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The excerpt begins as HB is proffering a definition of the nature of RP's
academic studies. From this point onwards, all participants can be seen to
mutually conversationally align to one and the same topic, namely, that of RP
and EP's studies, the nature of them, and the implied evaluation of the status
of academic study. In terms of definition and evaluation, unlike 'International le
Arbeitslosigkeit' and 'Cookie's Party', there is a lack of solidarity and
commonality between participants. The selves mobilised are essentially
oriented to these incongruities for the duration of the episode. The
conversational and symbolic resources are thus embedded in essentially
individuated spheres, and, for the duration of this particular phase of the
episode, these linguistic and sociological resources are drawn upon to
achieve equilibric sociable conversation. Subsequently, GB&HB, and KH&SH
mobilise sociable selves as both players and images grounded in essentially
at least for the duration of the narrative - unique symbolic universes
First, to consider the salient selves mobilised here. Both KN and SH
clearly mobilise what I referred to earlier as examining selves in this excerpt
whilst HB and GB mobilise what I referred to earlier as demeaned selves. The
former is manifest here by repetitive examination, the latter by a serious and
ernst attempt to clarify and defend a standpoint. The actual nature of these
selves is perhaps more salient in 'Studierien als Hobby'than in any of the
previous excerpts presented in this study. This is in part due to the negative
alignment, where one set of selves is clearly not only in support of but
effectively 'foiled' against the other, but also in the direct and at points
counter-propositional alignment of examinatory and demeaned selves. KH
and SH's examining selves are clearly mobilised in this excerpt. Their
conversational moves here are oriented directly at the claims made by HB
and GB. Likewise, HB and GB's demeaned selves are equally evident. Here,
HB and GB attempt to clarify and defend their prior conversational claims
regarding the central topic of their children's studies.
In terms of alignment, as with the preceding three excerpts, we can see
how the mobilisation of sociable selves here occurs sequentially and works to
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