Diverse World-Views in an English Village

This is an account of the diversity of individual perception and the ambiguity of social interaction in an English village - Wanet. It examines the development and maintenance of social relations between three individuals: Doris, a farmer; Sid, a builder; and Nigel, the anthropologist and newcomer. Focusing on the multiplicity of world views which individuals use to make social life meaningful to themselves, it shows how these three communicate their meanings to others in daily conversation. It argues that social life is farcical, chaotic, multiple and contradictory and should not be represented by neat mechanical models or singular, authoritative, overarching systems.