Argues that a definition of interactional argument based primarily on disagreement should be rejected in favor of a more traditional definition based on reason giving. Argues that views of ordinary arguers need not be given priority over those of experts. (SR)

Rejects Robert Rowland and J. Kevin Barge's conclusion (in an article in the same issue) that defining argument as reason giving is superior to defining argument as disagreement. Maintains that defining argument as disagreement is appropriate for an interpretive argumentation theorist, and that argumentation is a complex topic with room for more…

Addresses Pamela Benoit's response to an article in the same issue by the authors, restating key arguments of why a research focus on reason giving is superior to a research focus on disagreement. (SR)

Analyzes the conversation of sixth grade children in literature response groups. Finds and describes two distinctive gendered styles of talk about literature, the predominate female mode of response being the "discourse of feeling," and the predominate male mode of response being the "discourse of action." Discusses pedagogy…

Explores the links between social identity, language use, and retention in organizational mergers and acquisitions. Finds that (1) change in culture does not happen gradually across the whole organization, but either quickly or not at all; (2) change happens by subgroups; and (3) conflict in mergers and acquisitions was between individuals rather…

Examines the activity of storytelling at dinnertime in English-speaking, Caucasian-American families. Demonstrates that, through the process of story conarration, family members draw upon and stimulate critical social, cognitive, and linguistic skills that underlie scientific and other scholarly discourse. (SR)

Demonstrates that in spoken discourse many clauses introduced by "subordinating conjunctions" are actually neither structurally nor informationally subordinate. Suggests that the study of linguistic complexity must include spoken as well as written discourse and take account of cultural and situational language contexts. (SR)

Explores humor from a functional perspective. Finds three primary functions: positive affect, expressiveness, and negative affect. Finds positive relationships between positive affect humor and interpersonal competence. Supports the validity of the Uses of Humor Index. (SR)

Content analysis of 288 advocacy ads in the "Washington Post" and 373 in the "New York Times" showed that (1) for-profit organizations place such ads more frequently, although nonprofit groups are increasing their use; (2) 3 organizations placed a quarter of all the ads; (3) economic and social welfare issues predominated; and (4) primary…

Identifies and compares the perceived educational needs of advertising and public relations practitioners. Explores differences between practitioners in small versus large markets, and assesses practitioners' beliefs about integrated marketing communications (the merger of advertising and public relations under a single organizational unit). (SR)

Advances a "rhetoricized" conception of alienation through the work of Mary Wollstonecraft, a British feminist writing in the 1790s. Suggests that alienation is a discursive problem posed by the interpolation of women throughout history and the reification of those interpolations over time. Shows how alienation functions as a critical…

Finds that members of the Issues Management Association were more positively involved with two procedures--"environmental scanning for emerging issues" and "developing communication plans about the issues"--than were other public relations practitioners. Finds that respondents were highly likely to use advanced communication…

Finds significant main effects of gender and employee classification level as predicted by structuralist theory: women reported lower job satisfaction and less desirable interaction than men; and hourly workers reported lower supervisory support, teamwork, communication satisfaction, and accuracy of information than salaried workers. (SR)

Argues that changes in current journalistic practices will be required if regional strife is to be adequately understood and reported. Suggests that peace researchers and other social scientists work together with journalists to bring interdisciplinary resources to bear on complex reporting problems. (SR)

Sketches contours of the postmodern movement and implications for a research agenda in mass media and international communication. Analyzes the furor over Salman Rushdie's novel "The Satanic Verses" to illustrate the difficulties that result from Western interpretations of events whose origins are distant culturally. Offers a number of…