Discourse In Spoken Language

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  discourse in spoken language: Discourse Patterns in Spoken and Written Corpora Karin Aijmer, Anna-Brita Stenström, 2004-01-01 This book brings together a number of empirical studies that use corpora to study discourse patterns in speech and writing. It explores new trends in the area of text and discourse characterized by the alliance between text linguistics and areas such as corpus linguistics, genre analysis, literary stylistics and cross-linguistic studies. The contributions to the volume show how established corpora can be used to ask a number of new questions about the interface between speech and writing, the relation between grammar and discourse, academic discourse, cohesive markers, stylistic devices such as metaphor, deixis and non-verbal communication. The corpora used for text-analysis can also be tailor-made for the study of particular genres such as journal article abstracts, lectures, e-mailing list messages, headlines and titles. A recent development is to bring in contrastive data from bilingual corpora to show what is language-specific in the organization of the text.
  discourse in spoken language: Spoken Discourse Rodney Jones, 2016-07-28 This book provides an overview of current theories of and methods for analysing spoken discourse. It includes discussions of both the more traditional approaches of pragmatics, conversation analysis, interactional sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology and critical discourse analysis, and more recently developed approaches such as multimodal discourse analysis and critical sociolinguistics. Rather than treating these perspectives as mutually exclusive, the book introduces a framework based on principles from mediated discourse analysis in which different approaches to spoken discourse are seen as complementing and informing one another. In this framework, spoken discourse is seen as mediated through a complex collection of technological, semiotic and cultural tools which enable and constrain people's ability to engage in different kinds of social actions, enact different kinds of social identities and form different kinds of social relationships. A major focus of the volume is on the way technological tools like telephones, broadcast media, digital technologies are changing the way people communicate with spoken language. The book is suitable for use as a textbook in advanced courses in discourse analysis and language in social interaction, and will also be of interest to scholars in a variety of fields including linguistics, sociology, media studies and anthropology.
  discourse in spoken language: Oral Discourse and Education Bronwyn Davies, David Corson, 1997 This work examines spoken language as a field of study, looking at the various ways in which we can both theorize the place of talk in education, and examine the way talk is actually done in educational settings. It brings quite different and important perspectives to the study of education. It is relevant to teachers at primary, secondary and tertiary levels and for researchers interested in spoken language in educational contexts.
  discourse in spoken language: Discourse in English Language Education John Flowerdew, 2013 Discourse in English Language Education is designed to introduce students to the major concepts and issues in discourse analysis and its applications to language education, drawing on the key research from a range of approaches. This will be essential reading for upper undergraduates and postgraduates with interests in applied linguistics, TESOL and mother tongue language education.
  discourse in spoken language: Spoken Discourse Willis Edmondson, 1981
  discourse in spoken language: Variation and Change in Spoken and Written Discourse Julia Bamford, Silvia Cavalieri, Giuliana Diani, 2013-10-31 This book focuses on aspects of variation and change in language use in spoken and written discourse on the basis of corpus analyses, providing new descriptive insights, and new methods of utilising small specialized corpora for the description of language variation and change. The sixteen contributions included in this volume represent a variety of diverse views and approaches, but all share the common goal of throwing light on a crucial dimension of discourse: the dialogic interactivity between the spoken and written. Their foci range from papers addressing general issues related to corpus analysis of spoken dialogue to papers focusing on specific cases employing a variety of analytical tools, including qualitative and quantitative analysis of small and large corpora. The present volume constitutes a highly valuable tool for applied linguists and discourse analysts as well as for students, instructors and language teachers.
  discourse in spoken language: Discourse Across Languages and Cultures Carol Lynn Moder, Aida Martinovic, 2004 This volume seeks to answers such questions as: how is conscious experience translated into discourse? How are foregrounding and backgrounding accomplished? What is the function of features like lexical choice and referential choice? And many more.
  discourse in spoken language: Exploring Linguistic Science Allison Burkette, William A. Kretzschmar Jr., 2018-03-15 Introduces students to the scientific study of language, using the basic principles of complexity theory.
