1887
  1. Home
  2. e-Journals
  3. Interactional Linguistics
  4. Online First Articles
  5. Online First Article
image of Accomplishing choral and collectively performed multi-modal self-defence actions
PDF
EPUB

Abstract

Abstract

This article examines multi-modal self-defence actions in personal safety training classes for girls and women. The actions have linguistic embodied components. An example is shouting “back off” at an imagined attacker while assuming a self-defensive stance position. An additional distinctive aspect of the phenomenon of interest is that it is done collectively as a multi-person party. Our work builds on and extends prior research in multimodal conversation analysis which has shown the ways language and bodily actions fit together. Using a collection of 200 cases drawn from more than 50 hours of video footage, two broad kinds of recurrent practices are described that support the class to achieve the collective, co-production of multi-modal self-defence actions. One is the projective, embodied syntactic structures instructors use to demonstrate the action and co-ordinate its execution. The other is the grammar of the verbal component that scaffolds the timing of physical techniques, especially ones where there is a combination of moves. By examining how linguistic and embodied components of multi-modal self-defence actions are brought together and done by multiple participants at the same time, we find empirical support for the innovative theoretical idea that syntax can be emergent and embodied rather than predominantly hierarchical and psycholinguistic. Data is in New Zealand English.

© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/il.24014.wea
2025-06-05
2025-06-24

