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CHAPTER
9
CONCLUSION:
THE TO AND FRO OF FACEWORK IN SOCIABLE
EPISODES
9.0 Introduction
In the preceding analysis presented over Chapters 6 to 81 have attempted to
address German and English differences in sociable conversation by applying
the model of facework as alignment advanced in Chapter 3. In Chapter 61 drew
on conversational data to illustrate how talk could be interpreted in terms of both
positive and negative alignment possibilities suggested by this approach.
Following this, In Chapter 7,1 identified and illustrated salient sociable selves
regularly mobilised in sociable conversation by English and German
conversationalists in their respective milieus. Finally, in Chapter 81 essentially
put the two together to illustrate how German and English differences in
sociable conversation could be explained in terms of the routine alignment of
sociable selves.
In this chapter I wish to conclude the study as a whole. First I shall briefly
summarise the work presented in this thesis chapter by chapter (9.1). Following
this I shall reflect more specifically on the facework as alignment approach
employed in this study, focusing specifically on the concepts of equilibrium,
alignment, and the self as central elements to this approach. In particular I want
to spell out quite clearly what I attempted to achieve by developing this
particular analytic framework, and in how far its application over the preceding
chapters has afforded some analytical purchase on the body of data available
for analysis (9.2). Following this I shall consider specifically what the application
of this analytical framework has told us about English and German sociable
conversation and the sociological bases for variations in sociable style (9.3). 1
shall then attempt to sketch out areas for possible future research employing
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