II. Analysis of Argument

.

A. Breakdown of argument and correlation with written transcript:

  • Jeff asks Doris to fly in small plane, even though she's had a bad experience.

    164. Jeff: Why don't we do that? Thirteen Dollars!

  • Doris refuses

    165. Doris: (Agitatedly) that's what I did last time! I flew over there and wound up taking Aloha Airlines back. When I
    came back, I said I'd never do it again.

  • Jeff indicates his displeasure at Doris' refusal.

    166. Jeff: Aww, I think it'd be fun.

  • Tom suggests an alternative camping on Oahu rather than another island.

    178. Tom: Makaha is nice.

  • Doris emphatically accepts, asks Jeff.

    180. Doris: I'd like to do it. How about you?

  • This time Jeff refuses.

    182. Jeff: Nah, I'd rather camp on another island.

    B.Abstract Argument Patterns

    The prevalent argument type used was:

    O ==> A==> O ==> A

    A couple of exchanges started with a comment, followed by two questions, from different people, then an answer.

    For instance,

    85. Jeff: I shook hands with the Governor Wednesday.

    86. Christy: How could you? (laughs) How could you do such a thing?

    87. Doris: You were talking to him? Did you mention it?

    88. Jeff: He was talking with me and a bunch of other guys.

    85. Comment by Jeff.

    86. Rhetorical question by Christy, not really requiring answer.

    87. Two related, consecutive questions by Doris.

    88. Answer to first question of Doris, not to second.

    Also noted in the transcript is an argument style of Doris to question the previous speaker's comment before letting him finish -- done most often to her husband, Jeff.

    199. Jeff: Well, we were talking to him on Wednesday...

    200. Doris: (Interrupting) Did you talk to him about that?

    201. Jeff: For a good half hour. . .we asked him about agricultural land, you know we'd like to work on it. For instance, he said, the Waiahole Waikane...

    202. Doris: (Interrupting) He said that?

    203. Jeff: He said that in regards to that -- everything's based on agriculture, and the State's now trying to get Jeffets for agricultural products.

    308. Jeff: It's all hydraulic. In fact...

    309. Doris: (Interrupting) Oh, you just push a button, and it cuts it, you don't have to use it by hand.

    In some exchanges, this style indicates an impatience on the part of Doris to receive the information, and puts her in a domineering role towards her husband. At other times, this style simply indicates an interest in what's being said, and a request for further information.

    80. Christy: Oh, yeah. I went yesterday (Partial information given).

    81. Doris: Did you go? (Asking question to which answer has been given, as request for further information)

    82. Christy: It was very exciting (Partial information given).

    83. Doris: Really? (Request for further information).

    One rather extraordinary exchange started with a comment, followed by three questions, two opinions of the comment, then an answer.

    291. Jeff: This paper cutter is a big monster, about this big, eh. (Gestures) They had to call this guy from the mainland, brought him all the way down.

    292. Doris: Realty? From the mainland?

    293. Christy: What was it? A papercutter?

    294. Doris. There's nobody here who could fix it?

    295. Tom: It'd cost him a grand just to get that thing fixed.

    296. Doris: It seems crazy.

    297. Jeff: It's a really good one, that's why.

    C. The Analysis of Sequence

    >
    Most of the transcript illustrates regular adjacency pairs. However, there were several embedded exchanges, as shown in the segment directly preceding (lines 291 - 297) and in the following:

    77. Jeff: Did you go over to the Capitol? (To Doris)

    78. Doris: Go where? The Capitol?

    79. Jeff: Yeah, Thursday

    80. Christy: Oh yeah, I went

    81. Doris: Did you go?

    82. Christy: It was very exciting.

    83. Doris: Really?

    77. Requests information from Doris.

    78. She repeats his question, as though not sure if it was heard correctly.

    79. Confirms that that was what he had asked.

    80. Christy (third party) answers question as though it were directed toward her.

    81. Doris (second party) requests further information.

    82. Christy gives more information.

    83. Doris shows interest, indicates desire for more information.

    In the above exchange, Jeff's question is answered by a third party; Doris chooses not to answer him, although a negative answer is implied by, firstly, her not picking up on the question, and secondly, by her requesting the same information of a third party that had been at first requested of herself.

    D. The Analysis of Relationship and Setting

    1. Role Types:

    a. Doris:
  • initiates most topics
  • asks a lot of questions
  • interrupts a lot
  • uses topics to tell of her personal experiences

    • b. Jeff:
  • very playful expressions
  • embellishes his talk with gestures, noises, etc.
  • bring all participants into conversation

    • c. Tom:
  • initiates most of food discussions
  • does not contribute to on-going conversations as much as others do
  • a "strong, silent" type.
    • d. Christy:
  • asks a lot of questions
  • makes a lot of noise - i.e., applause, exclamations, etc.
  • comments are not lengthy

    • 2. Pair Types

    a. Doris/Jeff
  • "newlyweds"
  • close, a lot of teasing
  • tell stories about each other
    • b. Christy/Tom
  • close, many exchanges deal with shared experiences
  • like "an old married couple" , although not married
  • Christy dominates a bit.
    • c. Doris/Christy
  • many shared experiences relating to work and other interests
  • sympathetic, fast exchange rhythm

    • 3. Development of an Exchange.

    Referring to lines 130 - 154 of the transcript, we see Christy initiating a discussion on camping, with "we should go camping sometime." Her intentions seem to be to bring the group together again for a shred experience. Tom tells of his friend who could fly the group over to another island inexpensively. When Doris learns that it is a small plane she says she's not interested...
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