Analysis of a database of tag questions in children's speech shed light on their structure and function. (JB)

Examines the background of schema theory and discusses the contention that content schemata is more important to the reader than textual schemata. Concludes that the more useful schemata is determined by the context rather than one schemata type always being more important than the other. (FL)

Continues an ongoing debate with Charles Willard and other argumentation scholars. Examines the claim that arguments are essentially nondiscursive phenomena by reviewing relevant empirical evidence. Assesses the utility of formal characterizations and hermeneutic inquiry as tools of argument analysis by considering the practical problems intrinsic…

Some regularities are noted in the beginnings of texts: anaphora, proper names, and deictics in particular. (FL)

Findings indicate that different readability formulas will not record the same degree of change in readability level if easier synonyms are inserted, sentences shortened, or text rewritten for simplification. (MKM)

Examines the effects of computerized data bank technology on legal discourse. (AM)

Discusses the nature of legal discourse and demonstrates that an analysis of its intellectual structure reveals its distance from the voice of the people. (AM)

Traces in detail the development of pragmatics and its relationship to semantics. (AM)

Discusses Frederick Jackson Turner's "Frontier Thesis" and investigates its influence on our national psychology over the years. (MH)

Probes the manner in which skilled rhetoricians have used recurring rhetorical forms to build cohesion and stimulate motivation among Americans in time of war. (MH)

Identifies and illustrates characteristics of conservative resistance rhetoric and examines the psychological origins and ideological statements of this rhetoric in the West Virginia textbook protest. (MH)

Assesses the use of the strategic message structuring tactic known as framing. Analyzes 3,000 messages obtained from a diverse sampling of computer-mediated discussion groups and forums. Finds that a speaker's emotional involvement was significantly and curvilinearly related to two message framing devices (message dependency and coalition…

Discusses different kinds of discourse analysis and notes that they vary in their focus, claims, and techniques. Argues that the philosophical foundations of critical discourse analysis are open to serious question and that it relies on a naive sociological model involving an overambition undermining sound research. (72 references) (Author/CK)