WHATS NEW - AT THE DINNER TABLE - FAMILY DYNAMICS DURING MEALTIMES IN2 CULTURAL GROUPS IN HAWAII

This study shows systematic differences in how parents structure mealt ime discourse in two cultural groups in Hawaii. Fifty-nine families we re videotaped during week-day evening meals at home. Thirty of the fam ilies were middle-class Japanese-American (JA) families; 29 were middl e-class Caucasian-American (CA) families. Evening meals in the Caucasi an-American homes in this sample are clear-cut events. Families sit at tables and talk throughout the meal. Children are encouraged to descr ibe their experiences, wishes, plans and perceptions. Parents cue chil dren to focus on distinctive aspects of their realities, to talk about 'what's new', or unfamiliar to the audience. Evening meals in the Jap anese-American homes are less focused on formal discussion. Half the f amilies watch television while eating; others play games, cook, Listen to music, talk on the phone or play with babies or pets during dinner . JA family members talk to each other less and structure their discou rse differently. Rather than report on distinct, individual experience s, JA family members co-narrate and comment on what they are collectiv ely doing. The observed differences are related to cultural difference s in construals of self and other. The cultural importance of being ab le to clearly communicate individual realities across separate beings is seen in the CA mealtimes. Appreciation of smooth, group process and coordinated belonging is seen in the TA evening meals.