‘That’s what the dream says’: The use of normalizing devices in dream reports
S. Bardina
Discourse Studies March 21, 2021 DOI: 10.1177/14614456211001607 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Dream reports published on dream-sharing websites |
| Key findings | Argues that dream-tellers work to present their reports as external events while also presenting themselves as normal, reliable agents. Identifies normalizing devices used in dream reports, including contrast structures and two-part structures such as 'At first I thought X... but then I realized Y' and 'I was just doing X... when Y,' and suggests these devices may contribute to the trustworthiness of dream reports in everyday interaction. |
Abstract
The paper examines the discursive construction of dream reports. Based on a discursive constructionist approach, the study reviews problematic aspects of constructing dream narratives. Particularly, dream-tellers need to display the external character of their reports and to demonstrate that – although in their dreams they saw and did strange things – they are normal and reliable agents. Subsequently, particular ways in which people report on unrealistic content of their dreams are explored. For this purpose, the use of normalizing devices in dream reports published on dream-sharing websites is analyzed. The study demonstrates that several normalizing devices, including contrast structures and two-part structures – such as ‘At first I thought X. . . but then I realized Y’ and ‘I was just doing X… when Y’ – are employed in dream reports. The study also suggests that the proper use of these devices might possibly contribute to the trustworthiness of dream reports in everyday interaction.