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of these selves at conversational work. Whereas the previous chapter focused
on demonstrating the contingencies of positive and negative alignment
practices, this chapter has been about setting out some of the symbolic building
blocks which allow those practices to be manifest as sociable conversation. In
using the concept of the self (7.1), 1 have gone beyond the basing my
arguments in general propensities of sociable conversation (see Chapter 3) to
consider more specifically how such propensities may be played out
conversationally as part and parcel of the sociable practices. This is achieved I
have argued in and through a range of culturally available sociable selves.
I stated at the beginning of this chapter that the concept of the self
employed here was based in the dual mandate reading of Goffman (see 7.1).
That is, the self as conversational performer or player, and the self as image
proffered in and through talk (Cf. Goffman 1963; 1971). Fundamentally, this
notion of the self was posited as being informed at a cultural level by prevailing
positive social values (see 7.1). Upon reflecting on the findings presented in
sections 7.2 to 7.4, it is clear that the performances made and images
presented in the normal process of conducting sociable episodes in each
respective milieu are variously influenced by those values. German sociable
conversation requires for instance participants to mobilise demeaned,
knowledgeable, and examinatory selves in and through their sociable
conversation. This can be clearly seen to index the values set out in 7.1 and
Chapter 2. Likewise, English sociabilist, in and through their performances and
proffered images - narrative / narrated and often abased in nature - can clearly
be seen to be claiming (Goffman 1967) the positive social values operating in
their particular cultural milieu.
Participant in both cultures then can be seen to be aligning themselves to
fellow participants, the situation as a sociable one, and a higher set of shared
cultural vales. What has been implied as alignment throughout will be the focus
of interest in the following and final of the analytical chapters. In terms of the
usefulness of the concept of the self in allowing some analytical purchase both
here, and as part of the study as a whole, I would argue that the data presented
has clearly evidenced the amenability of a sociological conceptual i sation to
actual spoken interaction and highlighted the centrality of the concept of the 231