Worlds of Talk: The Presentation of Self in Everyday Conversation

This work is about how people present their selves in everyday talk and interaction. Selves and conversations are skilful accomplishments requiring trust, dependency, and co-ordination. They are produced by multiple partners co-operating in the production of social events. Using the methods of conversation analysis, the book seeks to discover how selves are created and transformed in everyday talk. It examines how pronouns are used to create interactional boundaries, the strategic manipulation of interactional support, talk in dealing with conflict, and stylistic differences associated with gender. Theoretical discussion is combined with detailed analysis of ordinary conversations. The self is a "performed character" - a "dramatic effect" in Goffman's terms - which results from shaping behaviour to create a desired impression. Talk is both the means and the product of such events. Selves live in worlds that talk creates. The book should be of particular interest to students and professionals in sociology, social psychology, sociolinguistics and communication studies.