AMBIGUOUS HARMONY
by
Hervé Varenne

Transcript with emphasis on semantic content and rough timing

The original recording has been included in this transcript for two brief segments (sec. 16-24 and sec. 90-99) on which particular emphasis are placed within the book. Note that these are long files. Note also that they are provided here only for research purposes and may not be broadcast in any form. Any reposting of these files must clearly indicate their original source and must be linked to "harmony.html," the page that introduces my own published research on this conversation.


minutes 1 to 4

1-~ ~~ ~do you want~ ~~ ~ 
2-~ ~~ ~more Snoopies?~ ~~ ~ 
3-~ ~~ ~have you~ ~~ ~ 
4-~ ~~ ~told him that~ ~~ ~ 
5-~ ~~ ~you've got~ ~~ ~ 
6-~ ~~ ~just enough ooor~ ~~ ~ 
7-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ 
8-~ ~~ ~have you agreed with him?~ ~~ ~ 
9-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ 
10-~ ~~ ~~ ~oh mommy~ ~ 
11-~ ~I agreed.~ ~he just hasn't~ ~ 
12-~ ~~ ~~ ~had enough.~ ~ 
13-~ ~~ ~you agreed.~ ~~ ~ 
14-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ 
15-~ ~ well~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ 
16-Connie I think I~ ~~ you're always~ ~~ ~
17- found us our thing~ ~so generous.~ ~~ ~ 
18- today.~ ~~ you did~ ~~ ~
19-~ ~~ ~what?~ ~ ~~ ~
20-~ found us~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
21- uuh~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
22-~ a proper~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
23- china thing.~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
24-~ ~~ ~I don't believe~ ~~ ~
25-~ ~~ ~it. ~~ ~~ ~
26-~ ~~ ~~ I told Mary~ ~~ ~
27-~ ~~ ~to look for your ring.~ ~~ ~
28-~ ~~ ~~ I also~ ~~ ~
29-~ ~~ ~had the-had the~ ~~ ~
30-~ ~~ ~~ people come~ ~~ ~
31-~ ~~ ~up to-~ ~~ ~
32-~ ~~ ~check the sink. ~~ ~~ ~
33-~ did~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
34- they open it up?~ ~they opened it all up.~ ~~ ~
35-~ and~ ~~ and~ ~~ ~
36- xxxx~ ~Joe said~ ~~ ~
37-~ ~~ ~~ I don't~ ~~ ~
38-~ ~~ ~believe it. ~~ ~~ ~
39-~ ~~ ~three spoons.~ ~~ ~
40-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
41-~ ~~ ~~ I said~ ~~ ~
42-~ ~~ ~everything is falling down~ ~~ ~
43-~ ~~ ~that sink, he said well~ ~~ ~
44-~ ~~ ~I can't even get the-~ ~~ ~
45-~ ~~ ~I said-~ ~~~ ~
46-~ ~~ ~my husband said.~ ~~ ~
47-~ ~~ ~~ uh~ ~~ ~
48-~ ~~ ~doctor Harvey said.~ ~~ ~
49-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
50-~ ~~ ~~ they have~ ~~ ~
51-~ ~~ ~have a magnet, try the magnet~ ~~ ~
52-~ ~~ ~to get the ring up~ ~~ ~
53-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
54-~ ~~ ~~ and they said~ ~~ ~
55-~ ~~ ~is the ring gold?~ ~~ ~
56-~ ~~ ~yes the ring's gold. said~ ~~ ~
57-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
58- ~~ ~gold doesn't~ ~~ ~
59-~ ~~ ~~ is not attracted~ ~~ ~
60-~ ~~ ~by a magnet.~ ~~ ~ 
61-forget the~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ 
62-magnet Jack!~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
63-~ ~~ ~~ so.~ ~~ ~
64-~ ~~ ~~ gold,~ ~~ ~
65-~ ~~ ~gold's not~ ~~ ~
66-~ ~~ ~going to come up that way.~ ~~ ~
67-~ ~~ ~and he says,~ ~~ ~
68-~ ~~ ~~ gold isn't going~ ~~ ~
69-~ ~~ ~he says the ring is not~ ~~ ~
70-~ ~~ ~going to come~ ~~ ~
71-~ ~~ ~out,~ ~ ~~ ~
72-~ ~~ ~~ because there's so many~ ~~ ~
73-~ ~~ ~spoons down in that~ ~~ ~
75-~ ~~ ~pipe,~ that~ ~~ ~
76-~ ~~ ~nothing's coming~ ~~ ~
77-~ ~~ ~through, he says~ ~~ ~
78-~ ~~ ~you gotta get a~ ~~ ~
79-~ ~~ ~plumber. ~ I said~ ~~ ~
80-~ ~~ ~can you recommend one?~ ~~ ~
81-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
82-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
83-~ ~~ ~and~ ~~ ~
84-~ ~~ ~what the building does.~ ~~ ~
85-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
86-~ ~~ ~they have a number,~ ~~ ~
87-~ ~~ ~~ and~ ~~ ~
88-~ ~~ ~they caaall~ ~~ ~
89-~ ~~ ~this plumbing~ ~~ ~
90-³~ ~~ ~number,~ ~~ ~ 
91-~ ~~ mom~ and the person~ ~~ ~
92-~ ~~ ~that comes might be~ ~~ ~ 
93-~ ~~ ~different each time~ ~~ ~ 
94-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ 
95-~ ~~ ~but we could use that~ ~~ ~ 
96-~ ~~ Cathy.kind of~ ~~~ ~ 
97-~ ~~ ~~ thing~ ~~ ~ 
98-~ ~~ ~~ or you can what?~ ~~ ~
99-~ ~~ om.~ use another thing.~ ~~ ~
100-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
101-~ ~~ ~~ ~oh you need that~ ~
102-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
103-~ ~~ yep~ ~~ ~~ ~
104-~ ~~ xxxSnoopy's eye brow's done.~ ~~ ~
105-~ ~xxxx~ ~~ ~~ ~
106-~ ~~ you~ ~~ ~~ ~
107-~ ~xxxxtell me about the~ ~~ ~
108-~ ~xxxxchina closet. ~~ ~th-the thing
109-~ ~xxxx~ ~~ ~is he's not going
110-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~to give it to you
111-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ if he finds
112-~ ~~ ~~ ~Well I couldn't it!~ ~
113-~ ~~ ~~ what? get it out Mike~ ~
114-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ you have to be with
115-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~him or else he's not going
116-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~to give it to you if he
117-~ ~~ ~~ Joe!~ ~finds it. ~
118-~ ~~ ~Joe!~ ~ ~~ ~
119- thirty six and a half~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
120- it'll xx.~ ~~ ~~ ~~ a gold ring!
121-~ ~~ ~~ a gold ring!~ ~~ I found the gold
122-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ring oh there is nothing
123-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~in there!
124-~ ~~ ~right!~ ~the last thing he's going
125-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~to give you is your gold
126-~ ~~ ~~ oh.~ ~ring.
127-~ ~~ ~~ I bet he had~ ~he'd be a jerk!
