recorded in Northampton, Massachusetts. Participants are a married couple (Karen and Scott) in their early twenties. Karen has just returned home from work, and the two are talking while winding down for the evening.

SBC035 Hold my Breath
Lively family argument/discussion recorded in the kitchen of a family home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

SBC036 Judgmental on People
Face-to-face conversation recorded in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There are three participants and a baby. Lisa and Kevin are siblings, Marie (the baby's mother) is a friend of Lisa's. Much of the speech event focuses on interaction with, and talk about, the baby, as well as gossip about friends and co-workers.

SBC037 Very Good Tamales
Informal, task-related (cooking) talk recorded in the kitchen of a family home in Corpus Christi, Texas. A family is making tamales. Main participants are Julia (an 80-year-old woman), her daughter (Dolores), and grandson (Shane). They are briefly joined by Kate (Shane's sister) who is watching TV in another room. The segment contains occasional codeswitching (English/Spanish).

SBC038 Good Strong Dam
This segment is part of a tour of Hoover Dam, on the Nevada-Arizona border. The presentation is highly practiced. The main speaker also answers audience questions.

SBC039 Pretty Busy Bird
Task-related talk, a training meeting recorded at an aquarium in Chicago, Illinois.

SBC040 Beaten on a Regular Basis
Scripted tour of the Kentucky Horse Park / Museum. Presenter also addresses questions from the audience.

SBC041 X Units of Insulin
Medical interaction recorded in Southern California. A patient (Paige) is consulting with her dietician (Kristen) regarding management of diabetes.

SBC042 Stay out of It
Family argument and task-related talk, recorded in Pasco, Washington. The recording begins in a car, and moves to the kitchen of a family home. Main participants are three teenage sisters (Sabrina, Kendra, and Marlena), their mother (Kitty), and step-father (Curt). A friend of Sabrina's (Gemini) is also present. The dispute centers around Kitty's belief that Kendra stayed the night at a friend's house without permission, something which Kendra denies having done. Argument and shouting is interspersed with Saturday-morning housekeeping chores such as doing dishes and laundry.

SBC043 Try a Couple Spoonfuls

Face-to-face conversation recorded in the living room of a private home in Boise, Idaho, between Alice (a nurse, age 49) and her daughter Annette (a student and bank employee, age 24). Topics center mostly on their work day, as well as mutual acquaintances.

SBC044 He Knows

Face-to-face conversation recorded in the living room of a private home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Two friends (Cam and Lajuan) are talking about their families and friends, and their own experiences as gay men.

SBC045 The Classic Hooker

Face-to-face conversation recorded in the living room of an apartment in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Two friends (Corinna and Patrick) are talking and watching TV. Topics are at times rather raunchy.

Part [1] [2] 3 [4]