Language of Similarity and Difference: Speaking about Identities in Czech(oslovak) Holocaust Survivors' Testimonies
Abstract
My paper explores linguistic and conversational mechanisms of collective identity expression in oral history interview (OHI). Just like any other communication (talk-in-interaction), OHI is oriented towards the reduction of incertainty.
Members are aiming at collaborative production of "generally comprehensible" account of the past in OHI (with respect to the audience), but also "saving face" at the same time. To achieve these goals, several strategies of identity refinement are employed during the interview, as demonstrated by the data: (i) specification, (ii) shifting, (iii) redefinition, (iv) differentiation.
Sometimes the process of identity refinement is reflected as a part of the "life story" told (an "episode") - this is narrative layer of OHI. Sometimes the process of identity refinement is taking place as a part of the interview itself - this is interactional layer of OHI.
Future research should aim at answering such questions as: Is the employment of identity refinement strategies different on narrative and interactional layer of OHI? How is OHI as an "elicited talk" different from naturally occurring conversation? Is the level of acceptable uncertainty different from another conversational situations (hypothetically lower)?