Momente und ihre Menschen im Zeitzeugen-Interview

Abstract

Abstract As shown in my text in Part I of this volume, the Boston theory, Goffman, and some parts of mentalization theory all address the phenomenon of special “moments”. These theories value the role of conversation very differently. Goffman’s theory comprises most; conversation is what makes “moments” possible but “moments” are not the goal of every “talk-in-interaction”. More specified conditions of “moments” will be described with the goal to apply them to a transcribed interviewed with a Holocaust survivor. Conversation analysis in the future will have to develop concepts for what has been termed “noticeable absence” (Harvey Sacks). After analysis of what is said and (interactively) done, there remains the question how to deal with what is silenced.