Incidental and essential objects in interaction
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Alexandra Weilenmann
Abstract
A large body of work points to the special status of paper documents in the ecology of objects in the workplace. In this chapter, we revisit this work, focusing on the role of paper in the everyday work of journalists. We examine three quite different empirical examples where paper documents feature in interaction, supporting, in turn, the structuring of conversation, collaboration and inter-organisational interaction. Based on these examples we argue for a distinction between object-focused interactions and object-implicating interactions. In addition, and related to the dual nature of documents being both material objects and carriers of information, we identify an analytic dimension along which interactions with objects can be placed, that from incidental to essential.
Abstract
A large body of work points to the special status of paper documents in the ecology of objects in the workplace. In this chapter, we revisit this work, focusing on the role of paper in the everyday work of journalists. We examine three quite different empirical examples where paper documents feature in interaction, supporting, in turn, the structuring of conversation, collaboration and inter-organisational interaction. Based on these examples we argue for a distinction between object-focused interactions and object-implicating interactions. In addition, and related to the dual nature of documents being both material objects and carriers of information, we identify an analytic dimension along which interactions with objects can be placed, that from incidental to essential.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
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Introduction
- On the interactional ecology of objects 3
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Part A. Objects as situated resources
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Organising and sequencing
- The order of ordering 31
- Initiating activity shifts through use of appraisal forms as material objects during performance appraisal interviews 57
- “I’ll just see what you had before” 79
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Participating and involving
- Objects as tools for talk 101
- Photo sharing as a joint activity between an aphasic speaker and others 125
- Organising the soundscape 145
- Cultivating objects in interaction 169
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Part B. Objects as practical accomplishments
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Shaping and creating
- Cooking instructions and the shaping of things in the kitchen 199
- To follow the materials 227
- Having a ball 249
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Experiencing and identifying
- Establishing joint orientation towards commercial objects in a self-service store 271
- Artworks as touchable objects 295
- Incidental and essential objects in interaction 319
- Envisioning the plan in interaction 339
- Instructed objects 357
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Epilogue
- Trajectories of the object in interaction 381
- Person index 389
- Subject index 391
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
-
Introduction
- On the interactional ecology of objects 3
-
Part A. Objects as situated resources
-
Organising and sequencing
- The order of ordering 31
- Initiating activity shifts through use of appraisal forms as material objects during performance appraisal interviews 57
- “I’ll just see what you had before” 79
-
Participating and involving
- Objects as tools for talk 101
- Photo sharing as a joint activity between an aphasic speaker and others 125
- Organising the soundscape 145
- Cultivating objects in interaction 169
-
Part B. Objects as practical accomplishments
-
Shaping and creating
- Cooking instructions and the shaping of things in the kitchen 199
- To follow the materials 227
- Having a ball 249
-
Experiencing and identifying
- Establishing joint orientation towards commercial objects in a self-service store 271
- Artworks as touchable objects 295
- Incidental and essential objects in interaction 319
- Envisioning the plan in interaction 339
- Instructed objects 357
-
Epilogue
- Trajectories of the object in interaction 381
- Person index 389
- Subject index 391
