[Xmca-l] Re: Gordon Wells

Sat Jul 18 15:08:15 PDT 2020

I confess to getting a certain buzz of pride when I heard American
epidemiologists start to complain that they coudn't read Korean medical
papers and had to rely on the English abstracts. It was the real, tangible,
ocular proof that the long century of English dominance in science is
coming to an end (and  maybe what Andy said about end of the long American
century is true, at least in the area of science). But  I think that
whenever you compare abstracts to articles (and when you listen to doctors
complain about getting press releases instead of papers from their
colleagues), you have to say that we academic types don't really do
spoilers. The devil is always in the detail--or the data. So the intro to
the Vygotsky-Halliday-Hasan issue doesn't try to offer some executive
summary that will prevent you from reading the articles themselves. I won't
either.  Professor Lemke knows who he is talking to--he assumes that most
readers will need an intro to Halliday rather than to Vygotsky, and he
offers a list of basic concepts. I count four.

a) Language is not a bag of words or even a box of wordings: it's more like
a natural resource (say, soil, air, water) which can be described according
to three basic human needs: representing doings and happenings, exchanging
goods, services and information, and putting together messages in various
forms (spoken/written, artistic/scientific). These basic human needs give
us the Hallidayan metafunctions: the "what" of ideation, the "who" of
interpersonal/social interaction, and the "how" of textual constructions.

b) Language is not a set of pairings of thought and word: it's more like a
sandwich with a slice of meaning-bread, a slab of wording-meat, and a slice
of sounding-or-spelling bread, with the bread interfacing in a relatively
unmediated way with the environment (context at one end and the human body
at the other) and the meat having only a mediated relationship to us
through the bread.  Here Professor Lemke skips adroitly over his OWN unique
contribution to systemic functional linguistics, one that Halliday always
scrupulously acknowledged and attributed to him by name. If the
relationship were simply a fixed chain of meaning-wording-sounding that
does not change, there is no advantage to this model over the Saussurean
one of pairings. But it isn't: instead, each layer is linked to the last by
META-REDUNDANCY. Meaning is realized (that is, "real"-ized or re-cognized,
depending on whether you are listening or speaking) by relating wording to
speaking, and speaking is realized by relating meaning to wording. That
means that at each realization point the sandwich can be decoupled and
rematched--and that is what makes it an infinite resource and not a finite
bag or box of wordinigs.

c) Languaging isn't a process of labelling things or even experiences. It's
more like a way of pointing them out to someone, a never-ending game of
Where's Waldo, except that you and your interlocutor are right there in the
picture alongside Waldo. So words don't ever have fixed meanings but
instead meaning potential, entirely conditional upon a) and b) above.
(Vygotsky distinguishes between sense and meaning, but Halliday gives us
the actual mechanism whereby meaning potential gets embodied, and it's not
a two-stage process at all....)

d) Language doesn't do universals. Or rather, the universal only exists in
the particular, and the particular exists only through the individual.
Without weather, we wouldn't be talking about climate, and without climate,
we wouldn't know what to say..

David Kellogg
Sangmyung University

New Article: Ruqaiya Hasan, in memoriam: A manual and a manifesto.
Outlines, Spring 2020
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://tidsskrift.dk/outlines/article/view/116238__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJthff4dFQ$ 
New Translation with Nikolai Veresov: *L.S. Vygotsky's Pedological
Works* *Volume
One: Foundations of Pedology*"
 https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811505270__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJvcYZ9zjw$ 

On Sat, Jul 18, 2020 at 9:05 AM mike cole <mcole@ucsd.edu> wrote:

