Biographic Information: English, Male, 53yrs
Themes: Biographical information (participant’s age), Participant’s occupation and interests, Participant’s family (kids, pets, relationships), Language use in different settings (professional settings), Social media and language, Importance of language, Language change and use, Participant’s interests and experiences, Participant’s future plans
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Transcript:
[00:00]
Interviewer: Hello? (laughs) I’m just kidding. Okay. Um, what is your name and how old are you?
Participant: My name is Xxxxx. I’m Fifty-three years old.
I: Okay. Um, and so tell me what you do for work.
P: So I manage, uh, I oversee about a hundred employees, um, in a, in a scientific setting.
I: Okay and do you like it?
P: Yeah, for the most part. I have uh there’s always good days and bad days with it.
I: Mmm. Explain the bad days for me.
P: Oh there’s just a lot of a lot of uh paperwork and uh signing documents and interactions with, if there’s trouble with folks got to take care of that um, you know just a lot of meetings I have to attend and yeah, just the day in and day out management responsibilities of that of that many people [Mmm.] it’s it’s a little,
I: And is it fun or not?
P: Yeah, it, I, uh, I, there’s good moments about it, for sure. I mean, I like to, some of the younger people that come in, I like to see them grow and develop and have a hand in their development and, you know, oversight with them and, and that’s always good. And then, of course, we’re always very successful with our projects and things. So um that’s always good. Um, so yeah, it’s, you know, there’s a lot of good positive things as well.
I: That’s good. And what are some of the negative things?
P: Like I mentioned, uh [(laughs)] you know, just uh the interactions with folks that, you know, like I’m going through dealing with a troubled employee right now and that’s, you know, a lot of time inoy- vested, involved with with dealing with those kinds of things. But that’s part of my job, so I gotta do it.
I: Yeah, seems like it’s part of every job. So, (7.0) what do you like to do for fun?
P: Well, I like to uh camp and go ATV riding and fishing um and those kinds of things. Um, you know, just get out in the outdoors, hiking around. Yeah, I definitely like the outdoors, getting away from, you know, people [3:00] and things like that. [Mmm.] It’s fun to get away and just be out in nature and uh gives you a time to disconnect from the job situation.
I: That’s true. And do you have any kids?
P: Yes, I’ve got three.
I: And tell me about them.
P: Well, they’re all gone now, so my youngest just graduated high school last year, so um, he’s in college and my other two are also in college. One is in graduate school right now and the other one’s about to graduate and um, yeah, I have a good relationship with my kids. It’s uh, you know, I get to see them quite often and it’s good. But yeah, they’re all in college and doing very well. So, I’m very proud of them.
I: That’s good. And do you have any pets?
P: I’ve got one pet.
I: And what is it?
P: I’ve got a cat.
I: Oh, is it an indoor or outdoor cat?
P: He’s kind of both, mostly outdoors, but he, he comes in sometimes. But yeah, I keep him around the property just to have for, you know, keep the mice away and things like that. But uh, but yeah yeah, he’s three years old now. Had a cat before him that had for thirteen years. And she just didn’t show up one day, so I don’t know what happened to her exactly but, uh, anyway, uh but yeah, he’s, he’s uh pretty easy to take care of and all that. But yeah, I enjoy having that cat around.
I: That’s good. And okay, let’s switch gears here. So going back to the work environment, when it comes to your language and how you talk to people, do you say or would you say it’s different from other settings?
P: Oh yeah, absolutely. I think it’s a professional setting. You have to be and remain professional. And, um, you know, there’s absolutely, in meetings or just talking to individuals, it’s, you know, it’s professional conversations, professional setting. Um, And I try to make sure I, you know, differentiate any kind of The way I talk or the conversations I have is completely in a professional manner. And that’s what I expect from my employees when they talk to one another, and, and there’s always conflicts and things like that when things do get, it’s not always like that. But uh, but yeah, in general, I view the workplace as a professional environment and people should carry themselves that way.
I: And [6:00] do you ever find yourself at work where you are with a close friend and you’re not keeping that professionalism?
