Gee comments that identity and relationships go hand in hand. This is a logical correlation: how we construct our identity within the context of a relationship also helps us to construct that relationship. From another perspective, how we construct relationships also helps us construct our identity within that relationship. I think the context is reflexive tool and identities building tool also go together. One way they could be used together would be to look at code switching, or changing from one social language to another, among students. How we construct different identities for ourselves is fascinating. It would be interesting to use these tools to look at the identities individuals build within different contexts, particularly looking at individuals who code-switch when going between two main contexts and identities versus individuals who do not code-switch. How much of a role, if any, does the ability to code switch play in constructing different identities for different contexts? Of course, the intertextuality tool could also be used. It is fascinating that there are people who can see discourse so technically that they can develop not only a fill in tool but a situated meaning tool which both complements and extends what can be derived from using the fill in tool. By utilizing multiple tools, separately, to analyze data there is so much that could be learned. The best thing about these tools is that they provide a way to keep what we learn from our data well organized, which makes it more transparent to those with whom we share our data.
The topic chaining tool is especially great to use with unmotivated looking to develop an idea of how participants are positioning themselves within the context of the discussion and the environment. It could be very insightful to see how different topics and subtopics with the conversation connect to one another.
Hey. I really liked looking at your data tonight. It was fun seeing my babies all grown up. Funny to think that 7 years ago on this night I took them out trick or treating in Island Home and now they're having student led conversations about SoJourner Truth. Can't help but be proud! :-) I really like that you are looking at these conversation circles without a teacher guiding them. Really neat things happening. Anyway....I came here to comment b/c I thought you might see this before class next week and I really want to show you that book I found on ASL discourse. There's one chapter in particular that I think could help you think about your analysis. It's the 17th book in the Sociolinguistics in Deaf Communities Series. (http://gupress.gallaudet.edu/socio-series.html) One day I have a goal to read all of them! Ha! And after, I'll write one in the series about how the earthquake, Leveque and the Timoun Kay Sourds (Deaf Children's Home) on HSL and Haitian Deaf culture. But seriously remind me to show it to you.
ReplyDelete