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1075/il.24014.wea
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/10.1075/il.24014.wea/il.24014.wea.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1075/il.24014.wea&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Atkinson, J. M.
    (1984) Public speaking and audience responses: Some techniques for inviting applause. InJ. M. Atkinson & J. Heritage (Eds.), Structure of social action: Studies in Conversation Analysis (pp. –) Cambridge University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Baiocchi, M., Omondi, B., Langat, N., Boothroyd, D., Sinclair, J., Pavia, L. & Sarnquist, C.
    (2017) A behavior-based intervention that prevents sexual assault: The results of a matched-pairs, cluster-randomized study in Nairobi, Kenya. Prevention Science(), –. 10.1007/s11121‑016‑0701‑0
     https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-016-0701-0 [Google Scholar]
  3. Clayman, S. E.
    (1993) Booing: The anatomy of a disaffiliative response. American Sociological Review, (), –. 10.2307/2096221
     https://doi.org/10.2307/2096221 [Google Scholar]
  4. Couper-Kuhlen, E.
    (2018) Finding a place for body movement in grammar. Research on Language and Social Interaction, (), –. 10.1080/08351813.2018.1413888
     https://doi.org/10.1080/08351813.2018.1413888 [Google Scholar]
  5. Depperman, A.
    (2018) Changes in turn-design over interacitonal hostories: the case of instructions in driving school lessons. InA. Depperman and J. Streeck (Eds.), Time in embodied interaction: Synchronicity and sequentiality of multimodal resources (pp.–). John Benjamins Publishing Company. 10.1075/pbns.293.09dep
     https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.293.09dep [Google Scholar]
  6. De Stefani, E., & Mondada, L.
    (2014) Reorganizing mobile formations: When “guided” participants initiate reorientations in guided yours. Space and Culture, (), –. 10.1177/1206331213508504
     https://doi.org/10.1177/1206331213508504 [Google Scholar]
  7. Eilittä, T., Haddington, P., Kamunen, A., Kohonen-Aho, L., Rautiainen, I., & Vatanen, A.
    (2023) On the complexities of interaction: An introduction. InP. Haddington, T. Eilittä, A. Kamunen, L. Kohonen-Aho, I. Rautiainen, & A. Vatanen (Eds.), Complexity of interaction. Palgrave Macmillan. 10.1007/978‑3‑031‑30727‑0_1
     https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-30727-0_1 [Google Scholar]
  8. Evans, B. & Reynolds, E.
    (2016) The organization of corrective demonstrations using embodied action in sports coaching feedback. Symbolic Interaction, , –. 10.1002/symb.255
     https://doi.org/10.1002/symb.255 [Google Scholar]
  9. Gidycz, C.
    (2018) Sexual assault risk reduction: Current state and historical underpinnings. InL. M. Orchowski & C. A. Gidycz (Eds.), Sexual assault risk reduction and resistance (pp.–). Elsevier Inc. 10.1016/B978‑0‑12‑805389‑8.00001‑3
     https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805389-8.00001-3 [Google Scholar]
  10. Hofstetter, E., Keevallik, L. & Löfgren, A.
    (2021) Suspending syntax: Bodily strain and progressivity in talk. Frontiers in Communication, vol, 10.3389/fcomm.2021.663307
     https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.663307 [Google Scholar]
  11. Hofstetter, Emily & Leelo Keevallik
    (2023) Prosody is used for real-time exercising of other bodies. Language & Communication, , –. 10.1016/j.langcom.2022.11.002
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2022.11.002 [Google Scholar]
  12. Hollander, J.
    (2018) Women’s self-defense and sexual assault resistance: The state of the field. Sociology Compass(). –. 10.1111/soc4.12597
     https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12597 [Google Scholar]
  13. Jefferson, G.
    (2004) Glossary of transcript symbols with an introduction. InG. H. Lerner (Eds.), Conversation Analysis: Studies from the first generation (pp.–). John Benjamins. 10.1075/pbns.125.02jef
     https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.125.02jef [Google Scholar]
  14. (1979) A technique for inviting laughter and its subsequent acceptance declination. InG. Psathas (Ed.), Everyday language: studies in ethnomethodology (pp.–). Irvington Publishers.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. (1987) On exposed and embedded correction in conversation. InG. Button, & J. R. Lee (Eds.), Talk and social organisation (pp.–). De Gruyter10.21832/9781800418226‑006
     https://doi.org/10.21832/9781800418226-006 [Google Scholar]
  16. Jordan, J., & Mossman, E.
    (2016) Skills for Safety: An evaluation of the value, impact and outcomes of girls’ and women’s self defence in the community. Wellington.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Keevallik, L.
    (2020) Linguistic structures emerging in the synchronization of a pilates class. InC. Taleghani-Nikazm, E. Betz & P. Golato (Eds.), Mobilizing others: Grammar and lexis within larger activities (pp.–). John Benjamins. 10.1075/slsi.33.06kee
