Ajoh Awungjia's research explores the discursive processes by which we retain conviviality, consensus and smooth engagement in the interactions that makeup our everyday lives. How do we "know" that we get along well with the people around us, or not? How do we come to the "realisation" that we know them well or well enough?

Human relations are popularly viewed in interactional sociolinguistics as consisting of processes in which we continually work to maintain face (how we would like to be perceived by others). I’m proposing a shift from this focus on (the individual’s) fragile face to a focus on how we do togetherness.

Awungjia analyzes the storytelling and playfulness practices of a group of five female friends based in Cape Town. Beyond doing face work, their stories and instances of play form key aspects of their friendship maintaining mechanism. Through storytelling, the shared conversational and relational common ground between participants is kept up to date and ready for use in subsequent interactions. This shared relational histories may be exploited in combination with interactional opportunities to engage in various forms of play to intensify or renegotiate existing bonds.

Awungjia argues that through our ability to engage in these discourse activities—in spite of the vulnerabilities, wedges, and cracks that inevitably emerge—we are able to keep the sense of conviviality alive.

Kaltura

About the Speaker

Ajohche Awungjia is a Cameroonian scholar from the class of 2016. She is currently teaching Language and Communication Studies while completing her PhD in Linguistics at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), where she also acquired her B.A. (Summa cum Laude), B.A. Hons (Cum Laude) and M.A (Cum Laude). Awungjia’s research falls within the field of interactional sociolinguistics and it explores the complex processes through which our mundane, taken-for-granted and/or commonsensical language (discourse) practices are implicated in the (re)construction, maintenance and/or transformation of our social ‘reality’. She specifically analyzes the naturally occurring conversations of a group of friends to show how they do friendship in talk and how through talk, larger sociocultural and political narratives are appropriated for the negotiation of complex alignments and ideologies in mundane conversation. Her overall aim is to highlight the role of seemingly insignificant daily discourse practices in materializing, perpetuating and/or transforming dominant sociocultural and political norms and orders. Outside her academic work, Awungjia is a singer and songwriter. Her musical style consists of a unique fusion of afro sounds, jazz and soul. She’s currently working on her debut project due to be released in 2022. She also enjoys working on her fitness, hiking the stunning Cape town mountains in South Africa and dancing at any given occasion. While Awungjia has big dreams, she ultimately strives to stay mindful of and present with all the people and little things and moments that make life worth living.

Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium

The Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium series offers informal lectures and discussions on current research projects by ICGC Scholars, affiliated faculty, visiting scholars, and practitioners. These events are open to the public. Guests are welcome to bring their lunches and eat during the sessions.