P: Yeah, sure. No, I think there are, there are individuals, a few for sure, you know, other colleagues and peers that, yeah, you can talk like friends would and things like that. I think that’s, yeah, that’s a small part of the daily conversations I have. But, yeah, I think in general the work- workplace is more you know, just professionalism and talking that way. But there are times when, yeah, when there are a few few friends, quote unquote friends, that will, you know, be a different type of conversations. We’ll talk about different things and, you know, different tone probably of things. But uh, but yeah, I’d say that’s definitely true.
I: Mhm. Yeah. So you’d say that depending on the social sch- social situation, your language has different uses in ways of conveying the message?
P: Oh, absolutely. Yeah, a hundred percent. I mean, you know, outside of work, yeah, talking with friends, it’s a totally different thing. Watching a football game or, you know, out, out and about with people, it’s, yeah, you know, the closeness that you have with your friends and family, I think, takes on a totally different, um, the way conversations are held. You know, I don’t, like with my kids or my friends, I don’t talk as professional with them [Yeah.] and things like that for sure. So yes, absolutely.
I: Even in this interview, do you feel you’re trying to be more professional?
P: Yeah, kind of. I think so.
I: Yeah.
P: Yeah.
I: That makes sense. Um, (4.0) So you like football?
P: Yep, I sure do.
I: Who’s your teams or team?
P: Oh, I watch the Dallas Cowboys, they’re my favorite team.
I: Why?
P: Well, I just, I don’t know, they’ve, just somebody I, wa- some, it’s a team I watched since I was a little kid, and my parent, or my dad liked the Dallas Cowboys, so I just kinda picked that up too, so.
I: That’s good.
P: Yeah, and my, one of my sons, or my son played football in high school, that was always fun to watch, and so I’ve always enjoyed football.
I: Any other sports you like a lot?
P: Well, basketball, I think. I like watching basketball, too, and had both my daughters played basketball,
I: Mmm.
P: in high school. So that was always fun to watch, and, and uh, yeah, I watch professional basketball sometimes and-
I: But, football’s your favorite?
P: Yes, football’s my favorite.
I: That’s good. Mhm. So, what is the best thing that ever happened to you?
P: I guess probably my kids being born was the best thing [9:00] for sure. They’re a huge part of my life now and ha, have been since they’ve been born. So yeah, I think that’s definitely the best thing.
I: What was your favorite thing about it?
P: Uh, just watching them grow up and develop into the other different personalities and, and those kinds of things. I think when they were younger, it’s just, it’s a whole different setting. And as they grow, grew older and you know, just developed more and different personalities. It, uh, you know, it was kind of, it was interesting to see how they, you know, how they developed and and they took on their own thought processes and what they, you know, what they thought about things. It was kind of interesting to see all that and so that was always a, it was fun, very fun [Mhm.] raising kids.
I: Yeah, I could imagine that. Um, any other interests that you’ve come, that you’ve taken to, like, your truck? Like, tell me about your new truck.
P: Oh yeah, I just got a new truck, I like it. My previous truck I had for seventeen years, and so yeah, I got a new truck, so that’s always fun to, you know, you kow just invest, invest time into it, you know, upgrading things. So yeah, that’s been fun.
I: Mhm. Have you had any problems with it?
P: No. No problems with it yet.
I: Okay. (5.0) Well [One thing]
P: I didn’t mention, I think, which uh, as far as, you know, think, I was just thinking about the other activities is like hunting, you know that’s a big part of my family’s life. Most of, two my three kids like to hunt. And so um so that’s something we look forward to doing every Thanksgiving time during dearing, dearing the fall months to go hunting and things like that too. It’s a good social interaction with the family and friends to go do those things.
I: Yeah, [(audio inaudible) -I just was thinking about that.] Do you think that a person, (sighs) I don’t know how to word this um. Do you think language is a big part of people?
P: Yes.
I: And there’s many different uses for it, yes. And do you feel that you can like be yourself and talk your- talk like self [12:00] around certain family members?
P: Yeah, for sure. Yeah, I feel like there’s, um you know, but there’s always differences, right? If you think about talking with your own kids versus talking with [Mhm.] your parents, you know, You, again, you still have that respectful kind of uh,
I: There’s a sense of politeness.
P: Yeah, politeness, respect, whatever, with your parents. Still, not that I don’t have with my children, too, but yeah, I think there’s, there’s different uh, yeah, just a different feeling about it, and you know, and you’ve grown up with your kids and raised ‘em. So I think there is a different dynamic there, talking with parents, or even, you know, older family members, aunts and uncles and things like that versus the younger kids. I mean, there’s you know there’s obviously different topics that can be discussed. And I think, yeah, just the way the um conversations go, I think they can, they can totally be different between different family members. And [Mhm.] um but yeah, I can totally see that.
