Three approaches to analysing institutional talk are introduced by internationally-recognised experts: Conversation Analysis, Discursive Psychology and Critical Discourse Analysis. Then the main section of the book ("Applications") illustrates these approaches by taking the reader through the process of analysis by turning to such matters as how pilots talk in aircraft cockpits, how computer helpdesks work and how political speeches are constructed. Finally, the book opens up some theoretical and methodological controversies that occupy practitioners today. In this way, readers are introduced to the most recent ways of seeing how talk is critical to making the modern world work.