• According to Deborah Tannen in "You Just Don't Understand" novelist Alice Walker, in a 1989 interview on the Diane Rehm Show on WAMU in Washington, D.C. (?August 1989)said that one of the characters in her novel The Temple of My Familiar fell in love with another character because he was a"giant ear." I read the novel and could not find the exact quote, which I need. Can anyone find the exact sentence in that novel and the characters involved or else a transcript of that broadcast with more details? I need a primary reference from Alice Walker--not someone else quoting her. Thank you.


  • Hi sylk, Ok, after doing some preliminary research (reading Tannen and discussing Walker's book with people who have read it), here's what I understand – The exact phrase "giant ear" is probably never used in Alice Walker's book. Nobody recalls her ever using that phrase. My interpretation is that in the interview with Diane Rehm, Walker created the metaphor on the spot to describe the relationship between the characters in her story. The point she was making in the Rehm interview was that her character in the book illustrates how women fall in love with men who listen to them. In other words, what we, as women, women are really looking for in a man is someone who truly hears us. Now, the sense I am getting from you is that you need an exact citation for the actual phrase, "giant ear" as used first-hand by Walker --either in her book or on the air during that interview - Yes? In that case, I would be happy to track down the exact date of the Diane Rehm show in question and point you to where you can buy the tape and hear the interview for yourself. (I know that transcripts are not available). Hearing the whole conversation will allow you to hear the words right from Walker's mouth. This might help you get a better perspective on what she was trying to get across and in what context she used the phrase. That I can do today. (Tuesday) And/or, I would be happy to go to the library, get Walker's book and read it and confirm whether or not the phrase exists. That I can do tonight or tomorrow. If it does NOT exist in the book, I can determine which characters Walker was referring to and write you a character and plot analysis as it relates to Walker's "giant ear" reference. I can also relate it to Tannen's book (which I am very familiar with) if you need me to. That, of course will take longer. I'd say we're looking at the end of the week assuming I can get the book tonight. So, just let me know what you'd like and I'll take care of it. Thanks, -K~


  • The date of the interview with WAMU for Walker is August 31, 1989 according to the Tannen book. Do not spend any time relating this to Tannen--I do not need any help with that nor with the idea of "giant ear". I understand the symbolism perfectly well--that is why I want to use the reference. As I said, I need confirmation that "giant ear" is not in Temple of my Familiar or that it is in the book or else a transcript or tape (I'd be willing to buy it) of the exact words of Walker. I need a primary reference!! I cannot use the reference without a direct quotation from the book or from Walker. Thank you.


  • Hi again sylk, Ok, here's where my research stands: 1 - The Book I have given it thorough look and found nothing. Also two other researchers have told me that they looked and found nothing. I think we're safe to say there is no reference there. I was unable to find the book in digital format. 2 - The Tape / Transcript I have sent an email to Deborah Tannen asking if she still has her original sources and if so, if there is a way to share them with you. No reply as yet, but she is a university professor and hence, may not be back at her office until classes start. Here is her information in case you'd like to contact her directly. You may get a better response going peer to peer rather than through me. Deborah Tannen http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/tannend/ Of course, if I hear from her, I will certainly let you know. At this point I'm at a dead end, so will leave this question for any other researcher who may come up with something new. Good luck! -K~


  • I do not believe it is worthwhile to see who else has quoted Walker. I would fully trust the reference from Tannen. The only thing helpful is a direct sentence in the Walker book calling someone a "giant ear" or else the transcript, which seems doubtful from your research. As I said, I have already read The Temple of Familiar and could not find it. I do wish the book were on computer in order to verify it. Thank you. A positive reference is the only thing that would sufficiently answer the question.


  • Good morning sylk, Gosh, I sure hope I didn't come across condescending in my previous post. I didn't intend to. It's just that often here we are faced with students who take metaphors a bit too literally or misunderstand references, so I wanted to make sure that ground was covered before I went running down the wrong path. I now see by looking up your previous questions, that you are in fact a writer confirming sources for your publisher. I apologize if it seemed I was talking down to you. This morning I had my sister, who lives in Washington, call WAMU and speak to a representative there. Unfortunately they do not maintain an archive greater than 7 years back and thus do not have any tapes or transcripts from 1989. The representative was unable even to confirm the date and content of the interview, saying that the information was no longer available. It seems we are out of luck there. I then did an online search (including ebay and the major used books sites) to see if anyone happened to be selling an old copy of that taped interview. No joy. The Library of Congress has a few NPR program tapes, but not the one we need. I do have one very promising avenue that I'm still pursuing for the tape however. Will let you know how it pans out. Additionally, I have done a rather comprehensive search to see if anyone else has referenced the same phrase used by Walker (not via Tannen). This would of course corroborate Tannen's reference. So far there are none to be found, though I still have a few other options to search. And, I've searched for "The Temple of My Familiar" in ebook or digital format which would allow me (or you) to do a digital text search. So far it doesn't appear that that book is available that way, but I'm still looking. Meanwhile, my plan is to get the book this evening and do a thorough search of it for the any reference to anything referencing "giant ear." If it is there, I'll provide you with a full reference. However, if it is NOT there, we have a dilemma. I will have proof of where it's not, but unless I find the tape, we'll have no proof of where it is. In that case, I'm not sure what the next step will be. I guess we'll jump off that bridge when we get there. :-) Thanks, -K~







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