I: Yeah. Um, yeah I understand that. Because for me personally, I feel like around certain people I can’t be my true self and talk like my true self. Even when if I’m on the phone with somebody, like if I’m making a doctor’s appointment or anything, like I don’t know, I can only be my true self or talk and use my language as my true self around certain people.
P: Sure, I would agree with that. I mean, people that you’re closest to, I, I, I can, you know, that’s definitely true in my case too. Again, if you’re, you know, making a doctor’s appointment as an example, you know, again, it’s kind of a professional type feeling or settin- setting in general. But yeah, using language to get, you know, just that kind of communication, it’s going to be polite and respectful as long as you’re, you know, in my case, getting- getting the same responses back in a polite professional way. I tend to keep it that way unless, you know, there’s, always been o- been occasions where there’s been conflicts and you know language you know you can get angry or um you know and then that takes a whole different tone obviously [Mhm.] when you’re talking to people and in different environments but um but yeah I think it’s it just kinda depends on the setting and who you’re talking to and, and um you know what kinda you know, even personalities. You can, you know, be around people that are, you know, loud and big personalities. You may not say a lot because they’re taking over conversations and you kind of sit back and let it happen. Or you could try to balance that and jump in and do things. So yeah, I mean, there’s all kinds of language dynamics, I think, depending [15:00] on the people you’re around and the environment that or the setting that you’re in and, and, and those kinds of things. So.
I: And so when you’re talking to your daughter, for instance, You, you know, talk a certain way and act a certain way and use your language in a certain way. And she has, I know your daughter has a boyfriend and is it different with like the daughter and the boyfriend in the room? Do you think you have to speak differently at first or did it gradually get to where you could talk as your own [Yeah.] self and not be a certain way with your language?
P: Yeah, I think that’s always the case, right? You meet new people, depend- no matter if it’s boyfriends or girlfriends from your, your, your own kids or anybody. I think you meet new people who you probably wanna give a different, you know just get a feeling for how their personalities are and you wanna be kinda, I think, tippy toe a wa- you a little bit when you first meet people. And you, as you become more comfortable with them, obviously, then that will change. [Mmm.] And uh, the more you’re around them and talk with them, then you get more comfortable, they get more comfortable. And so, yeah, I think that totally is, a, a, an, any new person you meet, I think, is definitely that way.
I: That’s true. Um, are you married, in a relationship, or anything like that?
P: No, I’m, I’m in a relationship. I’ve been divorced for fifteen years almost now. [Mmm.] So, yeah. I’m in a relationship for the last 13 years, and um yeah.
I: And how was it meeting her for the first time?
P: Yeah, same kind of a thing. You want to make a good impression. Conversations are obviously way different than they are now. [Mhm.] You’re more comfortable with the person. But it was, uh yeah, you just want to make a good first impression on- with people. And um I’d say it’s completely different than it is now. If, like I said, it just gets down to the comfort level that you are with people and know what you can, topics you can talk about and what you can say. The, just the general attitude of the conversation, ‘cause you know this can be different now. Just, just like I said, it just comes down to comfort level.
I: And when you met her parents, how was that?
P: Yeah, it was good. Again, you want to make a good first impression. And even today, even a- after all these years of, you know, being together, um, again, he, her father is, st- I still, you know, you want to be respectful. And I would say, you know, I obviously have met him many, many times and have been around him many, many times, but you know, the conversations are still more on the level of, you know, just an older person, respectful, [18:00] like, I, you know, kinda like I’d be with my own parents, but it’s, uh, yeah, I’d say that, you know, it’s different for sure than like my closer knit family. [Yeah.] (audio inaudible).
I: So you wouldn’t talk to her dad the way you talk to your dad probably?
P: Yeah, I, I, I think it’s probably, yeah, I, I would agree. It’s still, you have the overarching respect and, and those kinds of things, but yeah, there’s, you know, Difference there for sure, even though I’ve known him for many years, I, I uh still don’t talk exactly the way probably do I do with my dad. You kone, just, just um [Yeah.] But, but yeah there’s always that.
