discourse analysis Grami

Situated Meaning

A context-specific meaning created 'on the spot' based on past experiences and understanding of the context.

Example of Situated Meaning

The interpretation of 'The coffee spilled, get a mop' differs from 'The coffee spilled, get a broom' based on context.

Reflexivity in Language

The property of language that allows it to create and reflect the contexts in which it is used.

Reflexivity and Discourse Analysis

Reflexivity highlights the dynamic nature of language and its ability to adapt to different situations.

Where Situated Meanings Reside

Situated meanings are often negotiated between people through communicative social interaction.

Example of Negotiating Situated Meanings

A conversation where someone says 'I think good relationships shouldn’t take work' and they discuss what 'work' means.

Cultural Models

'Storylines,' families of connected images, or informal 'theories' shared by specific social or cultural groups.

Cultural Models and Situated Meanings

Cultural models explain why words have various situated meanings according to the standards of the group.

Storage and Sharing of Cultural Models

Cultural models are distributed across the different sorts of expertise and viewpoints in a group.

Example of Cultural Model Related to 'Coffee'

Involves berry picking, preparation as beans or grain, and cultural implications tied to different types of coffee.

Linking Cultural Models

Cultural models link to create bigger storylines that organize thinking and practices of sociocultural groups.

Example of Cultural Model Related to Raising Children

Children are seen as dependent and go through stages of disruptive behaviors while seeking independence.

Reflexivity in Language

The property of language that allows it to reflect and construct the contexts in which it is used.

Example of Reflexivity in Dialogue

The difference in interpretation between 'How are ya?' and 'Fine' compared to 'What’s YOUR problem?'.

Question Raised by Reflexivity

Reflexivity raises the question: Which comes first, the situation or the language?

Reflexivity and Reality

Reflexivity reflects the reciprocity between language and reality, shaping how we understand both.

Analogy for Reflexivity

Language and context are like two mirrors facing each other, reflecting images back and forth.

Focus of Discourse Analysis

It focuses on different social languages within cultures rather than on languages like English or Navaho.

Differences in Language Use

Physicists, street-gang members, and entrepreneurs each use different social languages with unique grammatical resources.

Control of Social Languages

We control many social languages and switch among them in different contexts; no one is truly monolingual.

Hybridization of Social Languages

The mixing of social languages for specific purposes, which may create novel social meanings.