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ISSN : 1226-4822(Print)
The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea Vol.28 No.3 pp.139-171
DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.14353/sjk.2020.28.3.05

Teasing Humor and Identity Construction in Business Meetings at a Korean Startup

Kim Jeongyeon*,Choi Jinsook**
Professor, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology & Associate Professor, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
jkim@unist.ac.kr
jschoi@unist.ac.kr
※ This project was possible thanks to the UNIST Special Grant (Grant number 1.170066) in 2017 and the funds from the UNIST Center for Creative Humanities Education and Research.

Abstract

This study examines the interactional dynamics revealed through teasing humor in the context of a startup business meeting. Using a quasi-conversation analytic approach to details of talk, as well as ethnographic information concerning the community of practice, this study aims to illuminate the construction of professional identities shown in members' participation in teasing humor. The dataset consists of three video-recorded weekly business meetings of a startup (210 minutes) and a supplementary interview and observation notes. The analyses show that, in this business context, the members' identities (e.g., the CEO, the co-founders versus non-co-founders) were revealed in the dynamics of participation in teasing humor. Teasing humor was also found to contribute to finding creative solutions to challenging issues under discussion. The non-co-founders, in particular, found opportunities to participate in the major business discourse through this teasing. By participating in the teasing segments, they were able to present themselves as legitimate members of the startup. The findings are discussed to highlight the sociolinguistic norms of a professional community in creating a constructive business culture.

초록

Vol. 40 No. 4 (2022.12)

Journal Abbreviation j. Korea Saf. Manag. Sci.
Frequency Published four times annually in March, June, September, and December
Doi Prefix 10.14353/sjk.
Year of Launching 1993
Publisher The Sociolinguistic Society of Korea
Indexed/Tracked/Covered By

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