I: And do you think having uh, a certain relationship with somebody impacts, like if you don’t have a good relationship with say, for example, your dad, it would be different talking to him, than if you have a really good relationship with someone.
P: Oh, I, I, yes, absolutely. I think that the,um yeah, if you’re, you know, if, if you think about being around people that, you know, again, you have to tolerate, let’s say, right? [Mhm.] You’re not gonna be as probably a forthcoming in conversation. You’re just there to tolerate things and if you have bad relationships with people that you have to be around and that does happen in, in life for sure that you just again the topics are probably not the same uh, the um their conversations are shorter um so yeah I, I totally think that goes hand in hand with just uh again it’s kind of a environmental set- the setting that you’re in with someone that you you know, if you don’t have a good relationship with or don’t necessarily like, it’s, you know, it’s definitely not the same speaking with those folks as it is your close family that you love and things like that.
I: True. So, what’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?
P: Well. Oh, I don’t know. Uh, probably going through divorce. It’s probably, yeah, that was a big, that was a big, that’s not something I, yeah, hope, yeah. I know a lot of people go through it and it’s manageable eventually, but yeah, that was probably the worst thing, just going through a big life change like that, you know? [Yeah.] Definitely uh, yeah, I’d say that’s probably the worst thing that’s happened, for sure.
I: And do you have any regrets in your whole life?
P: Hmm. Regrets? Yeah, I, d- no I you know if be honest with you be perfectly honest with you, I’m sure if I sat and thought about that a little longer, I’d come up with some things, but just off the top of my head, in general, my life, I’m very happy in my life and the way it’s turned out.
I: Mhm.
P: Um, [21:00] you know I can’t really think of anything that’s overarching regretful. Um, now I think all my kids are healthy [Mhm.] and doing well in college and all have dreams and aspirations and that’s the most important thing to me and so I yeah I just I can’t think of any big regrets that I have honestly.
I: That’s good.
P: Mhm.
I: And, hmm.(6.0) And what- do you have any plans or like when are you going to retire? What do you think you want to do for the rest of your life?
P: Yeah so I’m, I am at the end- getting towards the end of my career for sure um probably have another I’d say no more than three years left but um yeah that’s a good question right now i’m trying to figure all that out myself just trying to figure out you know I definitely want to travel and yeah travel this country, I’d like to go outside of the United States into Europe. Just, do a lot of traveling and and um yeah just pop in and see the kids and, and you know those kinds of things. But yeah, it’s still kind of in the planning phase right now, but uh, I, I anticipate to retire here in the next three years or so. So that’s the one thing I know for sure, but then the after that, you know, hopefully just figuring out things and places to go and do and see and, and um, you know, just stay close with family too.
I: Yeah, that’s true. And are you looking forward to it?
P: Yes, very much so.
I: That’s good. And will you settle down anywhere or just travel all around?
P: Yeah, well, I think, I mean, I’ll always have a home, [23:00] home base for sure. [Mhm.] But, you know, yeah, I where I wanna live, I’m not really sure at this point. If I’m gonna um go somewhere hotter or colder or you know what it is. But uh, um, but yeah, it’s, I think that’s still a an unknown thing right now is where I’m gonna settle down. But I will, you know, I think travel early an while I’m still able to I mean it’s you’ll get to a certain age where traveling will not be as fun or as easy and I hope to do a lot of that early on after retirement and then eventually you know just settle in somewhere. I don’t know where that’s going to be yet.
I: Yeah. That’s good. Do you have any favorite movies or shows?
P: Um, so yeah, my- I like the western genres. Um, some of the old John Wayne movies [Mhm.] are some of my favorites. So I like to watch those still, watched many, many of ‘em many times, but uh yeah, I’d say those are probably my, my favorite types of movies anyway, is to watch those Western uh, um shows. [Yeah.] They remind me a lot of my grandfather who was, uh, he was a, uh, I guess what I consider a true cowboy. He rode horses and you know, he worked on the border of the, you know, kinda patrolled the border, Mexican-Texas border for many years on horseback and carried guns and that kind of a thing. And I was always, I always looked up to him when I was a kid. So maybe that’s why I like Western movies.
I: Yeah.
P: It could be something like that, but
I: True.
P: Yeah.
I: That’s cool. And any types of shows?
