Considers reasons for the lack of interaction between dramatistic studies in rhetoric and argumentation theory. Proposes a rapprochement based on the implementing of contextualist assumptions in a critical argumentation. Traces the implications of Kenneth Burke's contextualist and dramatistic viewpoint for the study of argument. (NH)

Applies prevailing conceptions of proper argument to Burke's advocacy of the comic frame. Concludes these common conceptions cannot explain the power of Burke's arguments. Examines Richard Rorty's "edifying discourse" and Burke's "perspective by incongruity" as they illuminate the purpose of Burke's argumentation method. (NH)

Examines two poems written by a patient undergoing psychoanalytic psychotherapy. Shows how the spontaneous and unsolicited creative writing of poems accurately monitored and expressed emotional growth within a transference relationship that was then able to be utilized in real life situations. (RS)

Examined recorded business telephone conversations, noting that at least some forms of spontaneous conversation contained a second form of global intonational marking. Certain attributes of intonation persisted throughout discourse units in the calls, differentiating one unit from another. Two types of parameters emerged (one controlling midpoint…

Suggests the future of language and social interaction research should be further development of the understanding of the organization of talk and other contact in interaction itself, at the most general level in which it can be described. (Author/VWL)

Discusses resonances and basic issues of the four language and social interaction divisions of the National Communication Association and the International Communication Association: Ethnomethodology, Conversation Analysis, Microanalysis, and the Ethnography of Speaking (EM-CA-MA-ES). (Author/VWL)

As an epilog to a theme issue on morality in discourse, this article examines the various types of morality in dialog, focusing on premorality and proto-morality, sincere authenticity versus reflective ethics, and the moral voices of modernity. Concludes that morality is an intrinsic feature of any dialog, and it is a multidimensional,…

Describes the author's ongoing research which surveys World Wide Web authors and analyzes their Web productions to explore the strategies and the rhetoric for a personal presence (that of ordinary citizens) on the Web. Finds that individuals on the Web often put on the appearances of organizational status. Calls this use of institutional…

Finds (1) that corporate use of certainty in public business discourse is not affected by organizational profitability status or industry type; (2) a significant difference in the use of certainty exists between corporate oral and written communications; and (3) the use of certainty in corporate public business discourse does not differ…

Focuses on children's developing ability to recognize ironic and sarcastic speech acts. Reviews several theoretical approaches to examining nonliteral language processes, outlined by linguists concerned with adults' use of discourse irony. Reviews research pertaining to children's comprehension of irony and sarcasm. (Author/KB)

Offers a brief overview of the Structure Building Framework, a simple framework for describing the cognitive processes and mechanisms involved in discourse comprehension. Reviews the seminal work on which it is based (the first decade of structure-building research); and recounts the research conducted by the author to test the Structure Building…

Explores alternative actions which can be produced by practices of talking associated with the action of "initiating repair": questioning terms and certain forms of repeats. Shows that initiating repair can be produced by a practice which does not ordinarily produce it. Argues that situated analysis must go hand-in-hand with more formal…

Analyzes different strategies used by speakers/writers and hearers/readers to deal with underspecified coherence relations, phrased in terms of Horn's (1984) Q- and R- principle. Presents data from the psycholinguistic literature on the interpretation of underspecified relations and data from language-acquisition research suggesting that both…

Hypothesizes a resonance process in which concepts and propositions in the discourse resonate in response to related elements in the current sentence, initiating a process that makes available a subset of the information in the representation. Reviews research; presents explicit assumptions about the discourse representation; and describes results…

In a cultural studies course, 36 women studied popular romantic novels within the context of transformative feminist adult education. They identified the constraints of romantic discourse in their own lives and the power structure of romantic relationships, resulting in changed perspectives affecting their personal lives. (SK)