Mediation Discourse in Moroccan Television: A Conversation Analytic Study of Interactional Practices in “The Mediator” TV Show

Abstract

This study investigates the interactional framework of mediation discourse in the Moroccan television program “The Mediator”. Drawing upon Conversation Analysis (CA) (Sacks, Schegloff, and Jefferson, 1974), and Goffman’s (1981) concept of participation framework, the study examines how mechanisms of institutional discourse, more precisely the turn-taking system, participation statuses, and hybrid interactional framework, operate to handle interpersonal disputes. By conducting an in-depth analysis of selected episodes, the study probes into how the principal mediator, disputants, and co-mediators jointly reframe conflict narratives, oscillate between institutional and conversational speech exchange systems, and negotiate their positions within a media-regulated context. The findings of the study reveal how institutional discourse practices such as pre-allocated turns, structurally determined participation framework, and regulated dyadic interaction are strategically implemented to minimise discordance and uphold normative protocols of mediation and conflict resolution processes. The present study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of how the interactional framework of mediation functions as a discursive mechanism to mitigate confrontation and reframe contentious issues. It further addresses a critical gap in the literature by examining mediation and conflict resolution discourse within Arab and North African contexts, regions that have received limited attention in media and discourse research.