Describes a story grammar, summarizes some results of story grammar research, and suggests instructional procedures for developing children's concept of story and story components. (FL)

Studies the extent to which preschool children use pronoun ambiguity in a naturalistic setting, the circumstances in which ambiguity arises, and how the preschool children respond to such ambiguity. Results show that ambiguity of reference frequently occurs, especially when verbal disambiguation only is possible. Ambiguity did not influence…

Reports on a study of how people create names for individuals characterized by role descriptions. Concludes that context scenarios that involved the individual denoted by a role description elicited names less literally based on the actual role description than did less involving scenarios, and that less literal names appeared to directly…

Paragraphs which contain a topic sentence and other highly related supportive information lead to better comprehension and recall than paragraphs constructed in a less organized fashion. (MKM)

Composition instructors can use examples of how written discourse relies on fundamental linguistic principles of consciousness, stress, and word order to aid students in making their own writing coherent. (MKM)

Examines the use of the word "but" in oral French tape recordings. (AM)

Argues that in an unmarked sentence the verbs will be stressed, and that in determining patterns of sentence stress the vital consideration should be the speaker's point of view. (AM)

The aim of this article is to show the interaction between syntax and semantics. A question-answer environment, where the answer is composed of an adverbial, is used to demonstrate the interaction. (Text is in French.) (TL)

Develops a typology of persuasive attack strategies. Identifies two key components of persuasive attack: responsibility and offensiveness. Describes several strategies for intensifying each of these elements. Applies this analysis to "Dateline NBC"'s allegations that Wal-Mart's "Buy American" campaign was deceptive. Concludes…

Compares one form of synchronous computer-mediated communication, Daedalus InterChange, with analogous spoken and written corpora. Finds that the InterChange discourse mode is not merely intermediate between speaking and writing; rather the electronic medium uniquely fosters some behaviors and inhibits others, in support of the view that physical…

Examines the frequency, form, and tone of reproaches for misconduct on five newsgroups. Finds that few individuals responded publicly to their reproachers and that complete "traditional" remedial episodes in Usenet were relatively rare. Concludes tentatively that different offense types elicit reproaches which vary in form and tone.…

Proposes that a useful perspective for studying group computer-mediated communication is the theoretical construct of interactivity. Examines a representative snapshot of communication among the very large groups populating the networks. Finds that conversations are less confrontational than popularly believed: conversations are more helpful and…

To elucidate natural spoken conversation as a genre type, the characteristics of dyadic discourse as a "communicative genre" is focused on by examining the primary intent of utterances and the four phases of the dominant exchange structure via an interactive functional analysis of an extensive database of ordinary conversations (student,…

Analyzes different social statements on Latin American education and how they are used to construct alliances favoring public education. Argues that the statements have the main role in creating educative policies and on the mobilization of personal and financial resources; and identity and society integration themes are permanent despite…