  discourse in spoken language: Language Learning, Discourse and Communication Weronika Szubko-Sitarek, Łukasz Salski, Piotr Stalmaszczyk, 2013-10-29 This volume brings together papers on a wide spectrum of topics within the broad area of language acquisition, stressing the interconnections between applied and theoretical linguistics, as well as language research methodology. These contributions in honor of Professor Jan Majer have been grouped in two sections: language learning, and discourse and communication. The former discusses issues varying from aspects of first, second, and third language acquisition, individual learner differences (i.e. gender, attitudes, learning strategies), and second language research methodology to the analysis of features of learner spoken language, the role of feedback in foreign language instruction, and the position of culture in EFL textbooks. The second part of the volume offers a theoretical counterbalance to the applied nature of the first one. Here, the contributions touch upon spoken and written language analysis, language awareness, and aspects of the English language; also, selected issues of language philosophy are discussed. The wide range of topics covered in the publication, authored by specialists in their respective areas, reflects Professor Majer’s academic interests and corresponds to the complex nature of the general field the volume aims to portray.
  discourse in spoken language: International Handbook of English Language Teaching Jim Cummins, Chris Davison, 2007-12-31 This two volume handbook provides a comprehensive examination of policy, practice, research and theory related to English Language Teaching in international contexts. More than 70 chapters highlight the research foundation for best practices, frameworks for policy decisions, and areas of consensus and controversy in second language acquisition and pedagogy. The Handbook provides a unique resource for policy makers, educational administrators, and researchers concerned with meeting the increasing demand for effective English language teaching. It offers a strongly socio-cultural view of language learning and teaching. It is comprehensive and global in perspective with a range of fresh new voices in English language teaching research.
  discourse in spoken language: Language as Discourse Michael Mccarthy, Ronald Carter, 2014-07-22 In this book Michael McCarthy and Ronald Carter describe the discoursal properties of language and demonstrate what insights this approach can offer to the student and teacher of language. The authors examine the relationship between complete texts, both spoken and written, and the social and cultural contexts in which they function. They argue that the functions of language are often best understood in a discoursal environment and that exploring language in context compels us to revise commonly-held understandings about the forms and meanings of language. In so doing, the authors argue the need for language teachers, syllabus planners and curriculum organisers to give greater attention to language as discourse.
  discourse in spoken language: Discourse Markers in Native and Non-native English Discourse Simone Müller, 2005-01-01 While discourse markers have been examined in some detail, little is known about their usage by non-native speakers. This book provides valuable insights into the functions of four discourse markers (so, well, you know and like) in native and non-native English discourse, adding to both discourse marker literature and to studies in the pragmatics of learner language. It presents a thorough analysis on the basis of a substantial parallel corpus of spoken language. In this corpus, American students who are native speakers of English and German non-native speakers of English retell and discuss a silent movie. Each of the main chapters of the book is dedicated to one discourse marker, giving a detailed analysis of the functions this discourse marker fulfills in the corpus and a quantitative comparison between the two speaker groups. The book also develops a two-level model of discourse marker functions comprising a textual and an interactional level.
  discourse in spoken language: Working with Written Discourse Deborah Cameron, Ivan Panovic, 2014-03-10 An outstanding introduction to discourse analysis of written language in an age that is more and more characterized by multilingual, digital, and generically hybrid texts. In an accessible style, Working with Written Discourse illustrates how these texts can be analyzed employing a wide variety of approaches that are critical, multidisciplinary, and productive. - Professor Jaffer Sheyholislami, Carleton University Comprehensive and up-to-the-minute in its discussion of areas like multimodality and the new media, without overlooking ‘older’ media and more conventional writing. I will recommend it highly to students at all levels. - Dr Mark Sebba, Lancaster University Addressing the practicalities of research, and embracing the complexity and variety of written forms of language, this book: grounds readers in a broad range of concepts, debates and relevant methods focuses on both theoretical questions and the ‘how to’ of analysis is loaded with practical activities and advice on the design and execution of research highlights computer-mediated communication and new media discourse, from text messages and tweets to mobile phone novels and online encyclopedias draws on data from international and multilingual communities. The perfect companion to Deborah Cameron′s best-selling Working with Spoken Discourse, this book equips readers with practical and conceptual tools to ask questions about written discourse, and to analyse the huge variety of texts that make up our linguistic landscape. It is the essential guide for students of discourse analysis in linguistics, media and communication studies, and for social researchers across the social sciences.
  discourse in spoken language: Investigating English Discourse Ronald Carter, 2012-12-06 In this challenging and at times controversial book, Ronald Carter addresses the discourse of 'English' as a subject of teaching and learning. Among the key topics investigated are: * grammar * correctness and standard English * critical language awareness and literacy * language and creativity * the methodological integration of language and literature in the curriculum * discourse theory and textual interpretation. Investigating English Discourse is a collection of revised, re-edited and newly written papers which contain extensive contrastive analyses of different styles of international English. These range from casual conversation to advertisement, poetry, jokes, metaphor, stories by canonical writers, public notices and children's writing. Ronald Carter highlights key issues for the study and teaching of 'English' for the year 2000 and beyond, focusing in particular on its political and ideological inflections. Investigating English Discourse is of relevance to teachers and students and researchers in the fields of discourse analysis, English as a first, second and foreign language, language and education, applied and literary linguistics.
