5.2.4 The identity of a layperson and linguistic c...
The identity of a layperson is the least expected identity constructed by advice-givers in Chinese PhD dissertation proposal presentation meetings because this identity bluntly deviates from the expected one in this institutional community of practice. To show the lack of knowledge of certain research fields or subjects is the major way of constructing this identity. For example,
(5-19) PhD DPPM-3:
→ 1 T5：我的感觉，我在家就是前两天看过，我觉得印象还是很深的，我觉得还非常的感兴趣，因为的确好像以前也看过(…礼貌的….)的也比较多，但是写这种虚假不礼貌的，可能我这方面研究比较，见的毕竟还是，呵呵呵，第一次看，还是比较少。我觉得挺有意思的一个选题，我觉得还有就比较有新意。嗯：，(1.0)就是你在，我后来又看了一下你这个目录啊，因为你这种方法主要是：：，选用的，是：(1.0)叫语言顺应论，还有语用心理，语用方面的，是吧？‘I feel, I read your proposal at home several days ago. I had a very deep impression of the topic. I feel it is very interesting because I have read a lot of topics on politeness indeed, but as for the studies on mock impoliteness, I know very little (of this topic). This is the first time I have read this kind of study. I think it’s a very good topic to explore. I think this topic is very new. I’ve read the table of contents again and found the method you mainly use is called the Linguistic Adaptation Theory and some others about pragmatics and psychology.Right?’
2 S： 嗯嗯。
‘Yes yes.’
3 T2：对。
‘Right.’
→ 4 T5：也就是说，我就是形式上的一些想法,也就是,从那个,那个,3.3那儿开始，还有3.2，我看啊，理论框架第三章。
‘That is to say, I just have some ideas related to the formal arrangement. That is, starting from 3.3 and 3.2, let me see,theoretical framework, the third chapter.’
5 S： 嗯。
‘Mm.’
→ 6 T5：就是从形式上看呢，好像：：哦，就你的语用嘛，是不是就，呵呵，比如说，你既然第三章一看是理论框架，对吧？
‘From the formal (arrangement of your dissertation), it seems that your discussion is from the pragmatic perspective. For example, the third chapter is the theoretical framework,right?’
7 S： 嗯。
‘Yes.’
→ 8 T5：那你是从下面一出来感觉就是说你用的是语言顺应论，还是或者用的是什么，心理语言的。然后下面你要表达的，我看当然你看你对虚假不礼貌界定，给人感觉到有点，我的感觉就是说，我一看你的题目就是语言框架，那我马上准备的是看你的理论是个框架，然后你突然出来的就是，虚假不礼貌的界定啊，然后就是标准啊。我觉得，我的想法就是说，你是不是可以啊，不一定对，呵呵，直接把你的理论，就提出来介绍，然后你，可能你的这个虚假不礼貌的[界定啊，标准啊]，
‘Then starting from the following part, you use the Linguistic Adaptation Theory, or the theories of psychological linguistics.Then what you need to express (is the theoretical framework).When I read your definition of mock impoliteness in the followed part, I feel it is a little (problematic). Once I read your title, which is clearly about the linguistic framework, I wanted to see your theoretical framework. But the definition is suddenly presented, the definition of mock impoliteness and the criteria (of how to classify the mock impoliteness). I feel,my opinion is, you might, maybe I’m not right, (laughs softly)directly introduce your theory and then you can discuss the definition and criteria of classification of the mock impoliteness.’
9 T2： [嗯嗯，可以考虑哎]
‘Mm Mm, you could consider it.’
10 T5：可以在你理论[介绍]后或穿插在里面讲，
‘You could discuss (the definition and criteria of classification of the mock impoliteness) after you introduce the theory or you could discuss them while you are introducing the theory.’
11 T2： [呵呵]
(laughs softly)
12 T4：[理论结论呵呵呵]
‘The theoretical conclusion (laughs softly).’
13 T2：[呵呵呵呵呵]
(laughs softly)
14 T5：这样就不会有一种(..)的感觉。因为你在标题上很明显，就是理论框架，因为我，大部分人的心理就是我一看理论框架，马上就要想到我要看你的理论框架，但是你先出来的不是你的，就是呵呵。
‘If you do it like this, there will be (..) because your title clearly shows your theoretical framework. I think most people will have the same reaction when they read your title. That is, they want to see your theoretical framework when they read your title. However, what follows is not the theoretical framework.That is (illogical) (laughs softly).’
15 S： 嗯。
‘Mm.’
In this example, T5 shows her little knowledge of “mock impoliteness” in line 1, “但是写这种虚假不礼貌的，可能我这方面研究比较，见的毕竟还是，呵呵呵，第一次看，还是比较少” (‘but as for the studies on mock impoliteness, I know very little (of this topic). This is the first time I have read this kind of study.’). This seems to be a way of showing modesty. However, after uttering these sentences, T5 says little about the topic of “mock impoliteness,” which indicates that she may really have little knowledge of this topic, thus constructing herself an identity of a layperson. This identity is made more salient by her utterances in line 4 (“我就是形式上的一些想法”, ‘I just have some ideas related to the formal arrangement’) and line 6 (“就是从形式上看呢,” ‘From the formal (arrangement of your dissertation)’ ). Based on the identity of a layperson, T5 gives advice in lines 8 and 10.
In this example, discourse contents (i.e., lack of knowledge of certain research topics) and discourse styles (i.e., repetition and formulaic expressions) are more salient in temporarily constructing T5’ identity of a layperson.
This example also indicates that expert advice-givers construct themselves the identity of a layperson, but they also maintain their identity of an expert. Constructing the identity of a layperson serves to reduce their commitment to what they are suggesting or will suggest, and it is therefore a strategy to protect their default identity of an expert and the reflection of their pragmatic awareness (Verschueren, 1999; Yuan, 2011b).