Discusses three experiments conducted to determine whether inferences that function so as to preserve the coherence of a passage are drawn in the course of comprehension. (Author/FL)

Notes that the empirical research in language psychology can be helpful in reorganizing the domain of literary studies. Presents a survey of the major considerations in regard to such an undertaking and provides a specific demonstration. (FL)

Discusses the relationship between translation and discourse analysis or text linguistics theory. (AM)

Presents a theory of questions, in the context of pragmatics. (AM)

Questions the validity of the concept of legal language, and examines the function and structure of "legal language", especially its performative function. (AM)

Discusses translation problems resulting from semantic differences in legal and sociopolitical vocabulary, and the translator's responsibility in exposing erroneous or false presuppositions found in the source document. (AM)

Defines a rhetorical genre as a recurrent distinctive relationship among the elements of occasion, audience and speaker-role and examines five incidents which produced discourse constituting a rhetorical genre. (MH)

Encourages the adoption of a hierarchical model of discourse by teachers. (DD)

Defines a set of binary relations as illustrative of a hierarchical model of discourse. (DD)

States that John F. Kennedy, in his 1960 speech to Houston ministers, convinced many voters that, as a Catholic president, he would act independently of the Catholic Church in matters such as federal aid to schools, human reproduction, and religious tolerance. Analyzes arguments he used to distance himself from the Vatican and align himself with…

Articulates a theoretical framework for understanding the fundamental functions of political advertising (acclaiming, attacking, defending) which occur on the twin grounds of policy considerations and character. Applies this theory of political discourse to presidential general election television spots from 1980-1996, finding that Democrats and…

Presents observations concerning the meaning of discourse particles, based on the comparison of an item in one language with its functional equivalents in another. The article considers three languages: English, French, and German, and concludes that contrastive analyses can only indicate certain aspects that must be verified by further…

Addresses the topic of discourse markers and, using the concepts of denial and contrast, with modifications, examines markers of contrast in English and Spanish. The article shows that the markers in each language correspond very closely in what they signal about the interpretation of the utterances of which they are a part. (Nine references)…

Discusses the nature of the difference between dialectology and sociolinguistics and suggests that the findings of dialectology are relevant for use by sociolinguists. (30 references) (CK)

Investigates how language events are reported in English. The article outlines four dimensions of choice for the reporter in any language: (1) the voice presented as the report's source; (2) the way in which the message is reported; (3) the reporting signal; and (4) the reporter's attitude. Some possible applications of the framework are outlined.…