Critical Issues in Information Systems

1. Critical Issues in Information Systems BUSS 951 Lecture 11 Text and Context

2. Recall • last lecture we looked at language in the workplace • useful for analysing workpractices in workplaces • we have seen in tutorials that work practices, both manual and computer based,can be theorised as texts

3. Agenda • rather than using signs, we use texts- signs can be difficult to apply in practice and are a very small unit of analysis • we will use systemic-functional linguistics as a way of analysing workpractices in workplaces • language or texts becomes an analytical technology

4. Evaluation of Semiotic Analysis

5. Semiotic AnalysisCriticisms (1) • sometimes semioticians present their analyses as if they were objective, scientific accounts rather than subjective interpretations • some semiotic analysis has been criticised as nothing more than arid formalism

6. Semiotic AnalysisCriticisms (2) • in structuralistsemiotics the focus is on langue rather than parole (Saussure's terms) on formal systems rather than on processes of use and production. • structuralismwas primarily interested in studying structures in language

7. Semiotic AnalysisCriticisms (3) • Valentin Volosinov(Bakhtin)argues that the prime determinant of a sign is not its relationship to other signs but rather the social context of its use(Fiske 1992: 299). • Semiotics can appear to suggestthat meaning is purely explicable in terms of determining structures

8. Semiotic AnalysisCriticisms (4) • purely structuralist semiotics does not address authorial intentionsor audience interpretation • it ignores particular practices, institutional frameworksand the cultural, social, economic and political contexts

9. Semiotic AnalysisStrengths (1) • semiotics emphasizes that signs are related to their signifieds by social conventions which we learn • we become so used to such conventions in our use of various media that they seem natural or commonsense

10. Semiotic AnalysisStrengths (2) • Examples: • television or photography becomes a 'a window on the world'. • computers make organisations efficient and effective • this is an ideological issue, since, “an ideology is the sum of taken-for-granted realities of everyday life” (Burgin 1982: 46).

11. Semiotic AnalysisStrengths (3) • semiotics can help to make us aware of what we take for granted in representing the world • we are always: • dealing with signs, not with an unmediated objective reality • that sign systems are involved in the construction of meaning

12. Semiotic AnalysisStrengths (4) • it can be difficult for us to realize the conventional nature of such relationships. • when we take these relationships for granted we treat the signified as unmediated or 'transparent' or commonsense

13. Text and Non-Text

14. Text and Non-Text • knowing when we do not have texts is very important! • one way of defining the difference between Computing Scienceand Information Systemsfields (in Aust., Britain, Nth America) is based on the non-text/text distinction...

15. Information SystemsText and Non-text Information Systems Field Culture, Institutions, Organisations, Communications in social use: Computer Centres, Business Data Processing etc. Text Non-text Computing Science Field Operating Systems, File Systems Compilers, Loaders, Linkers, Machine Architecture

16. Information SystemsText and Non-text • we can see from the previous slide, that the objects of interest in computing science are basically all non-text • the exact opposite is true of IS! • however in conducting IS studies in organisations we are faced with a methodological problem...

17. Text and Non-Text • sometimes it is not possible to directly acquire relevant texts in organisational applications • stictly speaking non-texts are unanalysable using SFL • many situations could be classed as non-texts • Example 1: The Lone User • Example 2: Past Workpractices

18. Example 1: Lone User • Computer based tool user working in apparent isolation in the organisation • this situation is referred to as the I-experience by Bakhtin (Volosinov in Innis ed/ 1985, 54-56). • Whatever may be going on is happening inside the head of the user, about which nothing linguistically can be said.

19. Example 2: Past Workpractices • trying to analyse a past work practice • an analyst may occasionally find objects which provide clues to a workpractice which no longer exists • must be addressed in longitudinal (that is long-term) studies

20. Empty Corpus Problem (1) • Methodologically, these two examples are instances of the empty corpus problem(Andersen 1992) • Both previous examples are unanalysable using systemic-functional linguistics

21. Empty Corpus Problem (2)Partially Resolved • However, it is possible to transform an unanalysable empty corpus into a situation in which a text is produced: • probing for, or eliciting, a text in a situation in which we would normally not expect one • in fact SFL can help us determine the best way to achieve this transformation!

22. Context and Text

23. Context and TextSFL Semiotic Model of Language • used Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL) theory to provide actual methods for conducting applied linguistic analysis of texts (Halliday 1985) • the Stratal Model of SFL (Martin 1992) is derived in subsequent slides- useful in identifying which strata, systems, and units to consider in a specific study

24. Context and TextRealisation • every text refers to its social context- we use the term ‘social context’ in the broadest way • must do so in order to be meaningful that is to communicate something to someone • in order to model the relationship between language and social context we use concentric ovals • one semiotic system (language) is a realisation of another more abstract one (social context)

25. Social Context and LanguageRedounding • how language realises context is called redounding • language construes social context, language is construed by social context, and language reconstues social context ... • a relationship of mutual determination and interdependency NOT simple cause and effect

26. solidary relationship- that is a relationship of unity- between texts and contexts context predicts text, text construes context note the similarity to Hjelmslev’s concepts a major influence for Martin’s reformulation of Halliday Context and Text SFL Context and Text Context Text

