Categorial Occasionality and Transformation: Analyzing Culture in Action

Abstract

Our focus in this article is on some uses of categorial transformations. The discussion is divided into two main parts. In the first part, we begin by outlining our approach, namely membership categorization analysis (MCA), indicating the origins of the term and elaborating the conception of MCA as an 'occasioned' members' apparatus. We then explain what we mean by the concept of categorial transformation, review some of the very few previous studies which have investigated this phenomenon and which are pertinent to its further study, and indicate how categorial transformation serves to embody and illustrate the occasionality of MCA. In the second part of the article, we present an analysis of two extracts from a transcript of the naturally occurring talk-in-interaction which occurred in a particular family meal, involving two children and their parents. A variety of categorial transformation practices in this data are identified and their particular local usages described. In the concluding discussion we consider our argument and our analysis in light of previous discussions of the trajectory of Sacks' work.

New Sexism in Couple Therapy: A Discursive Analysis

“…He retains the category predicate “noninvolvement” but attaches it to a new category—“father of newborn.” The category “father” is a part of a broader collection of categories, “family,” that contain other subcategories (e.g., son, granddaughter, niece, mother). J transforms a category into a collection (Hester & Hester, ) using a stage‐of‐life (age) categorization device (Sacks, ). “Father” becomes a collection of categories (fathers of newborns, fathers of teenagers, etc.).…”

Identities and linguistic varieties in Japanese

“…As Kroskrity (2006) points out, language ideologies are productively used in the creation and representation of various social and cultural identities, and language has long served as a key to naturalizing the boundaries of social groups. Since resistance transforms the commonsense meanings of categories (Hester and Hester 2012), studies that show such categorization processes play a role in supporting social change. It is hoped that by unveiling L1 speakers' categorial norms that they take for granted and L2 speakers' resistance, this study helps to break the cycle of reflexivity of categorization practices and language ideologies.…”

“…Although they were both initiated by Sacks (1972) in his ethnomethodological work, CA and MCA are distinct methods. Most CA works exclusively describe the sequential organization of talk-in-interaction, and MCA practitioners prefer to regard MCA as a different enterprise from CA (Hester and Hester 2012). However, participants do in fact make certain categories relevant in the development of interaction, and their orientation to such emerging categories may also determine how they act in the local context.…”

Categorization in talk

“…In addition to the thought on 'category' as a device, another contribution of Sacks' (1972b) relevant to the present study is that of standard relational pairs between category members (e.g., parent-child, husband-wife). Though past studies in semantics and pragmatics and recent works on investigation of oppositeness in context have accumulated a wealth of information on the nature of oppositeness of words and expressions (see, e.g., Jeffries' recent work [e.g., 2010]), Sacks' followers' work (e.g., Clifton [2009]; Hester and Eglin [1997]; Hester and Hester [2012]; Silverman [1998]; Jayyusi [1984]) provides an alternative way of observing the asymmetrical contrast pairs that are morally constituted for on-site orientation. Their idea of 'orientation' is especially significant for the present study's goal of exploring systematically what contrast pairs the speaker orients to as a conceptual apparatus and what its consistent use in his talk socially communicates.…”

“…This paper proposes an interdisciplinary approach that looks at the process through which social categories like color binaries are oriented to and organize conversation as a means for talk. The proposed model incorporates the research perspectives of category devices (Sacks 1995) and membership categorization analysis in ethnomethodology (Hester and Eglin 1997;Hester and Hester 2012) into linguistic analysis, and technically employs Bilmes' (2009Bilmes' ( , 2011 approach to taxonomy as occasioned semantics in interaction.…”