Nexus Analysis Discourse and the Emerging Internet Scollon and Scollon (2004)

1. Nexus AnalysisDiscourse and the Emerging InternetScollon and Scollon (2004) C. R. Wigham, LRL, UBP, 6 April 2011

2. Overview of the book • methodological guidebook • ethnography, discourse analysis, action research • use of computer mediated communication to improve Native Alaskan’s access to higher education (1978 – 1983) • how people, places, discourses and objects come together to facilitate action and social change

3. Discourse and technology • inseparable • change in technologies of discourse = change in discourse itself • nexus analysis = method discourse technology historical political social

4. Nexus • “Repeated site of engagement where some type of social action is facilitated by a relatively consistent set of social processes” • site of  nexus of practice  social practice engagement

5. Nexus Analysis • what is said, how and why • cycles of discourse  nexus of practice • close analysis of moment under analysis • historical analysis of discourse cycles that intersect at that moment • analysis of anticipations

6. Three stages of nexus analysis • Engaging particular nexus of practice – face to face • Navigating understanding the discourses within the classroom • Changing introducing computer-mediated-communication new nexus of practice

7. Engaging I • establish the social issue to be studied • find the crucial social actors • observe the interaction order • determine the most significant cycles of discouses • establish zone of identification

8. Engaging • zone of identification (Burke) • social issue –lack of access • face to face and distance  different accommodations of the historical bodies, interaction order and distribution of discourse

9. Navigating I • map cycles of people, places, discourses, objects and concepts which circulate through micro-semiotic ecosystem • historical body • overt + covert discourses • motives analysis • objects as mediational tools • links and interactions • transformations

10. Navigating • Platform event + meeting  panopticon event Interaction order: interpersonal distances teacher = owner of space Discourses in place: other discourses deselected for attention actions to transfer discourse type Historical bodies: teacher – student

11. Opening up circumference of analysis Micro-rythmns of social interaction Participation in the structure of the institution mapping of the gate-keeping situations locating gates –Burke’s grammar of motives conventions of expressions differ

12. Changing I • difference with traditional ethnographic research • re-engagement • what actions will transform discourses into actions and actions into new discourses and practices?

13. Changing Interaction order: primary and secondary Discourses in place: distributed discourses short discourse texts topical weave Historical bodies: expert-novice role in flux discourse forms from historical body = rare

14. Conclusion • theoretical, methodological framework • Need to follow all the potentially relevant cycles that emanate from a focal interest • Research is action and all action is itself positioned at the nexus of various relevant cycles • Nexus analysts embrace their embeddedness in places of study and try to improve those places