     https://doi.org/10.1075/slsi.33.06kee [Google Scholar]
  18. (2018) What does embodied interaction tell us about grammar?Research on Language and Social Interaction, (), –. 10.1080/08351813.2018.1413887
     https://doi.org/10.1080/08351813.2018.1413887 [Google Scholar]
  19. (2015) Co-ordinating the temporalities of talk and dance. InA. Deppermann & S. Günthner (Eds.), Temporality in Interaction (pp.–). John Benjaminebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/vuw/detail.action?docID¼1987947
     [Google Scholar]
  20. (2013) The interdependence of bodily demonstrations and clausal syntax. Research on Language and Social Interaction, (), –. 10.1080/08351813.2013.753710
     https://doi.org/10.1080/08351813.2013.753710 [Google Scholar]
  21. Keevallik, Leelo
    (2020), “Linguistic structures emerging in the synchronization of a Pilates class”, InMobilizing Others: Grammar and lexis within larger activities (Carmen Taleghani-Nikazm, Emma Betz, Peter Golato, eds.), pp.–. John Benjamins.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Keevallik, L. & Weatherall, A.
    (2020) ‘I understand’- initiated formulations of the other: a semi-fixed claim to the intersubjective. InR. Laury & T. Ono (eds). Fixed expressions: Building language structure and social action (pp.–). John Benjamins. 10.1075/pbns.315.02kee
     https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.315.02kee [Google Scholar]
  23. Kern, F.
    (2018) Clapping hands with the teacher: What synchronization reveals about learning. Journal of Pragmatics, , –. 10.1016/j.pragma.2017.12.006
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2017.12.006 [Google Scholar]
  24. Koshik, I.
    (2002) Designedly incomplete utterances: A pedagogical practice for eliciting knowledge displays in error correction sequences. Research on Language and Social Interaction, (), –. 10.1207/S15327973RLSI3503_2
     https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327973RLSI3503_2 [Google Scholar]
  25. Lerner, G. H.
    (2002) Turn-sharing: the choral co-production of talk-in-interaction. InC. E. Ford, B. A. Fox & S. A. Thompson (Eds.), The language of turn and sequence (pp.–). Oxford University Press. 10.1093/oso/9780195124897.003.0009
     https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195124897.003.0009 [Google Scholar]
  26. Lindström, J., Lindholm, C., Grahn, I. L., & Huhtamäki, M.
    (2020) Consecutive clause combinations in instructing activities: Directives and accounts in the context of physical training, InY. Maschler, S. Pekarek Doehler, J. Lindström & L. Keevallik (Eds.), Emergent syntax for conversation: Clausal patterns and the organization of action (pp.–) John Benjamins. 10.1075/slsi.32.09lin
     https://doi.org/10.1075/slsi.32.09lin [Google Scholar]
  27. Lynch, M., & Lindwall, O.
    (Eds.) (2023) Instructed and instructive actions : The situated production, reproduction, and subversion of social order. Taylor & Francis Group. 10.4324/9781003279235
     https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003279235 [Google Scholar]
  28. Mehan, H.
    (1979) Learning lessons : social organization in the classroom. Harvard University Press. 10.4159/harvard.9780674420106
     https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674420106 [Google Scholar]
  29. Mondada, L.
    (2024) Multimodal gestalt. InA. Gubina, E. M. Hoey & C. W. Raymond (Eds.), Encyclopedia of terminology for conversation analysis and interactional linguistics. International Society for Conversation Analysis (ISCA). 10.17605/osf.io/q7hp8
     https://doi.org/10.17605/osf.io/q7hp8 [Google Scholar]
  30. (2021) Language and the sensing body: How sensoriality permeatures syntax in interaction. Frontiers in Communication, , 10.3389/fcomm.2021.664430
     https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.664430 [Google Scholar]
  31. (2018) Multiple temporalities of language and body in interaction: Challenges for transcribing multimodality, Research on Language an Social Interaction, (), –. 10.1080/08351813.2018.1413878
     https://doi.org/10.1080/08351813.2018.1413878 [Google Scholar]
  32. Murphy, B.
    (2018) Fighting back in feminist terms: Empowerment through self-defence training in neo-liberal times. InR. Overell & C. Dale (Eds.), Orienting feminism: Media activism and cultural representation (pp.–). Palgrave. 10.1007/978‑3‑319‑70660‑3_5
     https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70660-3_5 [Google Scholar]
  33. Pekarek Doehler, S., Keevallik, L., & Li, Xiaoting
    (2022) Editorial: The grammar-body interface in social interaction. Frontiers in Psychology, , 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.875696
     https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.875696 [Google Scholar]
  34. Råman, J.
    (2019) Budo demonstrations as shared accomplishments: The modalities of guiding in the joint teaching of physical skills. Journal of Pragmatics, , –. 10.1016/j.pragma.2019.06.014
