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Signaling equality: On humor and other semiotic resources that serve disagreement and display horizontal hierarchy

  • Einav Argaman

    Einav Argaman (b. 1969) is a lecturer at the Levinsky College of Education. Her research interests include talk and embodiment in educational institutions, hierarchical relationships, the manifestation of disagreement, and change processes. Her publications include “Assuming positions: Organizational change as mediated through metaphors” (2007); “In the same boat? On metaphor-variations as mediating the individual voice in organizational change” (2008); “Explaining educational experience: On one- and two-handed gestures as semiotic entities and the flexibility of their use” (2010); and “Teachers’ words and verbal expressions of resistance to change” (with G. Alexander, 2013).

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Published/Copyright: May 19, 2015

Abstract

This paper studies the public display of horizontal hierarchies. Drawing on a naturalistic paradigm, audio- and videotaped presentations of college students were investigated. The students presented in class before their peers. Excerpts that comprise disagreement between equals were selected for analysis. The primary assumption was that disagreements can serve as a potential risk to horizontal hierarchies. Hence, they serve as an interesting source for exploring if and how colleagueship is sustained. The analysis shows the use of various verbal and nonverbal semiotic resources (including humor), which display the shift students make between assuming power and signaling equality. The sequential organization of disagreements (detailed in the paper) pertains to the building blocks (i.e., a contest and a retreat from confrontational positions) that comprise horizontal hierarchy. These building blocks are exhibited in different turns and within turn-constructional components.

About the author

Einav Argaman

Einav Argaman (b. 1969) is a lecturer at the Levinsky College of Education. Her research interests include talk and embodiment in educational institutions, hierarchical relationships, the manifestation of disagreement, and change processes. Her publications include “Assuming positions: Organizational change as mediated through metaphors” (2007); “In the same boat? On metaphor-variations as mediating the individual voice in organizational change” (2008); “Explaining educational experience: On one- and two-handed gestures as semiotic entities and the flexibility of their use” (2010); and “Teachers’ words and verbal expressions of resistance to change” (with G. Alexander, 2013).

Appendix 1: Phonetic transcription

LetterConsonantsVowels
NameTranscribed FormNameTranscribed Form
אalefnot transcribedkamats/patachA
בּbetBsegol/tsereE
בvetVxiriki, e
גgimelGxolamO
דdaletDshuruk/kibbutzU
הheH
וvavV
זzayinZ
חxetX
טtetT
יyodY
כּkafK
כxafX
לlamedL
מmemm
נnunn
סsamexs
עayin
פּpep
פfef
צtsadets
קkofk
רreshr
שּׁshinsh
שׂsins
תtavt

Definite article (ha-), the particle she-, the conjunction ve- and prepositions are separated from following words by a hyphen.

Appendix 2

Transcription notation

// (Double oblique).

The point at which a current speaker’s talk is overlapped by the talk of another.

= (Equal sign).

A continuous stream of speech with no overlap or break.

: (Colon(s)).

A prolonged syllable.

˚ (Degree sign).

The talk that precedes is low in volume.

OUT (Upper case).

Increased volume.

(0.0) (Numbers is parentheses).

Elapsed time in tenths of seconds.

↑ (Up arrow).

Pitch rise.

↓ (Down arrow).

Pitch fall.

(h)

Explosive aspiration and/or an indication of laughter.

(()) (Material between double parentheses).

Audio materials other than actual verbalization.

. (Vertical ellipsis)

Intervening turns at talking have been taken out of the fragment.

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Published Online: 2015-5-19
Published in Print: 2015-6-1

©2015 by De Gruyter Mouton

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