The Contextualization of Language
Published on 11. June 1992
Book
Hardback
402 pages
978-1-55619-290-6 (ISBN)
Description
This volume suggests a novel treatment of context in the analysis of everyday interaction. On a theoretical level, it advocates a switch of focus from 'context' as a preestablished, monolithic category which constringes co-participants' verbal and nonverbal behaviour, to an active notion of 'contextualization': in order to make oneself understood, participants have to establish and maintain those shared contextual frames which in turn are relevant to the local interpretation of their verbal and nonverbal activities. On an empirical level, the volume contains exemplary analyses that show how participants employ 'contextualization cues' of prosodic (rhythm, intonation, tempo, etc.) or nonverbal (gaze, gesture, etc.) nature in order to 'achieve context'.The volume is also an appraisal of the theory of contextualization developed by John Gumperz. In their contributions, researchers from various schools of research, such as conversation analysis, micro-ethnography, phonetics/phonology and metapragmatics, relate their work to this theory.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Amsterdam/Philadelphia
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 245 mm
Width: 164 mm
Weight
780 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-55619-290-6 (9781556192906)
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Schweitzer Classification
Content
1. Preface; 2. I. Theory of Contextualization; 3. Introduction: John Gumperz' Approach to Contextualization (by Auer, Peter); 4. Contextualization Revisited (by Gumperz, John J.); 5. The Indeterminancy of Contextualization: When Is Enough Enough? (by Silverstein, Michael); 6. II. Gesture and Other Visible Behaviour; 7. Context, Activity and Participation (by Goodwin, Charles); 8. Gesture's Discreet Tasks: Multiple Relevancies in Visual Conduct and in the Contextualisation of Language (by Heath, Christian); 9. Comments (by Hinnenkamp, Volker); 10. Previews: Gestures at the Transition Place (by Streeck, Jurgen); 11. The return Gesture: Some Remarks on Context, Inference, and Iconic Gesture (by Fornel, Michel de); 12. III. Prosody; 13. Gendered Contexts (by Cook-Gumperz, Jenny); 14. Theatrical Moments: On Contextualizing Funny and Dramatic moods in the Course of Telling a Story in Conversation; 15. Comments (by Gunthner, Susanne); 16. Intonation as a Contextualization Device: Case Studies on the Role of Prosody, Especially Intonation, in Contextualizing Story Telling in Conversation (by Selting, Margret); 17. Comments (by Schwitalla, Johannes); 18. Continuing and Restarting (by Local, John); 19. Contextualizing Relevance: On Some Forms and Functions of Speech Rate Changes in Everyday Conversation (by Uhmann, Susanne); 20. Contextualizing Discourse: The Prosody of Interactive Repair (by Couper-Kuhlen, Elizabeth); 21. They Know All the Lines: Rhythmic Organization and Contextualization in a Conversational Listing Routine; 22. Index