Goffman's Distinction

Using Goffman’s (1981) distinction between the author (“someone who has selected the sentiments that are being expressed and the words in which they are encoded” – p. 144), the animator (“the talking machine, the thing that sounds comes out of” – p. 167), and the principal (“someone who believes personally in what is being said and takes the position that is implied in the remarks” – p. 167), this small story is particularly interesting.

From: 'Small Stories' as a new perspective in narrative and identity analysis by Michael Bamberg & Alexandra Georgakopoulou