  discourse in spoken language: Advances in Spoken Discourse Analysis Malcolm Coulthard, 2013-01-11 This collection reviews 20 years of research into Spoken Discourse by the Birmingham group, allowing, for the first time, a developmental perspective. It combines previously published but unavailable work with new research. Bringing together recent theories of discourse structure, with a new and detailed analytic framework, the book emphasises both historical context and new developments. The articles are comprehensive, ranging from the theoretical to the highly applied. Practical applications include language teaching, literary stylistics and forensic linguistics with examples taken from literature and language classrooms, telephone conversations, disputed witness statements and corpuses of spoken English.
  discourse in spoken language: Professional Discourse Kenneth Kong, 2014-08-14 Using a wide range of examples, this book examines the discourse of professional writing and its important role in society.
  discourse in spoken language: Working with Spoken Discourse Deborah Cameron, 2001-05-25 Working with Spoken Discourse provides a comprehensive account of the expanding multidisciplinary field of discourse analysis. It discusses current approaches, concepts and debates in the field of spoken discourse and provides a grounding in the practical techniques of discourse analysis and how to apply them to real data.
  discourse in spoken language: Spontaneous Spoken Language Jim Miller, Regina Weinert, 1998-03-26 Jim Miller and Regina Weinert investigate syntactic structure and the organization of discourse in spontaneous spoken language. Using data from English, German, and Russian, they develop a systematic analysis of spoken English and highlight properties that hold across languages. The authors argue that the differences in syntax and the construction of discourse between spontaneous speech and written language bear on various areas of linguistic theory, apart from having obvious implications for syntactic analysis. In particular, they bear on typology, Chomskyan theories of first language acquisition, and the perennial problem of language in education. In current typological practice written and spontaneous spoken texts are often compared; the authors show convincingly that typological research should compare like with like. The consequences for Chomskyan, and indeed all, theories of first language acquisition flow from the central fact that children acquire spoken language but learn written language.
  discourse in spoken language: Pragmatics of Discourse Klaus P. Schneider, Anne Barron, 2014-06-18 Discourse is language as it occurs, in any form or context, beyond the speech act. It may be written or spoken, monological or dialogical, but there is always a communicative aim or purpose. The present volume provides systematic orientation in the vast field of studying discourse from a pragmatic perspective. It first gives an overview of a range of approaches developed for the analysis of discourse, including, among others, conversation analysis, systemic-functional analysis, genre analysis, critical discourse analysis, corpus-driven approaches and multimodal analysis. The focus is furthermore on functional units in discourse, such as discourse markers, moves, speech act sequences, discourse phases and silence. The final section of the volume examines discourse types and domains, providing a taxonomy of discourse types and focusing on a range of discourse domains, e.g. classroom discourse, medical discourse, legal discourse, electronic discourse. Each article surveys the current state of the art of the respective topic area while also presenting new research findings.
  discourse in spoken language: Discourse and Language Education Evelyn Hatch, 1992-01-31 Discourse and Language Education offers a practical, accessible discussion of discourse analysis. Discourse analysis describes how such communication is structured, so that it is socially appropriate and linguistically accurate. This book gives practical experience in analyzing discourse and the study of written language. The analyses show the ways we use linguistic signals to carry out our discourse goals and the differences between written and spoken language as well as across languages. This text can be used as a manual in teacher education courses and linguistics and communications courses. It will be of great interest to second language teachers, foreign language teachers, and special education teachers (especially those involved with the hearing impaired).