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2019.06.014 [Google Scholar]
  35. Sacks, H., Schegloff, E. A., & Jefferson, G.
    (1974) A simplest systematics for the organization of turn-taking for conversation. Language, (), –. 10.1353/lan.1974.0010
     https://doi.org/10.1353/lan.1974.0010 [Google Scholar]
  36. Schegloff, E. A.
    (1996) Turn organization: One intersection of grammar and interaction. InE. Ochs, E. A. Schegloff & S. A. Thompson (Eds.), Interaction and grammar (pp.–). Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511620874.002
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511620874.002 [Google Scholar]
  37. Senn, C., Hollander, J., & Gidycz, C.
    (2018) What works? Critical components of effective sexual violence interventions for women on college and university campuses. InL. M. Orchowski & C. A. Gidycz (Eds.), Sexual assault risk reduction and resistance (pp.–). Elsevier Inc. 10.1016/B978‑0‑12‑805389‑8.00010‑4
     https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805389-8.00010-4 [Google Scholar]
  38. Stoffelsma, L., & Van Charldorp, T. C.
    (2020) A closer look at the interaction construction of choral responses in South African township schools. Linguistics and Education, , 10.1016/j.linged.2020.100829
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.linged.2020.100829 [Google Scholar]
  39. Stukenbrock, A.
    (2021) Multimodal gestalts and their change over time: Is routinization also grammaticalization?Frontiers in Communication, . 10.3389/fcomm.2021.662240
     https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.662240 [Google Scholar]
  40. Stuckenbrock, A.
    (2017) Intercorproreal phantasms. Kinesthetic alignment with imagined bodies in self-defense training. InC. Myer, J. Streck & J. Scott Jordan (Eds.), intercorporeality: Emerging socialities in interaction (pp.–). Oxford University Press. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190210465.003.0009
     https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190210465.003.0009 [Google Scholar]
  41. Streeck, J.
    (2018) Grammaticalization and bodily action: Do they go together?Research on Language and Social Interaction, (), –. 10.1080/08351813.2018.1413889
     https://doi.org/10.1080/08351813.2018.1413889 [Google Scholar]
  42. Szczepek Reed, B.
    (2023) ‘Go on keep going’: The instruction of sustained embodied activities. Discourse Studies, (), –. 10.1177/14614456231153578
     https://doi.org/10.1177/14614456231153578 [Google Scholar]
  43. Tekin, B. S.
    (2023) Cheering together: The interactional organisation of choral vocalizations. Language and Communication, , –, 10.1016/j.langcom.2022.11.001
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2022.11.001 [Google Scholar]
  44. Thompson, M.
    (2014) Empowering self-defense training. Violence Against Women, (), –. 10.1177/1077801214526051
     https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801214526051 [Google Scholar]
  45. Thompson, S. A., Raymond, C. W. & Fox, B. A.
    (2021) The grammar of proposals for joint activities. International Linguistics, , –, 10.1075/il.20011.tho
     https://doi.org/10.1075/il.20011.tho [Google Scholar]
  46. Wanamaker, L. M.
    (2018) Prevention, resistance, recovery revolution: Feminist empowerment self-defence. InA. Taket & B. R. Crisp (Eds.), Eliminating gender-based violence (pp.–). Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Weatherall, A.
    (2023) “Oh my god that would hurt”. Pain cries in feminist self-defence classes. Language and Communication, , –. 10.1016/j.langcom.2023.01.004
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2023.01.004 [Google Scholar]
  48. Weatherall, A. & Murphy, B.
    (in press). Voice and empowerment self defence. InL. M. Orchowski & J. Hollander Eds. Empowerment self defence: Theory, research and practice. Elsevier.
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Wertheimer, M.
    (1938) Laws of organization in perceptual forms. InW. D. Ellis (Ed.), A source book of Gestalt psychology (pp.–). Kegan Paul. 10.1037/11496‑005
     https://doi.org/10.1037/11496-005 [Google Scholar]
  50. World Health Organisation
    World Health Organisation 2022 Chapter 6: Sexual Violence. InWorld Report on Violence and Health, –. Retrieved fromwww.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/global_campaign/en/chap6.pdf
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Yagi, J.
    (2022) Achieving (a)synchrony through choral chanting: Co-operative corrections in taiko ensemble rehearsals. Journal of Pragmatics, , –. 10.1016/j.pragma.2022.05.001
     https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2022.05.001 [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/il.24014.wea
Loading
  • Article Type: Research Article
Keywords: intervention ; violence ; empowerment ; gestalt ; gender ; qualitative

Most Cited

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error