Inferred vision: An analysis of the commentators’ descriptions of players’ visual perceptions and intentions during volleyball broadcasts

Abstract

This study explores how inferential description relates to expert knowledge by analyzing commentators’ inferential descriptions of players’ visual perceptions and intentions during live volleyball match broadcasts. The analysis revealed that even when the commentator could not provide the viewer with detailed visual evidence of what, when, and how the player perceives their surroundings, they could still make inferences about the player’s visual perception based on their own knowledge. The inference is made to show that a particular play was created with some intention. In addition, such inferential descriptions of visual skills, which conceptually link the player’s perceptions and intentions, are often contrasted with descriptions based on ‘popular vision’. These practices clarify the commentators’ expertise. These findings advance the theory of sports expertise in media studies and science and technology studies (STS) from the perspective of expert practices.