Oral History :: Arguments with the Narrator

Oral History Interview & Importance – Part 23

Arguments with the Narrator

Hamid Qazvini
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian

2017-09-26

One thing that the interviewer shall seriously avoid is long discussions and argument with the narrator. In some cases the narrator insists on the credibility of their information and perceptions and the interviewer has a different idea based on their sources of information. In such cases, both sides might insist on their position and interrupt the interview.

The following has to be stated:

The main task of the interviewer is to jog the mind of the narrator to help them remember old memories and incidents they have witnessed; however such efforts shall not be imperious and controlling. Unfortunately we see interviewers that due to their knowledge and long experience have a top to bottom look and in case of any mistakes by the narrator brag about their information and humiliate the narrator to prove their perceptions.
Mistakes in recounting the memories is an inevitable element in the oral history interviewer and requires patience. Nevertheless, time and number of incidents weaken the memory and information gets mixed up and result in faults by the narrator while recounting them and they might not acknowledge their mistake. Under such circumstances, the interviewer shall respectfully and with no long arguments point out the mistake and in case the narrator refuses to accept, the interviewer shall stop the argument and wait for an opportunity to provide enough evidence to prove his argument. In case it doesn’t work, a full description shall be provided as footnote by the narrator while publishing the article.

I remember that while interviewing a prominent social and cultural feature, he made a mistake. I pointed it out to be corrected but he didn’t accept it. Hence, I didn’t argue and in our next sessions tried to provide evidence and literature to prove it. Despite all the evidence he insisted on his position. In such cases there is nothing but patience and flexibility and definitions and elaborations shall be offered as annexes to the publications.

Sometimes the narrator requires the interviewer to express their opinion on the subject matter or their idea of the memories recounted. Such cases are not an opportunity for arguments and challenges. Our opinion might differ but there is no need to start a long discussion and argument.
The biggest mistake is to boast others’ opinion and create fronts in between. Such behaviors cripple the narrator’s self-confidence and in some cases it might be associated with a bad reaction by the narrator. Of course in a targeted interview, while asking questions, it is possible to make reference to other narrations but it shall not be in the form of arguments and quarrel.

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 1 - Oral History, Path to Cultural Dialogue

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 2 - Characteristics of an Interviewer

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 3 - Selecting a Subject

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 4 - Narrator Identification & Selection

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 5 - Goal Setting

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 6 - Importance of Pre-interview Data Collection

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 7 - To Schedule & Coordinate an Interview

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 8 - Required Equipment & Accessories

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 9 - Presentation is vital

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 10 - Interview Room

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 11 - Pre-interview Justifications

Oral History Interview & Importance Part 12 - How to Start an Interview