The Elements of Metacommunication in Whereabouts

M. K. Rath and I. Nayak

KIIT Deemed to be University, Bhubaneswar, India

Keywords: Metacommunication, Meaning, Whereabouts, Jhumpa Lahiri, Chronotopes, Silence, Colour Codes.

Abstract: The present study is based on the theoretical framework of metacommunication. Metacommunication takes

place when a linguistic text generates indirect or ulterior meaning. In a literary text such as poetry or fiction,

which thrives on metacommunication, there are several ways of conveying meaning without using explicit

statements of facts and feelings. in fact, the more a literary work suggests than it describes or conceals than it

reveals, the more it appeals to the readers. In other words, the beauty of a literary work lies in its implications

than direct information. Therefore, all great literary texts have in them combined elements of

metacommunication. From action patterns of characters to the instrumental music in the background, many

aspects of a fictional work can feature several elements of metacommunication. The literary text selected for

the present study is Whereabouts, the latest novel authored by Jhumpa Lahiri, a renowned fictionist. First, an

attempt has been made to identify all the elements of metacommunication in the selected text. Second, an in-

depth analysis of those elements has been done with citation of textual evidences using the Discourse/ Content

analysis method.

1 INTRODUCTION

Whereabouts is Jhumpa Lahiri’s third novel which is

originally written in Italian and later self-translated

into English by the author. The novel is about an

unidentified single woman’s emotions recorded in a

style which integrates several metacommunicative

elements. The narrator in the novel is flummoxed

between the need to belong and the refusal to have

lasting ties. She has female friends, male friends and

colleagues who at the same time settle and unsettle

her. The narrator's sense of attachment is invariably

followed by estrangement. The newness of a strange

setting always attracts her, but after some time as she

gets familiar to the surroundings, she feels suffocated

and there is an urge to seek a new setting.

2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Gregory Bateson coined the term

'metacommunication' to denote the underlying

message in what we do and what we say. If

communication is the outcome of what is clearly

expressed, then metacommunication is what is

suggested or symbolized by that which has not been

stated. Joseph DeVito defines metacommunication as

'communication that refers to other communications,'

(2015) and maintains that the meaning of a message

lies in the words used as much as in other modes of

expression. Meaning can be generated by

paralanguage (Mehrabian, 1981), kinesics (Pease,

1988), facial expressions (Mehrabian, 1981),

proxemics (Pease, 1988), haptics (Montagu, 1987).

The way the message is transferred is equally

important to the actual message transferred. There is

always an implicit meaning carried through the

expression during the interpersonal communication

"Since human communication happens between two

subjectivities" (Mateus, 2017). The concept is

"constructed between the lines of the relations

individuals are building while they socially interact.

Beyond the communication messages, we encounter

instructions that enable us to cope with one another.

In other words, communication always presupposes a

metacommunicative element or meta-message

indicating how to be interpreted.” (Mateus, 2017),

In the context of literature and literary studies,

metacommunication has utmost significance since

literature thrives on multiplicity of meaning and

absent signs (Derrida) such as pauses and silence

(Mehrabian, 1981) contribute immensely to the

connotation of literary texts. Moreover, language

when implemented in a cultural context generates

added meaning. In this context Derrida's speech given

to the Congrès international des Sociétés de

Rath, M. and Nayak, I.

The Elements of Metacommunication in Whereabouts.

DOI: 10.5220/0012514900003792

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 1st Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR 2023), pages 847-850

ISBN: 978-989-758-687-3

847

philosophie de langue francaise, at Montreal in

August 1971 entitled “Signature, Event, Context”,

which was quoted by Kiesler later, may be cited:

"Communication had several meanings, and if this

plurality could not be reduced, then from the outset it

would not be justified to define communication itself

as the transmission of a meaning, assuming that we

are capable of understanding one another as concerns

each of these words (transmission, meaning, etc.).

Now, the word communication, which nothing

initially authorizes us to overlook as a word, and to

impoverish as a polysemic word, opens a semantic

field which precisely is not limited to semantics,

semiotics, and even less to linguistics. To the

semantic field of the word communication belongs

the fact that it also designates non-semantic

movements" (Qtd. in Kiesler 1988).

3 ANALYSIS

3.1 Absent Signs

Proper names play an important role in understanding

a linguistic description as they grip the reader’s mind

to establish a relationship of the name bearer to a

specific culture. Proper names have the semantic

perspectives of referring and presupposing the

behavior of a character according to a specific culture.

In Lahiri's first novel The Namesake, Gogol, the

central character, felt like an outsider everywhere

because of the unusual name he was bearing. In her

second novel, The Lowland, the name Udayan gave

the reader a hint about the revolting character he

played against the conventional society. In

Whereabouts, however, Lahiri has avoided giving

any proper names to her characters so that they can be

interpreted without having any specific cultural

presupposition. The absence of proper nouns in the

novel sets it free from any geographical or cultural

identity. The absence of proper nouns for the purpose

of referring to persons and places connotes universal

character. The protagonist in the story can be anyone,

a European, an American, an Italian or an Indian.

