Our focus on language
Keith R Sawyer (sawyer who-is-at cats.ucsc.edu)
Tue, 10 Oct 1995 17:49:44 -0700 (PDT)
In a recent article in Ethos (September 1995, Vol. 23 No. 3) Unni Wikan
critiques the focus on narrative in studies of the self cross-culturally,
viewing it as a manifestation of Western academics' preoccupation with
language. She argues that the American situation in particular uniquely
requires/leads to this focus on discursive construction, narrative
selves, etc., and argues that action/necessity/silence are being neglected.
I thought it worth mentioning because I haven't seen that many people
taking the position which has emerged from the recent exchange. I myself
focus exclusively on language, but wouldn't want to argue its
universalism/sameness in all cultural contexts.