Sidnell2005a

From emcawiki
Jump to: navigation, search
Sidnell2005a
BibType BOOK
Key Sidnell2005a
Author(s) Jack Sidnell
Title Talk and Practical Epistemology: The Social Life of Knowledge in a Caribbean Community
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Guyana, Practical epistemology, Knowledge in interaction
Publisher John Benjamins
Year 2005
Language English
City Amsterdam / Philadelphia
Month
Journal
Volume
Number
Pages
URL Link
DOI
ISBN 9789027294098
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

Download BibTex

Abstract

Drawing on the methods of conversation analysis and ethnography, this book sets out to examine the epistemological practices of Indo-Guyanese villagers as these are revealed in their talk and daily conduct. Based on over eighty-five hours of conversation recorded during twelve months of ethnographic fieldwork, the book describes both the social distribution of knowledge and the villagers' methods for distinguishing between fact and fancy, knowledge and belief through close analyses of particular encounters. The various chapters consider uncertainty and expertise in advice-giving, the cultivation of ignorance in an attempt to avoid scandal, and the organization of peer groups through the display of knowledge in the activity of reminiscing local history. An orienting chapter on questions and an appendix provide an introduction to conversation analysis. The book makes a contribution to linguistic anthropology, conversation analysis and cross-cultural pragmatics. The conclusion discusses the implications of the analysis for current understanding of practice, knowledge and social organization in anthropology and neighboring disciplines.

Notes