Lahiri’s art of characterization has given the readers

complete freedom to interpret the narrator with no

cultural or social identity labeled to the character. The

deliberate reference to the characters as he and she

has enabled the global readers to identify themselves

with the character for who she is and not because from

where she is. Reading Whereabouts, anyone can

identify himself or herself with the protagonist

because of the absence of her name and nationality.

In an interview with Mary Louise Kelly, Lahiri

explains dropping of proper names to her character as

well as places in Whereabouts. According to her, “...if

we take away the names of the places, the name of the

city, it’s more open. I find it more liberating. I think

that identity can be a trap at times. I think we can

become too fixated on who we are and where we’re

from. And I think this can actually- and do lead to a

lot of very grave problems in the world and for our

society and for the way we communicate and exist

and coexist” (Kelly et al, 2021).

3.2 Proxemics

Proxemics is the study of space that can be identified

as an element of metacommunication in order to infer

the proper meaning of a message received. Edward T.

Hall an American anthropologist and a cross-cultural

researcher coined the word proxemics to identify "the

hidden dimension" of interpersonal communication

through the study of space used by human beings

(Hall, 1966). Venetin Aghostin-Sangar in the

research paper “Human behavior in public spaces”

has established a relationship between the human

behavior and the environment. His stimulus load

theory defines environment as, “ a source of sensory

information, that provides people with psychological

stimulation. These stimuli can range from simple

ambient features such as light, sound or temperature,

to complex physical features such as buildings,

streets, land forms and the presence of other people.”

The unnamed narrator in Whereabouts is very

particular about the physical space she occupies. She

has a preference for a compact zone like a modest

corner or a cozy little room. While she is at the

therapist she likes the beautifully furnished small

room. The walls covered from top to bottom of the

room attract her and that’s why she chooses to visit

that therapist. The narrator finds herself at ease in that

place and confesses her nightmares to the therapist. A

small place ensures everything organized at its place

and at the arm's reach, whereas bigger places involve

a risk of losing important things. The small bedroom

of her friend’s daughter appeals to her more than the

master bedroom. The slanting low roof with dark

heavy wood single bed fascinates her and she feels

comfortable in this setup. On the contrary the

spacious hotel room where she has to spend three

nights for a convention appears to be a parking garage

designed for human beings. The spacious lobby, high

ceiling are unimpressive to the narrator.

Her office room is small and cozy too, but she

does not have any attachment towards the room as she

says “I am here to earn a living, my heart is not in it”

(Whereabouts, 8) However, when she lands at her

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friend’s country house to spend a few days, she likes

the landscape and the interiors of the house. She leafs

through the catalogues of art exhibits in the city

instead of reading the books she "brought to keep" her

"company": "I always prefer surrounded by things

that don’t belong to me. (Whereabouts, 102). Space

acts as a conditioner in the case of this unnamed

narrator. Change of mood comes with change of

place. At her friend’s place in the country she prefers

to cook her meal which she would have normally

purchase from a store near the place where she

resides.

3.3 Chronemics and Chronotopes

Chronemics is the study of one's attitude towards time

and this attitude towards time has a lot to reveal about

one's nature and circumstances. The narrator in

Whereabouts is fascinated to see everything neatly

arranged in its place in the country house of her

friend. The tranquility of the place motivates her to

take a walk around the place, but without any

company, she finds the walk too lengthy and decides

to return before sunset: "Solitude demands a precise

assessment of time, I’ve always understood this. It’s

like the money in your wallet: you have to know how

much time you need to kill, how much to spend before

dinner, what’s left over before going to bed. But time

seems different here. My walk took an hour, but to me

it felt much longer" (Whereabouts, 102).

Bakhtinian theory of chronotopes can be used to

inspect the place imageries and the chronological

constructions in the narrative for a better

understanding of characters and contexts. Bakhtin’s

notion of chronotope sheds light on spatiotemporal

interconnections in terms of how one participant

narrates her desires for place and place-linked

identities. It is important to note how the narrator

reacts to these intersections of "chrono" (Time) and

"topes" (Place) in Whereabouts. Space has also linked

with human emotions which the narrator expresses

with her interest to buy the used household items. In

the chapter, ‘At the Stationer’, she narrates how she

used to give a visit every year to her favorite

stationary shop with a fixed list of items to purchase.

It was an interesting place for her as she was charmed

to see the objects decked up so nicely that gave a

festive look to that shop. She was more amused to see

the whole family involved in maintaining that shop.

The father, mother and the lanky son would always

debate on the newspaper articles at the same time

helping each other in managing the shop. However,

one fine day she is sad to see that the stationary shop

has been replaced by a luggage store displaying brand

new empty suitcases. The thought of ever changing

world comes to her mind and she realizes that the time

has changed where the demand for office stationary

has gone down. The changing world of education too

is condemned here: "My students can barely write by

hand, they press buttons to learn about life and

explore the world. Their thoughts emerge on screens

and dwell inside clouds that have no substance, no

shortage of space (Whereabouts, 120).

