Systematics of location inquiries in Farsi mobile phone calls: with reference to social functions, sequential positions and formulations
by Ali Kazemi
International Journal of Mobile Communications (IJMC), Vol. 22, No. 3, 2023

Abstract: This study seeks to particularise social functions of location inquiries and location-telling, their sequence organisation and locational formulations. Adopting conversational analytic and interactionist sociological approaches, it presents a close analysis of how location figures in mundane mobile phone calls in Farsi, based on 39 calls mainly involving familiars, friends and family members. The specification of practices associated with seeking and providing location information shows that location talk accomplishes a variety of social actions ranging from (co)localisation to checking availability for the incipient (mutual) action. The analysis also suggests that while location may become topicalised due to locally relevant contingencies, it is rarely taken as routine in talk-in-interaction. Social functions of location are performed by means of formulations phrased in proper location - or non-location-related terms in specific sequential environments. These findings explicate how the social actions associated with location are carried out, necessitating reconceptualisation of location in mobile telephony.

Online publication date: Fri, 01-Sep-2023

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