> David--
>
> It is pretty certain that most readers will not yet have read Jay's intro
> the LSV/Halliday/Hasan (!!) symposium.
> And if they are not familiar with Gordon's work, they won't get that
> connection either. Both seem important
> for us to understand.
>
> Might you  have time to  fill out the thoughts? I will cc Jay in case he
> is not reading xmca.
> It seems like a good opportunity to pull a bunch of people/ideas together?
> Hopefully
> mike
>
> On Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 4:56 PM David Kellogg <dkellogg60@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> In almost all the compilation volumes I have read on the
>> Halliday/Vygotsky nexus, there is a tendency towards division of labor: the
>> Hallidayans pretty much ignore Vygotsky and the Vygotskyans pretty much
>> ignore Halliday.
>>
>> Not with Gordon Wells, though. And not here either. Lemke starts off like
>> with what he insists are THREE themes:
>>
>> (1) linguistic resources for making meaning
>> (2) human development and the operation of higher mental functions
>> (3) situated social interaction and historically evolved cultural
>> patterns of practice
>>
>> Hang on! Isn't that really FIVE? At least!
>>
>> Not so. The operation of higher mental functions in you and in me is an
>> instance of a historical process called human development, and situated
>> social interaction is likewise an instance of historically evolved cultural
>> patterns of practice. So from the get-go, Jay Lemke signs up to Hasan's
>> understanding of the "cline of instantiation" (and the crucial distinction
>> between instantiation on the one hand and realization on the other).
>>
>> Are linguistic resources simply the latest instance of making meaning? Or
>> is it better to think of linguistic resources as "realizing" ("real"-izing,
>> but also achieving conscious awareness of and control over) meaning-making?
>>
>> David Kellogg
>> Sangmyung University
>>
>> New Article: Ruqaiya Hasan, in memoriam: A manual and a manifesto.
>> Outlines, Spring 2020
>> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://tidsskrift.dk/outlines/article/view/116238__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJthff4dFQ$ 
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://tidsskrift.dk/outlines/article/view/116238__;!!Mih3wA!WmtkVt30P9wuKiGUAd_HvO0tUOvqZH75IueTFhxapLRlL7BKtsLTCxviAq5imDoQxOJL0g$>
>> New Translation with Nikolai Veresov: *L.S. Vygotsky's Pedological Works* *Volume
>> One: Foundations of Pedology*"
>>  https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811505270__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJvcYZ9zjw$ 
>>
>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811505270__;!!Mih3wA!WmtkVt30P9wuKiGUAd_HvO0tUOvqZH75IueTFhxapLRlL7BKtsLTCxviAq5imDoR-syhWA$>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jul 17, 2020 at 1:53 PM Alfredo Jornet Gil <a.j.gil@ils.uio.no>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Here is the PDF for Jay’s introduction. (As I was downloading it, I
>>> noticed that Jay’s postal address may be wrong; the publisher will be
>>> fixing this before it goes to press, but the text will be the same.)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> As per dedicating the whole issue to Gordon Wells, which we will do in
>>> the overall editorial, if you or others in this list were interested in
>>> writing a post on/in memoriam of Gordon Wells for Cultural Praxis, let us
>>> know and get in touch through culturalpraxis@ils.uio.no
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> Alfredo
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From: *<xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu> on behalf of David Kellogg <
>>> dkellogg60@gmail.com>
>>> *Reply to: *"eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>>> *Date: *Friday, 17 July 2020 at 01:58
>>> *To: *"eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>>> *Subject: *[Xmca-l] Re: Gordon Wells
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Yes, I see Jay Lemke's intro:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10749039.2020.1794009__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJtPAddXSQ$ 
>>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10749039.2020.1794009__;!!Mih3wA!T_CogK1HXO0v1MSEtMt5-XEb_XJ9GP9OaC2DvzP3LaygD4CH0ehleldkrG7uoVdlnDdXsQ$>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Unfortunately, I can't access it without paying an arm and a leg. Isn't
>>> there even a preview?
>>>
>>>
>>> David Kellogg
>>>
>>> Sangmyung University
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> New Article: Ruqaiya Hasan, in memoriam: A manual and a manifesto.
>>>
>>> Outlines, Spring 2020
>>>
>>> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://tidsskrift.dk/outlines/article/view/116238__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJthff4dFQ$ 
>>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/tidsskrift.dk/outlines/article/view/116238__;!!Mih3wA!T_CogK1HXO0v1MSEtMt5-XEb_XJ9GP9OaC2DvzP3LaygD4CH0ehleldkrG7uoVeV6h6agw$>
>>>
>>> New Translation with Nikolai Veresov: *L.S. Vygotsky's Pedological
>>> Works* *Volume One: Foundations of Pedology*"
>>>
>>>  https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811505270__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJvcYZ9zjw$ 
>>>
>>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811505270__;!!Mih3wA!T_CogK1HXO0v1MSEtMt5-XEb_XJ9GP9OaC2DvzP3LaygD4CH0ehleldkrG7uoVfCyYMyng$>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 5:52 PM Alfredo Jornet Gil <a.j.gil@ils.uio.no>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Yes, David, great suggestion. In fact, the set of articles is coming out
>>> these days, to be part of issue 3, and we did discuss exactly that
>>> yesterday. Best,
>>>
>>> Alfredo
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From: *<xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu> on behalf of David Kellogg <
