Sometimes it is difficult to learn more about his elderly family members. in an article published on the website on December 22 The conversationAn American anthropologist provides keys to try to unlock their language.
What do we really know about his grandparents or his parents? Despite the time spent together, sometimes little detail is revealed about the lives of some family members. The reason is simple, according to Elizabeth Keating, an American professor of anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin. in his article published on the website on December 22 The conversation “Most of us don’t know how to start a conversation that allows older people to talk about their experiences.” To remedy this, a professional creates a guide to really getting to know your loved ones.
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Put aside his “normal role” in the family
It was only after her parents died that Elizabeth Keating realized that she knew nothing about the foundational periods of their lives, particularly childhood and adolescence. Trained in anthropology, she decided to create a questionnaire to learn more about the details of her loved ones’ lives (beyond major events such as births, marriages or deaths).
The secret? First, put aside his “normal role” in the family. “During the interview, forgetting our role as grandchild or child, niece or nephew, and thinking like an anthropologist, trying to understand a way of life or culture about which he knows little,” explains the author of the book. Essential questions (Essential questions French).
Inquiries about subjects and social life
It then comes down to interrogating an elderly person of his choice, asking him to describe his daily life when he was a child. Elizabeth Keating, for example, recommends looking for details on the social interactions of the time; how romantic relationships, friendships, or even neighbors worked.
It also invites learning about learning styles or fears that children have had in the past. “If you ask questions about social life, you will get descriptions that will give you an idea of what it was like to be a child in his time,” promises the anthropologist.
Finally, the specialist encourages the person to question the objects that are important to him, about what is materially passed down in the family. “These ordinary objects can convey stories about family life,” he concludes. After all, to (re-)discover his family members, it may be enough to ask:
Source: Le Figaro