128-~ ~~ ~Dad's gold watch,~ ~~ ~
129-~ ~~ ~cause he took the s-~ ~~ ~
130-~ ~~ ~sink apart when Dad~ ~~ ~
131-~ ~~ ~lost his watch down~ ~~ ~
132-~ ~~ ~the sink.~ ~ ~~ ~
133-~ ~~ ~~ and then he~ ~~ ~
134-~ ~~ ~said it wasn't there.~ ~~ ~
135-~ ~~ ~come on you, he's-~ ~~ ~
136-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
137-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~who's Joe?
138-~ ~~ ~who's Joe? he's~ ~~ ~
139-~ ~~ ~the honest one!~ ~~ ~
140-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
141-~ ~~ ~~ !**********~ ~~ ~
142-~ ~~ ~*******************!~ ~~ ~
143-~ xxx~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
144- xxxx ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
145-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~xx I've seen someone
146-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~coming in the building with
147-~ ~~ ~Hector helped me with~ ~xxxx. ~
148-~ ~~ ~my wash tonight.~ ~~ ~
149-~ ~~ ~how'bout that. he's~ ~~ ~
150-~ ~~ ~so sweet.~ gave him~ ~~ ~
151-~ ~~ ~a buck.~ ~~ ~
152-~ ~~ ~~ he said no no~ ~~ ~
153-~ ~~ ~no, don't give me anything.~ ~~ ~
154-~ ~~ ~I said you're helping meee~ ~~ ~
155-~ ~~ ~~ please.~ ~~ ~
156-~ ~~ ~so he was very~ ~~ ~
157-~ ~~ ~sweeeet.~ ~~ ~
158-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
159-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
160-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
161-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
162-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
163-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
164- do you~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~sound file
165- remember?~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
166-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
167-~ and~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
168- I am sure you~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
169- don't and do~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
170- we have it down~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
171- anywhere on~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
172- paper.~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
173-~ ~~ ~~ ~xxxxxxxxxxx~ ~
174-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
175-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
176-~ the possible~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
177- name,~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
178-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
179-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
180-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ 
181-~ of that~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ 
182-girl,~ ~~ ~hummm~ ~ 
183-Loella.~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~ 
184-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
185-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
186-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
187- her husband's~ ~~ ~humm~ ~
188- name is~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
189-Jim,~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
190-~ he's in the~ ~yeah,~ ~~ ~
191-furniture business~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
192-~ ~~ ~Fleet Fleet.~ ~~ ~
193-~ ~~ ~Loella and~ ~~ ~
194-~ ~~ ~Jim?~ ~~ ~
195-~ no no~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
196-that's~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
197-Rosemary and~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
198-Fleet Johnston.~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
199-~ ~~ ~haa~ ~~ ~
200-~ ~~ ~who's Loella?~ ~~ ~
201-~ ~~ ~Loella and~ ~~ ~
202-~ ~~ ~Jim?~ ~~ ~
203- it's from North~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
204- Carolina,~ ~~ ~xxxx ~~ ~
205- you know she~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
206- zipped over that~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
207- time we were~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
208- there, uh~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
209- hmmm~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
210-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
211-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
212-~ ~~ ~oh you have it in your~ ~~ ~
213-~ ~~ ~phone book.~ ~ ~~ ~
214-~ not~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
215- mine.~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
216-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
217-~ ~~ ~well do you want me~ ~~ ~
218-~ ~~ ~to look in,~ ~~ ~
219-~ ~~ ~I don't think~ ~~ ~
220-~ ~~ ~it's in mine.~ ~~ ~
221-~ x-~ ~~ you always called~ ~~ ~
222-~ ~~ ~her Loella I didn't~ ~~ ~
223-~ ~~ ~think she had a last name.~ ~~ ~
224-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
225-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
226-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
227-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
228-but anyhow he's xxxxx~ ~~ ~~ ~
229-in the furniture business,~ ~~ ~xxxxxxxxxx~ ~
230-~ ~~ ~~ ~xxxxxxxxxx~ ~
231-~ he~ ~~ ~xxxxxxxxxx~ ~
232-probably could get~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
233-this thing~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
234- for zilch money.~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
235-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
236-~ ~~ ~~ ~mommy~ ~
237-~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
238-~ x-~ ~~ I could~ ~~ ~
239-~ it's a~ ~build it.~ ~ ~~ ~
240- thousand dollars.~ ~~ Jack~ ~~ ~ 

October 19, 1999