P: Um, yeah. I like to watch crime uh shows. Um, yeah a lot of the like Datelines and those kinds of things, you know just the true crime. I think it’s, it’s interesting to me just a lot of the technology used to solve crimes is very interesting to me, the DNA technology specifically. It’s amazing how far that’s come. And um, and I just, yeah, I like to see, it’s really interesting to see a lot of these cold cases that are solved with DNA technology, um, and so that’s, yeah, I do try to catch those kind of programs.
I: Any favorite cases that you’ve taken a liking to or remembered?
P: Um, well, sure, there’s all, all the ones I’ve be- watched I. I think one of the, (sighs) the the one, of the, the ones that sticks out is the uh, the um, what is it called? Golden Gate? murders? there? With that- the guy that murder did the murder be-, he did a lot of murders back in the 70s and 80s and they used a new DNA techni- technologies It was one of the first cases where they did that, and uh they were able to they had saved uh, DNA samples or s- samples that they were able to extract DNA from and did uh what they call uh, uh genetic genealogy with it and they were able to find him. Um, anyway that was one of the first cases with that new technology that I’m interested in and I, that one kind of sticks out to me and they were able to locate him find him and you know of course at that point he’s an old man and got away with it for a long time but but uh they did catch up with them with the new technology.
I: Yeah. Yeah. The world’s become [27:00] crazy. (4.0) Hasn’t it?
P: Yeah, it’s a little different nowadays, no doubt.
I: Do you think that the phones and social media have affected language skills? Or?
P: Yeah, I, I, I do, I think, um just a lot of the uh even with my own children, you know some of the text messages I get or the abbreviated things. I’ve got to look at ‘em and think, figure out what they are. So yes, I think it’s, it’s almost like we’ve gone back to shorthand. I know that was a thing my, my one of my grandmothers, she could write shorthand, which was almost like a language within itself. And um I know that was utilized back, way back when. And it’s almost like we’ve come full circle to back to , to kinda doing shorthand um communication like that so it’s uh, yeah, interesting anyway. But uh, but yeah, no, I totally think there’s been an impact on just how, again, how we communicate and how uh, you know the written English, you know is there’s just new words out there. I seem to learn every day or new acronyms for things, for statements every day. So yeah, I think [That’s true.] part of that’s been uh the way we communicate these days, the different devices we use and things. So, yeah.
I: And do you think that because people are so invested in their phones it’s uh hindering their social communication skills like they can’t really express themselves in a social environment because of the phones or do you think it’s enhanced it?
P: Yeah I you know I don’t know I think (sighs) yeah I don’t know if, if I would say there’s been a big impact with social skills even though you know folks communicate via phone and text messages more these days I still think in social settings I have a, you know there may be some cases where, you know, you could apply that but I think in general um, you know you still have young folks getting together and socializing and you, you know in person, so uh, yeah, I don’t know that there’s a big impact to, to that these days. [Gotcha.]
I: Well, I think there is. But, um, is there anything else you’d like to talk about? Anything at all?
P: No, I think I’m (4.0) I don’t, I don’t know. Unless you’ve got something else, you’ve got a question for me.
I: Um, what’s your favorite color and why?
P: I’ve always liked color blue. I don’t know, maybe my mom, that was her favorite color, [Mmm.] so maybe I picked it up from her, but yeah, I’ve always liked blue color. [30:00]. I don’t know exactly why.
I: And have you ever experienced any, like, losses in your life?
P: Yes, my mother passed away a couple years ago. Um, so that’s been uh a big adjustment. [Mhm.] My dad’s still alive, but um, but yeah, that was the closest person, I guess, to me that I’ve lost in my life. [Mmmm] that’s um-
I: Do you think that could be part of the worst thing that’s ever happened to you?
P: Yeah, it could be. I mean, it’s definitely been impactful for sure.
I: Mhm
P: But that, that could be one of the things, too. Yeah, I think you lose anybody like that, it’s impactful. You know time will heal but it’s still you know it’s always there in the back of your mind [Yeah.] so yeah for sure.
I: That’s true
P: Yeah.
I: Well that’s our thirty minutes thank you very much for letting me interview you and you’ve been really helpful.
P: Okay. I appreciate it. Thank you.
I: Thank you
P: Okay
[31:05]
New Mexico Border Spanish Corpus 