Abstract
Robert S. McNamara's (1995)In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam, and the public response to it, provide a rich site for investigating the negotiation of social identities in a speech community in which more than 1 speech code is deployed. Drawing from the ethnography of speaking (Hymes, 1962, 1972, 1974), speech codes theory (Philipsen, 1997; Philipsen, Coutu, & Covarrubias, 2005), and identity construction (Carbaugh, 1996), I demonstrate, within the communication form of a social drama, the articulation, rejection, and then potential resolution of the social identity and appropriate communication of the U.S. Secretary of Defense. In so doing, the study contributes to the understanding of how communities with diverse codes manage public discussions about potentially intractable issues.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
