S522 Lecture 1What do we bring to our

research questions?How do we interpret?

January 27

Communication is a social process.Our interpretation of any text is an interaction between: what the communicator wants to convey, what we share with the communicator, the extent to which there is common ground, and what we bring to the interpretation

The word in language is half someone else’s. It becomes ‘one’s own’ only when the speaker appropriates the word, adapting it to his own semantic expressive intention. Prior to this..the word does not exist in a neutral or impersonal language…rather it exists in other people’s mouths, serving other people’s intentions: it is from there that one must take the word and make it one’s own.Bakhtin, 1981 [1935]

The difference between ‘monologue’ and ‘dialogue’

• What we assume, and do, when we analyse a monologue

• What we assume, and do, when we analyse a dialogue

A: “It’s ten o’clock”B: “I went to the dentist”A: “OK”

What is ‘common ground’ and how do we establish it?

Clark & Brennan, 1991

• Acknowledgement• Relevant next turn; appropriate response• Continued attention• Alternative description offered• Indicative gesture eg pointing• Referential installments - sequencing task etc• Trial references• Verbatim display - repetition• Installments - giving details in sequence• Spelling

Examples of failed ‘common ground’:

Incompetence…. and humor

Scene: Beth and Dan meet coming out of the subway one morningBeth: Dan, guess what happened yesterday. My boss told me I’m being promoted to supervisor down at the plant. Not only that but he gave me some other good news that was a real surprise.Dan: I’m really glad for you Beth! Getting a promotion is a terrific feeling. I’m sure you’re really going to do well in your new position.Beth: Thanks Dan, it’s nice of you to say that. I’m really excited about it though I’m a little scared too. But it’s the other thing my boss told me about that really makes me happy.Dan: Maybe you could tell me more about this other news that he gave you yesterday.

Scene: Judy sees Sam in the hospital waiting room.Judy: Sam, the most awful thing has happened. My mother fell on a patch of ice in front of her house and may have broken her hip. The doctor called me at the office and told me to come right over. I’m especially worried because of what my mother found out last week.Sam: Oh Judy, I’m sorry to hear that. You must be very worried about her. Have you been here long?Judy: I’ve been waiting around for nearly an hour and there’s no word of her condition. This whole thing wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for what the doctor told her a couple of days ago.Sam: There’s a big patch of ice near the building where I live. It’s a nice building, though, and I really enjoy living there.

Groucho: Ravelli, I want you to meet Mr JonesChico: Awright, where should I meet him?

Miss Dimple: Where can I get hold of you?Chico: I don’t know lady. You see, I’m very ticklishMiss Dimple: I mean, where do you live?Chico: I live with my brother

Cultural icons

Pictures with a deliberate message or management of the image

Unfortunate images….

Images with multi-layered, possibly not intended, meaning….

Image with text…