An analysis of paragraph development in letters to the editor and in "Saturday Review and "English Journal articles suggests irrelevance of development methods taught in school. (RD)

Distinguishes between explicative, formative, and exploratory rational discourse in both value-free and value-laden teacher-student discussions. Exemplifies implications and indications for the use of each. (AL)

Based on author's doctoral dissertation, Adaptation and Debate Strategies of Clarence Darrow and Alexander Rorke in New York vs. Gitlow," Pennsylvania State University. (Editor)

Results indicate that at least three factors contribute to the linguistic complexity of "wh-questions" and help to determine sequence of acquisitions: the syntactic function of the individual "wh-forms," the relative semantic complexity of different verbs, and contingency relations in discourse. (MP)

Reviewed are the relevance and limitations of work in sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and conversational analysis with respect to a central issue in the sociological study of social interaction: the taken-for-granted and inferences made therefrom. The hope is to show the arbitrariness of the line dividing microsociological studies and…

Summarizes basic principles for analyzing discourse. Focuses on discourse in the press, analyzing various levels, units, dimensions, modes, and social contexts. Discusses the relevance of discourse analysis to mass communication research. (PD)

One problem with readability formulas is that they are generally calculated on factors at the sentence and subsentence level. However, the representation of text through information structures is equally important. The complexity of information structures and their realizations will affect reading difficulty and should be incorporated into…

An observational study of the discourse of making amends was undertaken to produce a performance grammar accounting for the sequence of moves in this domain of social interaction. Findings are discussed in light of strengths and limitations of the grammar for describing discourse. (Author/RH)

Critically examines some of the assumptions made of linguistics and literature in the book "Literary Text and Language Study." (HOD)

A report of an investigation of conversations involving more than two persons. Two types of illocutionary acts are accounted for: the traditional kind directed at the addressee(s) and another, called an informative, addressed to all participants. Evidence is presented that every illocutionary act is performed by means of an informative. (AMH)

Reports work on text from extended event of talking among professionals. Discusses problematic communication and implications of nonsuccess in social interaction. Believes failure in explanation or in resolving competing claims implies need for more adequate cognitive and cultural models of participants' knowledge and practices; theoretical…

Reassesses Alexander Bain's contributions to rhetorical theory and argues that Bain has been misinterpreted by some and appreciated by too few. (RL)

Outlines some of the key ideas in the development of a British project for improving literacy. These include expressive language, the connection between language and learning, and the idea of participant and spectator roles. (CT)

Considers the consequences of taking political blunders seriously as central objects of electoral discourse. Explores gaffes as possible degradation rituals and as contributions to the definition of the electoral process and to the information needs of voters who must make decisions within that process. (PD)