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Article published In: Narrative Inquiry
Vol. 29:1 (2019) ► pp.1–28

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Generational styles in oral storytelling

What can be learned from narrative priming?

 | University of Potsdam
Published online: 2 July 2019
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.18042.ger
Abstract
When it comes to autobiographical narratives, the most spontaneous and natural manner is preferable. But neither individually told narratives nor those grounded in the communicative repertoire of a social group are easily comparable. A clearly identifiable tertium comparationis is mandatory. We present the results of an experimental ‘Narrative Priming’ setting with French students. A potentially underlying model of narrating from personal experience was activated via a narrative prime, and in a second step, the participants were asked to tell a narrative of their own. The analysis focuses on similarities and differences between the primes and the students’ narratives. The results give evidence for the possibility to elicit a set of comparable narratives via a prime, and to activate an underlying narrative template. Meaningful differences are discussed as generational and age related styles. The transcriptions from the participants that authorized the publication are available online.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Models of narratives: Levels of analysis
    • Narratives as plots
    • Narratives in interaction: Narrativity, functions, and positioning
    • What can (not) be primed in narrative priming?
  • The narrative priming experiment
    • The primes
    • Participants and setting
  • Analysis
    • Priming effects
      • Length
      • Structure
      • Content
    • “Here you go”: Doing storytelling in an experimental setting
    • Experiencing punishment: Positioning
  • Discussion
  • Concluding remarks
  • Acknowledgements
  • Bibliography
References (44)
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Gerstenberg, Annette & Heidi E. Hamilton
2023. Older adults’ conversations and the emergence of “narrative crystals”. Narrative Inquiry 33:1 ► pp. 27 ff. DOI logo

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