ABSTRACT
Context, Style, and Language: This recording is made at a house-party when several members of the family and their children are gathered at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Payne. Everyone is sitting in a semicircle, the interviewer slightly apart from the group. As various people take turns to talk, sing, or tell stories, each moves to a chair next to the interviewer. Nevertheless, the context is a natural one and no one acts self-consciously when being recorded. Indeed the recording is so taken for granted that at one point one of the wives whispers her concern that die interviewer is momentarily moving the microphone away from the speaker. The conversation ranges over a number of topics including ring-games, mummering, and traditional ways of controlling children's behavior.
