Complement Analysis

Complement Analysis

Individuals within each society tend to vary in the ways they use language based on social factors such as gender, age, class, ethnicity, and situation. Words and sentences communicate meaning, however very little information is conveyed by spoken language alone. Emotional information is transmitted by other sounds and gestures that serve to communicate additional meaning. You are going to take on the role of a linguistic anthropologist by analyzing a common language exchange – a compliment.

Instructions

Take note of a compliment exchange. The objective of this activity is to record your observations on the provided compliment form and then use this evidence for your linguistic analysis.

1. Prepare: You should read Chapter 6 (Haviland et al.), especially the section on “Beyond Words: the Gesture-Call System.” This should lead you to focus on:

* The setting

* The words used in the exchange

* Body language – Kinesics and Proxemics

* Paralanguage

* Other relevant behavior

2. Observe: Be aware of conversations around you, between your roommates, between your friends, situations you observe at dinner, in class, etc. Observe a compliment exchange.

3. Record the observations: Record the full transcript of the compliment exchange in full sentences and with other relevant information such as where the compliment occurred. Fill out the Compliment Form.

4. Report: Type your reflections. Hand in 1-2 pages.

* Compliment giver’s intended meaning: what did you observe to determine this?

* Complement receiver’s interpretation: what did you observe to determine this?

* Discussion

COMPLIMENT FORM

YOUR NAME: Parker Nugent

SETTING (when and where) Saturday February 12, Fresh Food Co.

RELATIONSHIP BACKGROUND (Relationship between speakers)

Friends

FULL TRANSCRIPT OF COMPLIMENT EXCHANGE

On February 12, 2011, I observed a compliment exchange in the Fresh Food...