  discourse in spoken language: Spoken and Written Discourse in Online Interactions Maria Grazia Sindoni, 2014-04-24 Winner of the AIA Book Prize for a research monograph in the field of English Language and Linguistics (2016) Common patterns of interactions are altered in the digital world and new patterns of communication have emerged, challenging previous notions of what communication actually is in the contemporary age. Online configurations of interaction, such as video chats, blogging, and social networking practices demand profound rethinking of the categories of linguistic analysis, given the blurring of traditional distinctions between oral and written discourse in digital texts. This volume reconsiders underlying linguistic and semiotic frameworks of analysis of spoken and written discourse in the light of the new paradigms of online communication, in keeping with a multimodal corpus linguistics theoretical framework. Typical modes of online interaction encompass speech, writing, gesture, movement, gaze, and social distance. This is nothing new, but here Sindoni asserts that all these modes are integrated in unprecedented ways, enacting new interactional patterns and new systems of interpretation among web users. These non verbal modes have been sidelined by mainstream linguistics, whereas accounting for the complexity of new genres and making sense of their educational impact is high on this volume’ s agenda. Sindoni analyzes other new phenomena, ranging from the intimate sphere (i.e. video chats, personal blogs or journals on social networking websites) to the public arena (i.e. global-scale transmission of information and knowledge in public blogs or media-sharing communities), shedding light on the rapidly changing global web scenario.
  discourse in spoken language: The Handbook of English Pronunciation Marnie Reed, John M. Levis, 2019-02-12 The Handbook of English Pronunciation presents a comprehensive exploration of English pronunciation with essential topics for applied linguistics researchers and teachers, including language acquisition, varieties of English, historical perspectives, accent’s changing role, and connections to discourse, technology, and pedagogy. Provides thorough descriptions of all elements of English pronunciation Features contributions from a global list of authors, reflecting the finest scholarship available Explores a careful balance of issues and topics important to both researchers and teachers Provides a historical understanding of the importance of pronunciation and examines some of the major ways English is pronounced today throughout the world Considers practical concerns about how research and practice interact in teaching pronunciation in the classroom
  discourse in spoken language: Subjectivity in Language and Discourse Nicole Baumgarten, Inke Du Bois, Juliane House, 2012-11-02 Subjectivity in Language and in Discourse deals with the linguistic encoding and discursive construction of subjectivity across languages and registers. The aim of this book is to complement the highly specialized, parallel and often separate research strands on the phenomenon of subjectivity with a volume that gives a forum to diverse theoretical vantage points and methodological approaches, presenting research results in one place which otherwise would most likely be found in substantially different publications and would have to be collected from many different sources. Taken together, the chapters in this volume reflect the rich diversity in contemporary research on the phenomenon of subjectivity. They cover numerous languages, colloquial, academic and professional registers, spoken and written discourse, diverse communities of practice, speaker and interaction types, native and non-native language use, and Lingua Franca communication. The studies investigate both already well explored languages and registers (e.g. American English, academic writing, conversation) and with respect to subjectivity, less studied languages (Greek, Italian, Persian, French, Russian, Swedish, Danish, German, Australian English) as well as many different communicative settings and contexts, ranging from conference talk, promotional business writing, academic advising, disease counselling to internet posting, translation, and university classroom and research interview talk. Some contributions focus on individual linguistic devices, such as pronouns, intensifiers, comment clauses, modal verbs, adjectives and adverbs, and their capacity of introducing the speaker's subjective perspective in discourse and interactional sequence; others examine the role of larger functional categories, such as hedging and metadiscourse, or interactional sequencing.
  discourse in spoken language: Current Studies in Chinese Language and Discourse Yun Xiao, Linda Tsung, 2019-04-15 This volume features a discourse empirical orientation from diverse perspectives and various methodologies, in which narratives, interviews, surveys, and large-scale databases or self-created written and spoken corpora are employed and analyzed to gain a better understanding of new developments and changes in Chinese language and discourse. Authors employ updated approaches from a variety of fields, including applied linguistics, functional linguistics, corpus linguistics and sociolinguistics, to describe the structure of Chinese language and discourse and to examine its critical issues, many focusing on globalization-induced language developments and changes. With an empirically-based discourse/socio-cultural approach, this collection makes valuable contributions to research on Chinese language and discourse and serves as a sound reference for Chinese researchers and educators in diverse fields such as Chinese language and discourse, Chinese linguistics and language education, Chinese multiculturalism, and more.
  discourse in spoken language: Techniques of Description Gwyneth Fox, Michael Hoey, John M. Sinclair, 2004-01-14 This book is a tribute to Malcolm Coulthard, who has been remarkably active and influential across a wide range of English Language Studies. He is particularly well-known for his pioneering work in spoken and written discourse analysis and most recently, for his work in forensic linguistics. This collection of specially commissioned, state-of-the-art pieces by leading international linguists is dedicated to the man and his achievements and provides a showcase for the most exciting developments in applied discourse studies. All the papers share common assumptions about language study: that descriptions should be data-based, data-tested and replicable. The collection as a whole contains original and important new research on descriptions, with intriuging applications to forensic, gender and literary studies.
  discourse in spoken language: Spoken Language and Applied Linguistics Michael McCarthy, 1998-12-03 This book argues for putting spoken language at the centre of the syllabus.
