Compares discourse in several different media and finds that strict sequentiality is not a universal feature of discourse. Concludes that discourse in nonreal time media, such as electronic message systems, has multiple threads. (FL)

Uses eight languages in five distinct linguistic areas to examine two hypotheses regarding text generation and analysis and to illustrate their reciprocity relative to narrative discourse. Demonstrates how these hypotheses yield salience schemes and constituent analysis which mutually corroborate and correct each other. (KEH)