After analyzing the provided audiotape between Gramma and Sissy, it becomes evident that Gramma faces a communicative dilemma involving confronting Sissy, her granddaughter, about her eating disorder. A communicative dilemma is when two desired identities, within the same person, implicate conflicting discourse practices (Esch 2016). In the data provided, it is apparent that Gramma aspires to be loving and supportive of her granddaughter, but at the same time she must address the issue in a stern and forbidding manner, to give the matter at hand the seriousness it deserves. In order to illustrate this communicative dilemma, Gramma is confronted with, the following class concepts and discourse practices will be defined in how they relate to
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When Sissy expresses resistance to Gramma claims, stating that she is losing weight for her wedding and that she does not purge her food often, Gramma states, “They all said the same thing when they started dear. (...) You know what I would like to do? I would like to take you to a doctor. And we’ll talk it over and you can tell them” (Lines 98-103). When Gramma refers to Sissy as “dear,” she is confirming one of her own desired identities of being a supportive and loving parental figure in Sissy’s life. Through the use of this personal address, terms people use to name others to whom they are speaking to (Tracey & Robles, 2013), Gramma is creating an environment where Sissy feels safe to admit that she is struggling with bulimia and can confide in Gramma regarding how she feels. “Dear” is one example of how Gramma makes use of personal addressment, though she also refers to Sissy as “honey”. This shows the listener the level of closeness between Sissy and her grandmother, for someone would not have this conversation with a stranger let alone call that stranger endearing names, such as honey and dear. Additionally, Gramma uses controlled enunciation, …show more content…
As those two identities competed with each other, to see which identity and techniques worked best to help Sissy understand that she needs help, it becomes evident through the analysis of various discourse practice and class concepts, which identity Sissy best responds to. Through this analysis, it becomes apparent that Sissy best responds to her grandmother’s loving and supportive identity, for it is when Gramma is expressing that identity that she gets Sissy to agree to see a doctor. Though, it can additionally be argued, that since Gramma is being so persistent and unchanging in her desire to have Sissy confront her harmful life practices and have Sissy go see a therapist, that Gramma’s stern and condemning identity just further supports her loving and caring identity. This is due to the fact that Gramma cares enough about Sissy’s wellbeing to have this difficult and uncomfortable conversation with her granddaughter, for if she did not deem it absolutely necessary to have this conversation, nor have concerns or worries about Sissy, she would not have voluntarily put herself in this vulnerable and uneasy
When Sissy expresses resistance to Gramma claims, stating that she is losing weight for her wedding and that she does not purge her food often, Gramma states, “They all said the same thing when they started dear. (...) You know what I would like to do? I would like to take you to a doctor. And we’ll talk it over and you can tell them” (Lines 98-103). When Gramma refers to Sissy as “dear,” she is confirming one of her own desired identities of being a supportive and loving parental figure in Sissy’s life. Through the use of this personal address, terms people use to name others to whom they are speaking to (Tracey & Robles, 2013), Gramma is creating an environment where Sissy feels safe to admit that she is struggling with bulimia and can confide in Gramma regarding how she feels. “Dear” is one example of how Gramma makes use of personal addressment, though she also refers to Sissy as “honey”. This shows the listener the level of closeness between Sissy and her grandmother, for someone would not have this conversation with a stranger let alone call that stranger endearing names, such as honey and dear. Additionally, Gramma uses controlled enunciation, …show more content…
As those two identities competed with each other, to see which identity and techniques worked best to help Sissy understand that she needs help, it becomes evident through the analysis of various discourse practice and class concepts, which identity Sissy best responds to. Through this analysis, it becomes apparent that Sissy best responds to her grandmother’s loving and supportive identity, for it is when Gramma is expressing that identity that she gets Sissy to agree to see a doctor. Though, it can additionally be argued, that since Gramma is being so persistent and unchanging in her desire to have Sissy confront her harmful life practices and have Sissy go see a therapist, that Gramma’s stern and condemning identity just further supports her loving and caring identity. This is due to the fact that Gramma cares enough about Sissy’s wellbeing to have this difficult and uncomfortable conversation with her granddaughter, for if she did not deem it absolutely necessary to have this conversation, nor have concerns or worries about Sissy, she would not have voluntarily put herself in this vulnerable and uneasy