  discourse in spoken language: Spoken and Written Language Michael Alexander Kirkwood Halliday, 1989 This books identifies the important differences between speaking and writing. Halliday leads the reader from the development of speech in infancy, through an account of writing systems, to a comparative treatment of spoken and written language, contrasting the prosodic features and grammatical intricacy of speech with the high lexical density and grammatical metaphor or writing.
  discourse in spoken language: Discourse Analysis Susan Strauss, Parastou Feiz, 2013-12-17 This introductory textbook presents a variety of approaches and perspectives that can be employed to analyze any sample of discourse. The perspectives come from multiple disciplines, including linguistics, sociolinguistics, and linguistic anthropology, all of which shed light on meaning and the interactional construction of meaning through language use. Students without prior experience in discourse analysis will appreciate and understand the micro-macro relationship of language use in everyday contexts, in professional and academic settings, in languages other than English, and in a wide variety of media outlets. Each chapter is supported by examples of spoken and written discourse from various types of data sources, including conversations, commercials, university lectures, textbooks, print ads, and blogs, and concludes with hands-on opportunities for readers to actually do discourse analysis on their own. Students can also utilize the book’s comprehensive companion website, with flash cards for key terms, quizzes, and additional data samples, for in-class activities and self-study. With its accessible multi-disciplinary approach and comprehensive data samples from a variety of sources, Discourse Analysis is the ideal core text for the discourse analysis course in applied linguistics, English, education, and communication programs.
  discourse in spoken language: Poetry in Speech Egbert J. Bakker, 2018-03-15 No detailed description available for Poetry in Speech.
  discourse in spoken language: Tacit Knowledge and Spoken Discourse Michele Zappavigna, 2013-04-01 A searching analysis of spoken discourse in the workplace, challenging Polyani's theory of Tacit Knowledge.
  discourse in spoken language: Working with Spoken Discourse Deborah Cameron, 2001-05-25 Working with Spoken Discourse provides a comprehensive account of the expanding multidisciplinary field of discourse analysis. Combining theory and practice it covers a wide range of material in a lively and accessible style. It discusses current approaches, concepts and debates in the field of spoken discourse and provides a grounding in the practical techniques of discourse analysis and how to apply them to real data.
  discourse in spoken language: Sociolinguistics and Deaf Communities Ceil Lucas, Adam C. Schembri, 2015-02-12 This book provides an up-to-date overview of the main areas of the sociolinguistics of sign languages.
  discourse in spoken language: The Rise of Discourse Markers Bernd Heine, Gunther Kaltenböck, Tania Kuteva, Haiping Long, 2021-06-24 Discourse markers constitute an important part of linguistic communication, and research on this phenomenon has been a thriving field of study over the past three decades. However, a problem that has plagued this research is that these markers exhibit a number of structural characteristics that are hard to interpret based on existing methodologies, such as grammaticalization. This study argues that it is possible to explain such characteristics in a meaningful way. It presents a cross-linguistic survey of the development of discourse markers, their important role in communication, and their relation to the wider context of sociocultural behaviour, with the goal of explaining their similarities and differences across a typologically wide range of languages. By giving a clear definition of discourse markers, it aims to provide a guide for future research, making it essential reading for students and researchers in linguistics, and anyone interested in exploring this fascinating linguistic phenomenon.
  discourse in spoken language: Teaching Languages to Young Learners Lynne Cameron, 2001-03-15 This book will develop readers' understanding of children are being taught a foreign language.
  discourse in spoken language: Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary Kate Woodford, Guy Jackson, 2003 The Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary is the ideal dictionary for advanced EFL/ESL learners. Easy to use and with a great CD-ROM - the perfect learner's dictionary for exam success. First published as the Cambridge International Dictionary of English, this new edition has been completely updated and redesigned. - References to over 170,000 words, phrases and examples explained in clear and natural English - All the important new words that have come into the language (e.g. dirty bomb, lairy, 9/11, clickable) - Over 200 'Common Learner Error' notes, based on the Cambridge Learner Corpus from Cambridge ESOL exams Plus, on the CD-ROM: - SMART thesaurus - lets you find all the words with the same meaning - QUICKfind - automatically looks up words while you are working on-screen - SUPERwrite - tools for advanced writing, giving help with grammar and collocation - Hear and practise all the words.
  discourse in spoken language: In Search of Basic Units of Spoken Language Shlomo Izre'el, Heliana Mello, Tommaso Raso, Alessandro Panunzi, 2020-07-15 What is the best way to analyze spontaneous spoken language? In their search for the basic units of spoken language the authors of this volume opt for a corpus-driven approach. They share a strong conviction that prosodic structure is essential for the study of spoken discourse and each bring their own theoretical and practical experience to the table. In the first part of the book they segment spoken material from a range of different languages (Russian, Hebrew, Central Pomo (an indigenous language from California), French, Japanese, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese). In the second part of the book each author analyzes the same two spoken English samples, but looking at them from different perspectives, using different methods of analysis as reflected in their respective analyses in Part I. This approach allows for common tendencies of segmentation to emerge, both prosodic and segmental.
