GURT is nationally and internationally recognized as one of the world's
star gatherings for scholars in the fields of language and linguistics.
In 2001, the best from around the world in the disciplines of
anthropological linguistics and discourse analysis meet to present and
share the latest research on linguistic analysis and to address
real-world contexts in private and public domains. The result is this
newest, invaluable 2001 edition of the Georgetown University Round Table
on Languages and Linguistics. This volume brings together the plenary
speakers only, all leaders in their fields, showcasing discourse
contexts that range from medical interactions to political campaigns,
from classroom discourse and educational policy to current affairs, and
to the importance of everyday family conversations. The contributors
expand the boundaries of discourse to include narrative theory, music
and language, laughter in conversation, and the ventriloquizing of
voices in dialogue.
Frederick Erickson explores the musical basis of language in an
elementary school classroom; Wallace Chafe analyzes laughter in
conversation. William Labov examines narratives told to South Africa's
Truth and Reconciliation Commission, while Deborah Schiffrin compares
multiple accounts of Holocaust narratives, and Alessandro Duranti
considers competing speaker and audience interpretations during a
political candidate's campaign tour. Robin Lakoff uncovers contrasting
narratives shared by different cultural groups with respect to such
current events as the O.J. Simpson trial. Deborah Tannen examines the
integration of power and connection in family relationships, while Heidi
Hamilton considers accounts that diabetic patients give their doctors.
Shirley Brice Heath looks at discourse strategies used by policymakers
to deny research findings, and G. Richard Tucker and Richard Donato
report on a successful bilingual program.
