Occupation Flashcards
jargon
special words or expressions used by a profession or group that are difficult for others to understand.
John Swales ‘The web of discourse’ (occupation)
Referred to as being part of a ‘discourse community’.
Within a workplace employees are part of a group who share a common purpose and goal within that web.
Drew and Heritage’s research on jargon
suggested that knowing the relevant jargon allows us to make the job run more efficiently.
Herrgard’s argument for jargon
In time-constrained situations efficiency is key so jargon works well here.
David Crystals view on jargon
- leads to efficiency and optimal communication.
- builds a group identity in which more ‘elite’ members can emerge. e.g. bosses know/use more jargon.
Spolsky’s negative view on jargon
you can stand out if you don’t know or use jargon correctly.
examples of jargon
‘code eight’- means a officer needs help immediately (police)
‘depreciation’- process by which an asset loses value over a period of time (accounting)
Koester (occupation)
Argues convos in a workplace can divide into ‘transactional’ and ‘interactional’ interactions.
- ‘transactional’ - about getting something done.
- ‘interactional’- about serving a social purpose.
conversationalisation
(Norman Fairclough)
process by which interactions in workplaces become less+ less formal.
Who did a theory called institutional talk?
Drew and Heritage 1992
The 6 features of Drew and Heritage’s institutional talk
- goal orientation
- turn taking rules/restrictions
- structure
- professional lexis
- allowable contributions
- asymmetry
Goal orientation
participants in a workplace usually focus on specific tasks/goals.
turn taking rules/restrictions
special turn taking rules in operation or unwritten rules.
asymmetry
one specific speaker who often has more power or specialist knowledge than the other.
Herbert and Straight’s research on workplace convos
Compliments are paid, but the compliments move down the hierarchy.
e.g. bosses are more likely to pay you a compliment than you are to them.
Hornyak (occupation)
believes that conversations are initiated by those who have the most power.
Fairclough 2001- unequal encounters (occupation)
one speaker as powerful participant and others as less powerful.
Powerful participants place constraints upon less powerful.
e.g. teacher control what is said in a class
what does Atkinson say about asymmetry? (occupation)
in certain workplaces the asymmetry is accentuated.
E.g. notes there is hyper-formal turn-taking order in parliament.
What did Holmes and Stubbe investigate in 2003? (occupation)
ways managers would engage in phatic talk with employees.
Phatic talk
‘small talk’ to establish and maintain interpersonal relationships.
2 types of phatic talk Holmes and Stubbe uncovered?
Repressive discourse strategy and oppressive discourse strategy.
Repressive discourse strategy
indirect way of exercising power through conversational constraints.
oppressive discourse strategy
direct way of exercising power in convo
What did Winnick demonstrate in 1976? (occupation)
that humour can be used to criticise authority.
What does Winnick mock and challenge? (occupation)
mocks management speak
challenges asymmetrical power structure
management speak
dresses up simple concepts so they appear more impressive
often used to create a feeling of ‘team spirit’ to motivate employees.
examples of management speak
- ‘bring to the table’- bringing ideas.
- ‘pro-active’- doing your job
John Swales- Discourse Community
group of people who work towards a common goal and share a method of communication.
Feature of a discourse community
- share a set of common goals
- communicate internally
- specialise lexis+ discourse
- threshold level of expert members
