8.2.1 Different Competence In A Domain Of Discourse
In any exchange there will be some degree of difference in competence and
background knowledge (Sections 5 and 6 above) and this exchange is no different.
For example, in 37
EM draws on her expertise as a professional fashion model to confirm with
some authority - 'I can vouch for that' - that Thatcher never appeared on
page three, 'certainly not naked anyway' (41). Of course, expertise is not
needed to know such an obvious fact, so while she is referring to her own
experience of the domain of professional modelling, she is doing so in the
jokey, bantering manner that has been established in the conversation.
The question that is asked concerning the presentation of women as sex objects
in newspapers in a country (the UK) which elected a woman as political leader,
though a general question answerable by any panellist, is in three consecutive
turns by three separate participants (46,47,48) actually addressed to JK for
the reason that she is a female Conservative MP and, thus, presumed to have
a greater competence to answer. She is also British, whereas the three who
ask for the explanation are not. However, on the more general theme of the
role of women in society, all discussants - a female politician, a female
model, a female dramatist, a male (purportedly) feminist comedian, and a male
host who has presumably given this topic some thought before nominating it,
would seem to be capable of contributing to this domain of discourse. This
is not to say without qualification that all of these are from the 'same'
speech community. Hymes defines such as 'a community sharing rules for conduct
and interpretation of speech, and rules for the interpretation of at least
one linguistic variety' (1972b:54). The discussants are all from English-speaking
countries - the UK, the US, and Australia - and each of these has a variety
of speech communities based on such factors as class, ethnicity and so on.
However, given that these countries have a comparable level of development
and these performers are all white, middle-class celebrities with experience
of appearances on broadcast media, and also given that the practices of such
media chat shows do not differ radically between these countries (PI is, recall,
a show from the US), it is reasonable to say that they have a similar competence
to discuss the issues at hand. However, there are gender differences and the
degree to which these shape the verbal interaction will be highlighted throughout
the analysis. (A discussion of LL's small contribution comes below in 'non-engrossed
recipients'.)
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