27. two types of context recognised by the theory (after Malinowski) Situational Context which provides secific situational ‘values’ to the text Cultural Context which provides a pattern or template that is portable across different situations within a national or organisational culture Context and Text SFL Bi-stratal Organisation of Context Cultural Context SituationalContext Language

28. Cultural Context is represented in SFL by Genre text staging involving sequence, selection, and iteration Context and Text SFL Contextual Strata Genre Register Language

29. Social Context and Language Genre • this kind of patterning was referred to in tutorials as Genre • this patterning is like a template • we can apply it in circumstances in which the immediate situation may not be known (buying goods in a foreign country)

30. Social Context and Language Genre • Genre forms a context related to “culture” and is referred to as the Context of Culture • genre is a kind of generalised text type: • novel • film • service encounter

31. Social Context and Language Genre: Several Theories • now it so happens that there are two major views on genre • the first is that genre is simply the unique instance of field, tenor and mode (also called Contextual Configuration) • this is the model of genre theorised by Hasan

32. Social Context and Language Genre: Several Theories • in your reading, the ALABS system is looked at from this point of view initially- but it has some problems when looking at IS in organisations • the alternative way of looking at genre is to treat it in exactly the same way as the rest of the SFL model ie/ as its own strata

33. Social Context and Language Genre: Several Theories • for various reasons genre as a strata (after Martin) is much better way of looking at IS • like everything is SFL: linguistic resources form systems available to language users- • genre should also be treated in this way • IS appear to have some strange characteristics- they are multigeneric by nature

34. Situational Context is represented in SFL by Register consisting of field- social action and activities, tenor- who is involved in the language, and mode- how language is used Context and Text SFL Contextual Strata Genre Register Language

35. Social Context and Language Register • we have also started to analyse texts in terms of their field, tenor and mode • field- social activities and actions • tenor- who is doing what to whom • mode- how language is used • these attributes were called Registeror Context of Situation

36. Social Context and Language Register • but we also said that we could identify an extra type of context • a kind of patterning exists in texts which is separate from the immediate situation (field, tenor and mode) • the patterning is portable across different situations

37. Language and Social Context

38. Language and Social ContextLanguage as a Semiotic System • unlike most semiotic systems, the meanings in language (content) are not directly realised into sounds or letters (expression) • language is a semiotic systemconsisting of three levels

39. Language and Social ContextLanguage as a Semiotic System • recall Saussure’s concept of the sign = signifer + signified • content, or the meanings of language (signified), utilise twolevels • meanings are realised in wordings(that is words and grammar) • then, wordings are realised by an expressionconsisting of sounds and letters

40. unlike most semiotic systems, the meanings in language (content) are not directly realised into sounds or letters (expression) language is tristratal; the content (signified) involves meanings and wordings Meanings Wordings Expression Context and Text SFL Tri-stratal Organisation of Language Genre Register

41. meanings of a text are associated with the strata of Discourse Semantics… …are in turn realised in wordings (words and grammar) are associated with the strata of Lexico-grammar …are in turn given expression (sounds and letters) with the strata of Phonology/Graphology Context and Text SFL Language Strata Genre Register Discourse Semantics Lexico-grammar Phonology Graphology

42. while strata are responsible for major language units, metafunctions are responsible for the kinds of meanings simultaneously conveyed in texts: ideational metafunction- concerned with action interpersonal metafunction- concerned with reflection textual metafunction- concerned with connection inter- personal Context and Text SFL Metafunctions Genre Register field Discourse mode tenor Semantics experiential textual Lexico-grammar Transitivity Mood Theme Phonology Graphology

43. resolved in language as two distinct components- experiential meaning: expression of processes and other phenomena in the social world including the speakers’ own consciousness logical meanings: involves the mapping of experiential meanings into language Context and Text SFL Ideational Metafunction Genre Register field Discourse mode tenor Semantics experiential inter- textual personal Lexico-grammar Transitivity Mood Theme Phonology Graphology

44. the metafunction of language by which: social groups are delimited and the individual is identified, represented and reinforced Context and Text SFL Interpersonal Metafunction Genre Register field Discourse mode tenor Semantics experiential inter- textual personal Lexico-grammar Transitivity Mood Theme Phonology Graphology

45. refers to the way the text is organised as a piece of writing Context and Text SFL Textual Metafunction Genre Register field Discourse mode tenor Semantics experiential inter- textual personal Lexico-grammar Transitivity Mood Theme Phonology Graphology

46. Integration Strata & Metafunction

47. Discourse SemanticsMetafunctions • discourse semanticsis the first content layer in SFL model of language • three kinds of meanings (metafunctions) are conveyed simultaneously in texts • ideational meanings • interpersonal meanings • textual meanings

48. Discourse SemanticsIdeational Metafunction • ideational metafunction • resolved in language as two distinct components- experiential and logical meanings • experiential meanings: expression of processes and other phenomena in the social world including the speakers own consciousness • logical meanings: involves the mapping of experiential meanings into language

49. Discourse SemanticsInterpersonal and Textual Metafunctions • interpersonal metafunction: • social groups are delimited • the individual is identified and reinforced • textual metafunction: • refers to the way the text is organised as a piece of writing (or speech)

50. Discourse Semantics & RegisterSolidarity • it so happens that there is a relationship (solidarity) between register and discourse semantics: Register Discourse-Semantics field ideational tenor interpersonal mode textual