ATurn—takingAnalysisofPersonalitiesoftheCharactersinHillsLikeWhiteElephants

胡红梅

【Abstract】As a masterful example of Hemingways iceberg theory of writing， Hills Like White Elephants is a widely-anthologized and much-discussed story.This essay attempts to explore the story by analyzing the turn-taking system so as to help understand the story.

【Key words】Hills Like White Elephants， turn-taking， personalities of the characters

Introduction

Hills Like White Elephants is a much-discussed story.It is mainly about conversations between an American man and a girl “Jig”.During their conversation， the man persuades Jig to do an operation， which can be inferred as an abortion later.The story abruptly ends with Jig telling the man theres nothing wrong with her and she feels fine， what will happen to the two protagonists remains unknown to readers.

Though lots of studies on the dialogues in Hills Like White Elephants are presented to readers， a turn-taking analysis is scarcely touched upon.This essay attempts to explore how the turn-taking system helps to better understand the story.

Turn-taking Model

Turn-taking was firstly used to analyze daily conversations （H.Sacks， E.A.Schegloff & G.Jefferson， 1974）.Later， many scholars like Li Huadong & Yu Dongming （2001）， Wang Hong （2006） carried out their studies with by employing turn-taking system.Quantitative Turn-taking Analysis： An Alternative Method in Stylistic of Drama （Li Huadong &Yu Dongming， 2001） is the first essay in which drama is researched from the turn-taking theory in China.Based on their turn-taking model， this essay will explore the novel by a turn-taking analysis.

A Turn-taking Analysis

With the economy of the short story， less than 1500 words， Hemingway devotes about 1000 words to dialogues.There are four topics together： ordering drinks， making comments on the hills， talking about the abortion， arguing about their future.

The first topic is ordering drinks at a bar.Jig starts their conversation， asking what they are going to drink， while the man utters something irrelevant.Then Jig suggests drinking beer， but he again does not respond to her and simaply orders beer in the bar.Later when Jig asks him if they can try the drink， the man does not answer her directly for the third time.We can see that Jig is considerate to the man， trying to please him， but he pays little attention.In fact the man dominates their dialogue.As Jig describes the taste of the drink， he abruptly interrupts her.Jigs courtesy and care is obvious， while the man is rude， indifferent.

Along with ordering drinks， they talk about the hills.Jig is in a leading position， as her turn length exceeds the mans.Being ignored， Jig looks off at the line of hills， and compares them to white elephants.The man changes the subject from hills to real elephants.Jig denies， and he gives a contradictory reply.Thus the man is pushy， domineering.The second time Jig says the hills like white elephants after the man interrupts her.The man compromises but shows no sincerity.His impatience and coldness are exposed by another interruption.

As for the operation， the man becomes talkative.His turn number nearly doubles Jigs.The man controls the topic publicly， no longer disguises his dominant position.As they are enjoying beer， the man abruptly begins a new topic–the operation， doesnt care about her silence.For the first time， the man calls the girls name， showing his seriousness toward the abortion.In order to pacify Jig， the man shows his patience， answering all her questions.He first comforts Jig then emphasizes the simplicity of doing the abortion at once.A majority of Jigs turns puts the mans or their common benefits first.The mans self-centred， irresponsible nature and Jigs helpless are revealed fully.

The stalemate goes on.Jig grows disappointed about the man and their future.Her initiative turn suggests her awareness of the deterioration of their relationship.Then the man uses 4 initiative turns to express they do have a future， but Jig denies by 4 negative responses.The future topic displays the mans determination to have Jig do the operation， he still controls their dialogue.The man spares no effort to persuade Jig to do an abortion， but also wants Jig to believe it is her own will.Though Jig interrupts twice， the man remains unhindered and continues to talk.Though Jig strongly manifests her intense will to stop the mans speech， but the man goes on with his blandishments， regardless of her feelings.Thus the mans hypocrisy and Jigs submissiveness are self-evident.

Conclusion

The analysis of the turn-taking system helps to reveal the different personalities of the hero and heroine， the man is selfish， irresponsible， insincere， impatient， domineering and hypocritical， while Jig is thoughtful， polite， submissive but helpless.

References：

[1]Sacks H，Schegloff E.A.，Jefferson G.A Simplest Systematics for the Organization of Turn-taking for Conversation[J].Language，1974.

[2]王虹.戏剧文体分析：话语分析的方法[M].上海外语教育出版社，2006.

[3]李华东，俞东明.戏剧文体学的话轮转换量化分析方法[J].四川外语学院学报.2001，17（3）：46-49.