  discourse in spoken language: Topic Continuity in Discourse T. Givón, 1983-01-01 The functional notion of “topic” or “topicality” has suffered, traditionally, from two distinct drawbacks. First, it has remained largely ill defined or intuitively defined. And second, quite often its definition boiled down to structure-dependent circularity. This volume represents a major departure from past practices, without rejecting both their intuitive appeal and the many good results yielded by them. First, “topic” and “topicality” are re-analyzed as a scalar property, rather than as an either/or discrete prime. Second, the graded property of “topicality” is firmly connected with sensible cognitive notions culled from gestalt psychology, such as “predictability” or “continuity”. Third, we develop and utilize precise measures and quantified methods by which the property of “topicality” of clausal arguments can be studied in connected discourse, and thus be properly hinged in its rightful context, that of topic identification, maintenance and recoverability in discourse. Fourth, we show that many grammatical phenomena which used to be studied by linguists in isolation, all partake in one functional domain of grammar, that of topic identification. Finally, we demonstrate the validity of this new approach to the study of “topic” and “topicality” by applying the same text-based quantifying method to a number of typologically-diverse languages, in studying actual texts. Languages studied here are: Written and spoken English, spoken Spanish, Biblical Hebrew, Amharic, Hausa, Japanese, Chamorro and Ute.
  discourse in spoken language: Corpus-based Research on Variation in English Legal Discourse Teresa Fanego, Paula Rodríguez-Puente, 2019-02-15 This volume provides a comprehensive overview of the research carried out over the past thirty years in the vast field of legal discourse. The focus is on how such research has been influenced and shaped by developments in corpus linguistics and register analysis, and by the emergence from the mid 1990s of historical pragmatics as a branch of pragmatics concerned with the scrutiny of historical texts in their context of writing. The five chapters in Part I (together with the introductory chapter) offer a wide spectrum of the latest approaches to the synchronic analysis of cross-genre and cross-linguistic variation in legal discourse. Part II addresses diachronic variation, illustrating how a diversity of methods, such as multi-dimensional analysis, move analysis, collocation analysis, and Darwinian models of language evolution can uncover new understandings of diachronic linguistic phenomena.
  discourse in spoken language: Word Order in Discourse Pamela Downing, Michael P. Noonan, 1995-01-01 This volume brings together a collection of 18 papers dealing with the problem of word order variation in discourse. Word order variation has often been treated as an essentially unpredictable phenomenon, a matter of selecting randomly one of the set of possible orders generated by the grammar. However, as the papers in this collection show, word order variation is not random, but rather governed by principles which can be subjected to scientific investigation and are common to all languages.The papers in this volume discuss word order variation in a diverse collection of languages and from a number of perspectives, including experimental and quantitative text based studies. A number of papers address the problem of deciding which order is 'basic' among the alternatives. The volume will be of interest to typologists, to other linguists interested in problems of word order variation, and to those interested in discourse syntax.
  discourse in spoken language: Coherence in Spoken and Written Discourse Wolfram Bublitz, Uta Lenk, Eija Ventola, 1999 Until very recently, coherence (unlike cohesion) was widely held to be a 'rather mystical notion'. However, taking account of new trends representing a considerable shift in orientation, this volume aims at helping relieve coherence of its mystifying aura. The general bibliography which concludes the book bears witness to this intriguing development and the rapidly changing scene in coherence research. Preceding this comprehensive up-to-date Bibliography on Coherence are 13 selected papers from the 1997 International Workshop on Coherence at the University of Augsburg, Germany. They share a number of theoretical and methodoligical assumptions and reflect a trend in text and discourse analysis to move away from reducing coherence to a product of (formally represented) cohesion and/or (semantically established) connectivity. Instead, they start from a user- and context-oriented interpretive understanding and rely on authentic data throughout in relating micro-linguistic to macro-linguistic issues. The first group of papers looks at the (re-)creation of coherence in, inter alia, reported speech, casual conversation, argumentative writing, news reports and conference contributions. The second group describes the negotation of coherence in oral examinations, text summaries and other situations that require special efforts on the part of the recipient to overcome misunderstandings and other disturbances. The third group discusses theoretical approaches to the description of coherence.
Discourse is the place to build civilized communities
Discourse is modern forum software for meaningful discussions, support, and teamwork that gives your online community everything it needs in one place.

