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In terms of its positive and negative characteristics then, this piece of talk may be treated as marked by heightened positive alignment. That is, as both players and images, contributing participants mobilise similar selves. In terms of images, participants mobilise what were termed generally 'party- going' selves, that is persons who all attended the same party. Importantly, there are similarities in the symbolic nature of these selves. In terms of selves as players, again, there are striking similarities in the types of selves mobilised across participants. All mobilise re-invoking and abased selves. Thus, what is primarily positive alignment is achieved in and through the mobilisation of normative English sociable selves. The equilibric handling of conversation and selves is clearly evidenced in 'Cookie's Party'. First and foremost, this piece of talk is 'typical' of English sociable handling of reminisced topics. It is quite generally clearly recognisable talk about a past party that'we' attended, one not unique to one or the other individual but common to all. Second, there is an preference towards solidarity in terms of how the party is defined, and how it is evaluated. There is then a definitional and evaluative working consensus underlying the talk (Goffman 1967). In terms of sociable selves, participants are clearly working towards ratifying and mutually supporting re-invoking selves as players, and abased selves as images, achieved primarily in and through the mobilisation of similar selves. Participants collective mobilise both re-invoking and abased selves not only to allow them to make their own conversational claims, but to support those made and mobilised by their fellow participants. In this way, participants are able to talk about Cookie's party in the way that they do, as a collective reminiscence. Of course, as I shell demonstrate in the following episode, ratification and support need not rely on the mobilisation and alignment of similar sociable selves, neither in English nor German talk. However, it is the positive alignment of sociable selves which marks'Cookie's Party'. 250
Conversely, in considering the next episode, I want to demonstrate how sociable equilibrium is equally routinely and normatively achieved in and through what I referred to in Chapter 6 as primarily negatively aligned talk The dramatic exaggeration and humour evidenced in Cookie's Party is much evidenced in the following episode. Here however, a different set of sociable selves are being mobilised and a different primary alignment being achieved. Excerpt 8.2 Tommy Fields' RP: We went to some rough joints in Hamburg, big style (0.5) Hm but at least you had it (0.5) you felt safe didn't yeah EP: That's right yeah it was= LP: =You've never been to the Tommy Fields in Oldham KP: Ohhhhh[h RP: [Well no I know I don't wanna go there [Kens told me about it LP: [Ohhh: God:: KP: Terrible [that LP: [That is the the (1) THE= RP: =Yeah= LP: =most worst (0.5) sc- I mean= KP: =Scary= LP: I can look after meself and [I'm generally extremely confident EP: [Yeah LP: I KP: [I mean when I say it was scary I'm not bein'= LP: =in a pub)= KP: =Scary place to be= LP: But, it's one of those, it's [like the hills have eyes they was [a:: Il RP: [yeah KP: [I was less=l was less scared, no word of a lie LP: You walk in and everybody stops [talkin' instantly KP: [I was less scared in the middle of the main st[and EP: [Awe::::: LP: Stops dri[nkin' KP: [At City LP: And they've all got like b[ald heads and sticks, everybody KP: [ (when United EP: Awe hahahahha[ha LP: [h)And hob nail boots [on RP: [Yeah LP: And they stop instantly--the whole pub [goes dead quiet and they look at KP: [yeah LP: yo[u EP: [Bloody hell fire 251
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In terms <strong>of</strong> its positive and negative characteristics then, this piece <strong>of</strong><br />
talk may be treated as marked by heightened positive alignment. That is, as<br />
both players and images, contributing participants mobilise similar selves. In<br />
terms <strong>of</strong> images, participants mobilise what were termed generally 'party-<br />
going' selves, that is persons who all attended the same party. Importantly,<br />
there are similarities in the symbolic nature <strong>of</strong> these selves. In terms <strong>of</strong> selves<br />
as players, again, there are striking similarities in the types <strong>of</strong> selves<br />
mobilised across participants. All mobilise re-invoking and abased selves.<br />
Thus, what is primarily positive alignment is achieved in and through<br />
the mobilisation <strong>of</strong> normative English sociable selves.<br />
The equilibric handling <strong>of</strong> conversation and selves is clearly evidenced<br />
in 'Cookie's Party'. First and foremost, this piece <strong>of</strong> talk is 'typical' <strong>of</strong> English<br />
sociable handling <strong>of</strong> reminisced topics. It is quite generally clearly<br />
recognisable talk about a past party that'we' attended, one not unique to one<br />
or the other individual but common to all. Second, there is an preference<br />
towards solidarity in terms <strong>of</strong> how the party is defined, and how it is evaluated.<br />
There is then a definitional and evaluative working consensus underlying the<br />
talk (G<strong>of</strong>fman 1967). In terms <strong>of</strong> sociable selves, participants are clearly<br />
working towards ratifying and mutually supporting re-invoking selves as<br />
players, and abased selves as images, achieved primarily in and through the<br />
mobilisation <strong>of</strong> similar selves. Participants collective mobilise both re-invoking<br />
and abased selves not only to allow them to make their own conversational<br />
claims, but to support those made and mobilised by their fellow participants.<br />
In this way, participants are able to talk about Cookie's party in the way that<br />
they do, as a collective reminiscence. Of course, as I shell demonstrate in the<br />
following episode, ratification and support need not rely on the mobilisation<br />
and alignment <strong>of</strong> similar sociable selves, neither in English nor German talk.<br />
However, it is the positive alignment <strong>of</strong> sociable selves which marks'Cookie's<br />
Party'.<br />
250