Analyzing Narrative: Discourse and Sociolinguistic Perspectives

Thesociallymindedlinguisticstudyofstorytellingineverydaylifehasbeenrapidlyexpanding.Thisbookprovidesacriticalengagementwiththisdynamicfieldofnarrativestudies,addressinglong-standingquestionssuchasdefinitionsofnarrativeandviewsofnarrativestructurebutalsomorerecentpreoccupationssuchasnarrativediscourseandidentities,narrativelanguage,powerandideologies.Italsooffersanoverviewofawiderangeofmethodologies,analyticalmodesandperspectivesonnarrativefromconversationanalysistocriticaldiscourseanalysis,tolinguisticanthropologyandethnographyofcommunication.Thediscussionengageswithstudiesofnarrativeinmultiplesituationalandculturalsettings,frominformal-intimatetoinstitutional.Italsodemonstrateshowrecenttrendsinnarrativeanalysis,suchassmallstoriesresearch,positioninganalysisandsocioculturalorientations,havecontributedtoanewparadigmthatapproachesnarrativesnotsimplyastexts,butratherascomplexcommunicativepracticesintimatelylinkedwiththeproductionofsociallife.