Download (23MB) - University of Salford Institutional Repository
Download (23MB) - University of Salford Institutional Repository Download (23MB) - University of Salford Institutional Repository
6.2 Co-operative Positive and Negative Alignments To begin with I will start with two excerpts which clearly illustrate both negative and positive alignments in their respective settings. Furthermore, each of these excerpts can be regarded as fairly exemplary of sociable conversation in each respective milieu (see Chapters 2 and 5). In terms of the organisation of the data here and under subsequent headings, I shall present and consider English and German conversational data separately. The aim however is not to have a series of parallel analytical sections or chapters but rather to aid the pursuit of a comparative stance. For this reason, even though the data will be treated under separate sub-headings, much of the discussion will include frequent cross-referencing of observations and findings from each data set. In terms of the specific research questions set out in chapter four, my intent here is to identify, compare, and contrast the conversational manifestation of the alignment contingencies set out in fig 6.1. Although, as I noted in chapter three, my main analytical focus and comparative discussion shall focus on the concept of self in talk (see Chapters 7 and 8), the work here should also aid in understanding the nature of alignment practices in each culture at the level of conversational claims. Let us begin then by turning first to positive and negative alignments as evidenced in English sociable conversation. In the following extract TM&LM, and KJ&LJ (parental couples respectively) are chatting over dinner about a common topic - that of having children and the need sometimes to get away from them. This short excerpt demonstrates both positive and negative alignments as solidaric and individuated claims are made in the process of developing 'Time away from the Kids'. 149
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 Excerpt 6.1 7ime away from the Kids' KJ&LJ, and TM&LM are the only participants present at the table following a meal hosted by RP&EP. It has already been established in the immediately preceding talk that both couples have children of similar ages. LJ: I MEAN a family holiday's great in't it but I think you need to do somethin' on yer [own as [well don't you=once at least TM: [yeah LM: [yeah U: once a [year try to go away and that KJ: PUS KEEPS th4he fire goin' you know what I mean (. )[you just LM: [yeah want a [little bit of= LJ: [yeah LJ: =yeah (0.5) KJ: Goin'some[where ni: ce LJ: [COS YOU DON't >really spend time on your own< do you=you think 0 LM: NO YOU DON't it's on a different U: Yeah= LM: =Different= KJ: =IT'S WO:: rk kids- LJ: =You're not (. ) each [other KJ: [Sleep Eat Work [Kids LJ: [You're mum you're dad LM: Yeah yeah (. ) you forget what its [all about really KJ: [Because (. )I mean (0.5) you can tell=you can tell I- er- I mean when you've been going like that for a few weeks or a few months and you can see you're [gettin LM: [Hm (0.5) LJ: Ratty= KJ: =after 0 LM: yeah= KJ: =you're tired all the time then you think right (0.5) forget it we're gonna< 0 Xhis weekend U: You're gonna be a [couple KJ: [Bugger off to somewhere= LM: =Yeah= LJ: =Y[eah KJ: LM: [We're just gonna bugger off somewhere [whether its [a country pub (in [Yeah U: [I MEAN there's KJ: the lakes) [or wherever-- LJ: [Like there's LJ: KJ: =There's somewhere in Castleton we want to go just for a ni:: ght= =>I MEAN ITS ONLY UP the road< [and its: = LM: [yeah LJ: =You now it's only up the road and we can [do it cos it's:: LM: [Hm (0.5) KJ: It's lovel[y LJ: [It's like a dead dead nice pub and [ (all th[at) LM: [yeah KJ: Castleton=it er: it's [BIG=big country pub in 14*1
- Page 101 and 102: orderly and meaningful conversation
- Page 103 and 104: locally managed and constantly in d
- Page 105 and 106: Poles of Alignment Fig. 3.6 Sociabl
- Page 107 and 108: toward a clearer understanding of w
- Page 109 and 110: Notes to Chapter 3 1 See also Brown
- Page 111 and 112: 4.1 Research Questions In the previ
- Page 113 and 114: eferring to as sociable includes in
- Page 115 and 116: The decision on quantity of data wa
- Page 117 and 118: largely anecdotal evidence from whi
- Page 119 and 120: such as laughter sequences. I also
- Page 121 and 122: Table 4.3 Data: Omissions from Anal
- Page 123 and 124: The obtrusiveness of my recording w
