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)

Examines the publicity in the 1935 trial for the kidnapping and death of Charles Lindbergh's son. Applies Burke's theory of human victimage. Concludes that this case may be one of the most blatant examples of journalistic scapegoating in history and a graphic illustration of publicity becoming dangerously prejudicial. (PD)

Notes that conspiracy charges have come to characterize mainstream political drama. Analyzes dimensions of the Watergate scandal so that the manner in which conspiracy rhetoric unfolds in political drama may be better understood. (PD)

Explores the question of what makes a discourse classification useful or appealing to teachers and examines the rise, reign, and fall of the scheme using narration, description, exposition, and argument as the four modes of discourse. (RL)

Describes cross-cultural study of conversational interaction as means to explain how much talking people do, when, why and how they talk and the topics they feel appropriate in conversation. Suggests conversational behavior from nonnative speakers reflects a difference in communicative style transferred from another language and culture.…

Explores the hypothesis that speech acts cannot be located without bringing in knowledge beyond that of the textual referent itself. Points out that speech acts are made up of sentence context pairs through which one must search for a formal motion of context as a framing of speech activities. (FL)

Discusses the process of understanding of intent by which participants, through the comparative interpretation of a series of cues and symbols as they are revealed in speech, develop categories for a contextual model of communication. Argues that discourse is essentially dialogic and phenomenologically realizable. (FL)

Discusses perspectives and approaches that teachers can utilize in demonstrating for students the importance and complexity of ethical decisions in the oral and written composition process. Explores the use of religious, legal, political, dialogical, situational, and human nature perspectives. (Author/GC)

Examined whether problems of the same semantic cluster correlated with each other as problems that people experience. Semantically similar behaviors like "showing affection" and "revealing personal things" did covary as problems. (Author/BEF)