INFERENCING SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND SOCIAL PROCESSES FROM NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR

• Published in: American journal of semiotics 1984-01, Vol.3 (2), p.77-96
• Main Author: Enninger, Werner
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amish; Behavior; Data collection; Dress codes; Field study; Institutionalization; Methodology (Data Collection); Nonverbal Communication; Semantics; Semiotics; Social factors; Social Structure; Taxonomy
• ISSN: 0277-7126; 2153-2990
• DOI: 10.5840/ajs19843222

With regard to the theory of markedness, one should note that both attributes and the categories with which these signals are arranged by implication: each category of the sequence 'not baptized' > 'baptized' > 'married' implies the previous completion of the categories to its left; each attribute/signal of the sequence 'shaved smooth' > 'narrow and clipped beard' > 'full beard' implies the previous existence of the attributes to its left. [...]the increase in implicational complexity of both the positional categories and their respective attributes run parallel, so that the ever-higher ranking position (to be operationalized in terms of 'neither franchise nor eligibility' - 'franchise, no eligibility'-'both franchise and eligibility for ministerial positions') is paralleled by an increase in attribute material. The formulation of some of the appearance norms in a 'not shorter than,' 'not less than,' 'at least' format admits of the symbolization of these attitudes to norms: 'not fulfilling-fulfilling-overfulfilling minimum requirements.' Since the minimum requirement (e.g.,'hair length not less than halfway over the ears') is explicitly stated, its transgression is easily perceived. [...]the male dress not only provides clues to the categories outlined above, but at the same time clues as to which activity counts as what social event in the social timetable of the culture, and to the roles the various membership categories are expected to play in such events. [...]the 'everyday' criterion hardly constitutes a specific social event, but it is rather a blanket term covering that part of the annual social cycle which is considered usual, or normal. [...]the absence of both 'status' and 'event' constraints, and the fact that the use of a combination in which (1) participates is exclusively controlled by weather constraints, confirm the earlier hunch that (1) is a clue to socially unmarked categories.