the things we say

Robyn, a friend at uni, told me an interesting story this week. She has been been experiencing a very bad and constant pain behind one eye. Her GP recommended that she have a CAT scan. Robyn went for the scan and as she was leaving the technician made the following remark:

T: well (0.6) all the best with that

Robyn left shattered and went home thinking that she obviously had a very serious problem e.g. a brain tumour. What was it that had suggested this to her? The technician's use of "all the best" ,first off. This made Robyn think that there was something that she was going to have to contend with that would require someone to wish her well with it. And the other thing -the technicians' use of "that". It suggested to Robyn that there was something, a "thing", that the technician wasn't naming but was there. The "not naming" of the thing was also of concern.

The technician's utterance and Robyn's response nicely illustrates the interpretive work that occurs on a daily basis during social interaction, and constitutes it. The utterance was fleeting (and Robyn did not reply). It was the way that the technician finished the session, and yet, Robyn went off wondering about why the technician had said what she did.

I'm sure that "that " is nothing Robyn, but thanks for the great example of your interpretive work.