Gonzalez-Martinez-etal2017

From emcawiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Gonzalez-Martinez-etal2017
BibType ARTICLE
Key Gonzalez-Martinez-etal2017
Author(s) Esther González-Martínez, Adrian Bangerter, Kim Lê Van
Title Passing-by “Ça va?” checks in clinic corridors
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, multimodal conversation analysis, passing-by interaction, “goingokay” (Ça va?) check, hospital corridor conversation, mobility
Publisher
Year 2017
Language English
City
Month
Journal Semiotica
Volume 215
Number
Pages 1–42
URL Link
DOI 10.1515/sem-2015-0107
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

Download BibTex

Abstract

We have conducted a video-based field study on work interactions between staff members in the corridors of a hospital outpatient clinic in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. In this paper, we examine a specific mobile interactional configuration: passing-by interactions in which staff members get involved as they walk following close and parallel trajectories going in opposite directions. We also examine a specific conversational activity performed in the corridors: checks – introduced by the French expression “Ça va?” (Going okay?) – with which one staff member verifies that the situation of a colleague conforms to a routine state of affairs. Adopting the approaches of multimodal and conversation analysis, we point out features of the interactional configuration and the conversational activity under consideration that participants combine in some excerpts analyzed in the paper. Passing-by checks are practically accomplished, on the spot, through the sequential, embodied and embedded conduct of the staff members. We identify resources involved in building close but non-convergent trajectories, limiting interactional involvement, and coordinating talk and walk for a fleeting co-presence. The article contributes to the study of “on-the-move” contingent interactions as they happen in hospital corridors.

Notes