>>> dkellogg60@gmail.com>
>>> *Reply to: *"eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>>> *Date: *Thursday, 16 July 2020 at 03:31
>>> *To: *"eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>>> *Subject: *[Xmca-l] Re: Gordon Wells
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Alfredo--
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> What about dedicating that Vygotsky-Halliday special issue to the late,
>>> great Gordon Wells?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> (You know he really discovered that great metamorphic vein of thinking,
>>> in which I am still a coal-faced little mine boy....)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> David Kellogg
>>>
>>> Sangmyung University
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> New Article: Ruqaiya Hasan, in memoriam: A manual and a manifesto.
>>>
>>> Outlines, Spring 2020
>>>
>>> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://tidsskrift.dk/outlines/article/view/116238__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJthff4dFQ$ 
>>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/tidsskrift.dk/outlines/article/view/116238__;!!Mih3wA!SyvQAgDai_VrZZXKQHAZQI-5BFIdovvjzj1luADDAejsAOuTu1d4LpdPYonFCykvgwRkWg$>
>>>
>>> New Translation with Nikolai Veresov: *L.S. Vygotsky's Pedological
>>> Works* *Volume One: Foundations of Pedology*"
>>>
>>>  https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811505270__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJvcYZ9zjw$ 
>>>
>>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811505270__;!!Mih3wA!SyvQAgDai_VrZZXKQHAZQI-5BFIdovvjzj1luADDAejsAOuTu1d4LpdPYonFCykdCoe3yQ$>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 7:13 AM Alfredo Jornet Gil <a.j.gil@ils.uio.no>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Oh no, these are terrible news. When I started at InterMedia in Oslo
>>> around 2010, Gordon Well’s *Dialogic Inquiry* was still one of the core
>>> references informing much of the work that we were and continue doing on
>>> education. My condolences to colleagues, friends, and family. And thanks
>>> for sharing, Greg.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Alfredo
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From: *<xmca-l-bounces@mailman.ucsd.edu> on behalf of Greg Thompson <
>>> greg.a.thompson@gmail.com>
>>> *Reply to: *"eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca-l@mailman.ucsd.edu>
>>> *Date: *Wednesday, 15 July 2020 at 23:40
>>> *To: *"xmca-l@ucsd.edu" <xmca-l@ucsd.edu>
>>> *Subject: *[Xmca-l] Gordon Wells
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Forwarding this message that I received from the SCT-SLL listserve.
>>>
>>> It is a tragic and unfortunate loss.
>>>
>>> -greg
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> =================
>>>
>>> Begin forwarded message
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Colleagues,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> It is with deep regret that I write to inform this community of the
>>> sudden passing of Gordon Wells. Gordon was struck by a car while riding his
>>> bike Sunday evening in State College, Pennsylvania, where he lived with his
>>> wife, Mari Haneda (a faculty member at Penn State University). He was
>>> rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery but did not pull through.
>>> Gordon was a cherished and respected colleague, teacher, mentor, and friend
>>> to scholars and educators around the world. This is a shocking loss for
>>> Mari and Gordon's family and for all of us.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Matt
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Matthew E. Poehner
>>>
>>> Associate Department Head, Curriculum and Instruction
>>>
>>> Professor of World Languages Education and Applied Linguistics
>>>
>>> President, International Association for Cognitive Education and
>>> Psychology
>>>
>>> Associate Editor, *Language and Sociocultural Theory*
>>>
>>> The Pennsylvania State University
>>>
>>> Department of Curriculum and Instruction
>>>
>>> 159 Chambers Building
>>>
>>> University Park, PA 16802
>>>
>>> 814-865-2161
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Gregory A. Thompson, Ph.D.
>>>
>>> Assistant Professor
>>>
>>> Department of Anthropology
>>>
>>> 880 Spencer W. Kimball Tower
>>>
>>> Brigham Young University
>>>
>>> Provo, UT 84602
>>>
>>> WEBSITE: https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://anthropology.byu.edu/greg-thompson__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJs2zaNwsQ$ 
>>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/anthropology.byu.edu/greg-thompson__;!!Mih3wA!VRy6jSUwl0Kb_amKGVqBpTBWtGAn_XJyZlFGRT5FD_AspPxgPKsi1owAqkPEjmI$>
>>>
>>> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://byu.academia.edu/GregoryThompson__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJvGLZpbtA$ 
>>> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/byu.academia.edu/GregoryThompson__;!!Mih3wA!VRy6jSUwl0Kb_amKGVqBpTBWtGAn_XJyZlFGRT5FD_AspPxgPKsi1owAeubQTGQ$>
>>>
>>>
>
> --
>
> I[image: Angelus Novus]
> <https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelus_Novus__;!!Mih3wA!U3I8lxjVU2vKG3R_OrePCWa1iSeJucjcfhp6bVFVixjrKPwQMjofig4vtTPCa75DmVN6Mg$>
>
> The Angel's View of History is looking as plausible in 2020 as it did to
> Walter Benjamin & Klee in 1940
>
> ---------------------------------------------
> Cultural Praxis Website: https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://culturalpraxis.net__;!!Mih3wA!WWLDjMq2OGWLnHlocqsUxQ9WOUdocjsHvjXJpA0eU00e0t5q9KkqI4DcWgXisJueyxbgGA$ 
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> Re-generating CHAT Website: re-generatingchat.com
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> Archival resources website: lchc.ucsd.edu.
> Narrative history of LCHC:  lchcautobio.ucsd.edu.
>
>
>
>
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