Ochs & Taylor 1992

Ochs and Taylors theory states that the first time that families sit down and talk about their day all together. The theory also states that mothers have the most utterances or they do the most introducing. This means that mothers are the ones who usually begin the conversation and direct it at someone. This theory examines how the family is a political institution through conversational interactions. Members of the family tend to review other members and make judgements, making them a problematizer, how some member formulate codes of conduct, make decisions and impose sanctions showing their thoughts and feelings.


Our class had to try and find our own primary research to attempt to support this theory or to see if there is any change in these ideas since 1992. The task was to record a conversation over a family dinner to see who creates judgments and who started the conversation etc. I found problems trying to complete this because during the week my family don't sit down and have dinner together as there are many things that prevent that happening. This goes against the theory because we will see one another later on or at different times in the day when we will discuss what has been recently or currently going on because we don't sit down and have dinner together all of the time. The only time that the whole family really have the ability to sit down together would be at the weekend. However this would usually be at breakfast and we would talk about our week. In addition this goes against the theory because we all sit together at a time before dinner showing that things have changed.
Furthermore the theory also states that Mothers do the introducing in conversations and have the most utterances usually. I found differently. In my family when we do sit down and have dinner it is my sister that would talk the most or me instead of my mum which also goes against Ochs and Taylors theory.