Lahiri in the above lines is hinting at the modern

gadgets that have replaced the traditional educational

tools. The popularity of digital class rooms and use of

modern gadgets have put a halt on the sale of the

office stationeries. So there is no surprise in finding a

luggage store in the place of an office stationery shop.

Again in another chapter, ‘In August’ she is unhappy

to find the son disposing the used household items

just to get some space that will please her girlfriend

to spend time with him. In doing so he was getting rid

of all the memories of his parents. At this point, in a

flashback, the narrator remembers how she was

trained from her childhood not to spend money on

unnecessary things. She was the virtuous daughter

who often could hold her emotions for the things she

liked at stores but avoided purchasing them.

However, she is attracted to the signboard of cheap

sales in the neighbourhood. She invades the store and

purchases a few things even though she is not in need

of them. It was not the low price that compelled her

buy the things, but she could feel the emotions behind

the used up things that were on sale. Every morning

having the day’s first coffee from one of those

chipped cups and reading the thirty three year old

magazine she had brought from that cheap deal

reminded her of the bare truth of life that emotional

attachments vanish in this mundane world and what

is left is the unpleasant reality of ever changing life.

We know that the narrator feels contented with fewer

things around, but the scraps she had bought from the

neighborhood gave her company and entertained her.

3.4 The Colour Codes

From a study of the colour codes used by Lahiri, one

cannot say that the narrator has a preference for any

colour. She likes her wall colours to be bland, but

makes sure that the entire wall remains covered. Her

office has bland coloured walls and she always

desires her bookshelf to cover the entire wall. She

admires the crockery in her friend's house, "the thick

yellow plates and the thin transparent glasses." Spring

is the season of happiness and new beginnings. There

is the colour green all around. The entire world

rejuvenates with the invigorated nature, but this

The Elements of Metacommunication in Whereabouts

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season brings bleak memories to the narrator. The

green trees, peaches in the market do not attract her.

She prefers to stay in bed even though she is awake.

The spring season stings her with all the loss she had

born over the years. She prefers to stay in the darker

speck than in the light colors of the season. There is

no description of the particular losses she suffered

around this time of the year, but it is clear that she

certainly did.

3.5 Silence and Pauses

The unnamed speaker of the novel has the affinity

with the character Gauri in The Lowland. Like Gauri,

who could enjoy her sound sleep in the balcony in

spite of the heavy traffic noise outside, she finds her

isolation in the mid of commotion. The absolute

silence of the night disturbs her sleep. The absence of

movements on the road brings her the gloomiest

thoughts and it continues until there is sunlight and

movement on the road: "That silence combined with

the black sky, takes hold over me until the first light

returns and dispel those thoughts, until I hear the

presence of lives passing by along the road below me"

(Whereabouts, 107). When it comes to relationships,

however, the narrator has a very different attitude to

silence. She never confesses any romantic feelings for

her male friend with whom she spends time

frequently. She has no verbal communication with the

gentleman in the adjacent room of a hotel in which

she has to spend three nights, but they coincidentally

wait for each other in the morning and the evening to

share the elevator before going their own ways and

"for three days" their "tacit bonds" puts her

"obscurely at peace with the world" (Whereabouts,

55). She feels connected to someone she has not

exchanged a word with, whereas all the intellectual

deliberations for which she has traveled up to that

place do not appeal to her at all. That is the kind of

effect silence has on her relationships.

4 CONCLUSION

In Whereabouts, Jhumpa Lahiri has adopted a

different approach to fiction writing with the

introduction of an unnamed universal character which

represents a transnational milieu. Lahiri’s efforts to

convey the universal human feelings without having

any burden of national or cultural identity add a

freshness to her own literary output which had so far

focused on the issues pertaining to individual identity.

In the narration, she has used metacommunicative

elements like absent signs, silence, colour codes and

chronotopes as the communicating agents to

articulate the emotions and thought process of the

protagonist. The study is a multidisciplinary approach

to research as it lets the domain of creative writing

intersect with that of Communication sciences. The

analysis can help communication practitioners

understand the concept of metacommunication better.

Due to the constraint of word limit, limited number of

metacommunicative elements have been analysed in

this article. These elements can be further elaborated

along with the other elements not included here in

future research on the same topic.

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DeVito, J. A. ed., Human Communication; the basic

course, 13th ed. Pearson Allyn and Bacon. pp.146-147.

Hall, E.T. (1966). The Hidden Dimension, Doubleday &

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Kelly et al., (2021 April 27) Jhumpa Lahiri On Her Unique

Use Of Place In 'Whereabouts'

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/27/991343053/jhumpa-

lahiri-on-her-unique-use-of-place-in-whereabouts

Kiesler, D. J. (1992). Interpersonal circle inventories:

Pantheoretical applications to psychotherapy research

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