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‘displayed’discursive registers in the public space in abidjan: considerations, chatting, admin and other stories Using interviews with city employees in Abidjan (Ivory Coast, 1996-97) which discussed the occupation of the public domain and space, the article analyses the grouping and categorising of discourse by speakers. Two opposing fields of practice and discourse are identified, in speakers’ storytelling and description : the space of ‘functional’social relationships (administrative procedures for using parts of thoroughfares and reserving market stall positions) and the space of ‘personal’or community social relationships (helping ancestors or descendants, family members, villagers, etc.). These groupings are ‘displayed’discourse registers, which actors recognise in their practices and enunciative positions. These groupings of practice and discourse (legal procedures and customary procedures) are diametrically opposed or complementary, or are insoluble and thus make it impossible to ‘work’. The groupings and the social categorisations they create are designated by differenciated terms : . on one side law, legality, administrative procedures, papers, documents, director, service, town or village hall, etc, and on the other considerations, chatting, stories, files on conflicts, younger brothers, friends, etc. As far as a conflict of legitimacy can be discerned, the dominant legitimacy for referring to municipal employees’ activity is always legality and the inhabitants. The way various speakers manage these opposing registers and legitimacies allows one to identify a field of social practice which is relatively widespread in Ivory Coast.