Typologies of Narrative Analysis

Riesmann (2001) suggests three common approaches:

1. Textual - interpretation of uses of lanaguage, different clauses in texts, cultural narrative archetypes by narrator (eg. Labov)
2. Interactional - emphasis on sharing - narrator & audience by supportive dialogue, positioning of narratives, negotiation of topics (eg. Mishler)
3. Performative - division of narrative into scenes, presentation of self-identity as a performance, positioning of other ' actors'. (Langellier, Young, Mattingley)

Mishler (1995) (useful interdisciplinary introduction to NR) modifies a typology of narrative models (Halliday 1973):

1. Reference & temporal order: relating to relationship between 'told' actual events and 'telling' narrative episodic narratives
2. Textual coherence & structure: how narrator makes sense of events and structures narrative strategies such as such of metaphor, or prosody (speech rhythms/metre - Gee 1991)
3. Narrative functions: psychological approaches (such as self-identity maintenance, enthnographic approaches to narrative affirming cultural norms, interactional approaches (story-telling to make sense of events) and political narratives (use of power/ resistence)

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