MUNDANE AUTOBIOGRAPHY - SOME THOUGHTS ON SELF-TALK IN RESEARCH CONTEXTS

The paper considers the status of autobiographical interview data in l ife history and biographical research. Interviews tend to be treated, it is suggest, as 'sacred' texts-as contemplative and authoritative ve rsions that are as free as possible from the biasses and desires that ordinarily animate (and 'contaminate') personal stories and anecdotes. It is argued here that, on the contrary, interview accounts are as mu ndane and pragmatic as any other kind of self-talk. People use identit y for practical ends-to make sense of their conduct, to establish alle giances, to justify moral positions and defend educational ideals. The paper ends by examining a fragment from an interview. Using concepts from discourse and conversation analysis it shows how a teacher, Karen , constructs a particular professional identity and thus engages in an act of mundane autobiography.