Blythe2022
| Blythe2022 | |
|---|---|
| BibType | ARTICLE |
| Key | Blythe2022 |
| Author(s) | Joe Blythe, Ilana Mushin, Lesley Stirling, Rod Gardner |
| Title | The epistemics of social relations in Murrinhpatha, Garrwa and Jaru conversations |
| Editor(s) | |
| Tag(s) | EMCA, Person reference, Epistemic rights, Kinterms, Generic reference, Insiders and outsiders |
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| Year | 2022 |
| Language | English |
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| Month | |
| Journal | Journal of Pragmatics |
| Volume | 191 |
| Number | April 2022 |
| Pages | 175-193 |
| URL | Link |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.pragma.2022.01.006 |
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Abstract
We present a comparison of practices of person reference in three different Australian Aboriginal language communities and discuss how the selection of referring expressions contributes to an ‘epistemics of social relations’. In all three communities, while names and nicknames are common ways of referring to non-present referents, kinterms serve to position referents within communal space, and thus within the epistemic domain of the participants. Conversely, we find that generic descriptors (e.g. whitefella, policeman) are commonly used for outsiders, even when their names are known. As highly specific relational descriptors, kinterms thereby accentuate participants' relative rights and responsibilities to know about the referents and their concerns. As non-relational terms generic descriptors do not place referents within the communal epistemic domain and they do not provide information about participants' rights and responsibilities with respect to those referents. We show here how the selection of kinterms and generics are locally managed in conversation to position referents with respect to a communal epistemic domain.
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