- Page 125 and 126: hand, I did not want to engage in t
- Page 127 and 128: German. However, these episodes asi
- Page 129 and 130: presented here provides a necessary
- Page 131 and 132: two chapters (Chapters 6 and 7). He
- Page 133 and 134: Hand shakes for example were infreq
- Page 135 and 136: eing invariably solidaric in nature
- Page 137 and 138: claimed on the part of the particip
- Page 139 and 140: Table 5.1 Sociable Topics Topic Cat
- Page 141 and 142: in my observations of German sociab
- Page 143 and 144: collective past peppered with indiv
- Page 145 and 146: In the next chapter I want to explo
- Page 147 and 148: CHAPTER 6 ALIGNMENT IN ACTION: NEGA
- Page 149 and 150: shall not be carried forward into t
- Page 151: These various symbols are intended
- Page 155 and 156: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rather than
- Page 157 and 158: 19 EP: ' [Although I mean that [now
- Page 159 and 160: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
- Page 161 and 162: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
- Page 163 and 164: detrimental effects foreigners are
- Page 165 and 166: 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52
- Page 167 and 168: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
- Page 169 and 170: 28 HB: but at the end of the day >1
- Page 171 and 172: approach, I hope to further illumin
- Page 173 and 174: 37 KJ: I never had any day to day (
- Page 175 and 176: 2 bevor (. ) die Schlange nicht zeh
- Page 177 and 178: ot non-ratifi cation and non-suppor
- Page 179 and 180: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
- Page 181 and 182: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
- Page 183 and 184: What happens in this particular exc
- Page 185 and 186: To reiterate, positive threshold br
- Page 187 and 188: 41 LIP: [IN FACT THERE WAs quite a
- Page 189 and 190: What happens here is that KIP proff
- Page 191 and 192: 17 KH: the road (1) >and if he want
- Page 193 and 194: 1 2 3 4 5 6 which a new set of indi
- Page 195 and 196: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
- Page 197 and 198: and English differences in conversa
- Page 199 and 200: Notes to Chapter 6 1 The only insta
- Page 201 and 202: study is a sociological one, and it
6.2 Co-operative Positive and Negative Alignments<br />
To begin with I will start with two excerpts which clearly illustrate both<br />
negative and positive alignments in their respective settings. Furthermore, each<br />
<strong>of</strong> these excerpts can be regarded as fairly exemplary <strong>of</strong> sociable conversation<br />
in each respective milieu (see Chapters 2 and 5). In terms <strong>of</strong> the organisation <strong>of</strong><br />
the data here and under subsequent headings, I shall present and consider<br />
English and German conversational data separately. The aim however is not to<br />
have a series <strong>of</strong> parallel analytical sections or chapters but rather to aid the<br />
pursuit <strong>of</strong> a comparative stance. For this reason, even though the data will be<br />
treated under separate sub-headings, much <strong>of</strong> the discussion will include<br />
frequent cross-referencing <strong>of</strong> observations and findings from each data set.<br />
In terms <strong>of</strong> the specific research questions set out in chapter four, my<br />
intent here is to identify, compare, and contrast the conversational manifestation<br />
<strong>of</strong> the alignment contingencies set out in fig 6.1. Although, as I noted in chapter<br />
three, my main analytical focus and comparative discussion shall focus on the<br />
concept <strong>of</strong> self in talk (see Chapters 7 and 8), the work here should also aid in<br />
understanding the nature <strong>of</strong> alignment practices in each culture at the level <strong>of</strong><br />
conversational claims.<br />
Let us begin then by turning first to positive and negative alignments as<br />
evidenced in English sociable conversation.<br />
In the following extract TM&LM, and KJ&LJ (parental couples<br />
respectively) are chatting over dinner about a common topic - that <strong>of</strong> having<br />
children and the need sometimes to get away from them. This short excerpt<br />
demonstrates both positive and negative alignments as solidaric and<br />
individuated claims are made in the process <strong>of</strong> developing 'Time away from the<br />
Kids'.<br />
149