Relational connection and separation in Iranian dissertation defences

This article examines ways in which participants achieve face in Iranian dissertation defences, while doing interactional work in their roles as candidate, examiner or supervisor. Following Arundale, we adopt the notion of face as an interactional and relational phenomenon which is conjointly co-constituted by participants as they conjointly co-constitute meanings and actions in talk-in-interaction. This dynamic conceptualization of face requires an approach grounded in Conversational Analysis. The data for analysis is taken from two PhD defence sessions conducted at Iranian universities. Selected segments of talk from the Question and Answer sessions during these dissertation defences were analyzed to investigate how participants achieve face. The data analysis shows that interpreting and doing relational work are not only influenced by the participants’ culture but also by the institutional nature of the talk itself. When covert rules are flouted, the reaction from co-participants and the audience demonstrates disapproval of inappropriate behaviour.

► We examine face in dissertation defences using Arundale's approach grounded in CA.
► Differences emerge between preliminaries and the defence proper.
► Culture and the institutionality of talk influence participants’ conduct in achieving face.
► The flouting of covert rules results in disapproval.