DISCOURSE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of DISCOURSE is verbal interchange of ideas; especially : conversation. How to use discourse in a sentence.

DISCOURSE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
DISCOURSE definition: 1. the use of language to communicate in speech or writing, or an example of this: 2. discussion…. Learn more.

Discourse - Wikipedia
Discourse is a generalization of the notion of a conversation to any form of communication. [1] Discourse is a major topic in social theory, with work spanning fields such as sociology, …

Discourse Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
DISCOURSE meaning: 1 : the use of words to exchange thoughts and ideas; 2 : a long talk or piece of writing about a subject

DISCOURSE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
Discourse is spoken or written communication between people, especially serious discussion of a particular subject.

discourse noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage …
Definition of discourse noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

discourse, n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English …
There are 14 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun discourse, six of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Discourse - definition of discourse by The Free Dictionary
1. communication of thought by words; talk; conversation. 2. a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a treatise or sermon. 3. any unit of connected speech or writing longer …

DISCOURSE Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com
to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse. to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing. discoursed, discoursing. to utter or give forth (musical sounds). archaic.

Discourse is the place to build civilized communities
Discourse is modern forum software for meaningful discussions, support, and teamwork that gives your online community everything it needs in one place.

DISCOURSE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of DISCOURSE is verbal interchange of ideas; especially : conversation. How to use discourse in a sentence.

DISCOURSE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
DISCOURSE definition: 1. the use of language to communicate in speech or writing, or an example of this: 2. discussion…. Learn more.

Discourse - Wikipedia
Discourse is a generalization of the notion of a conversation to any form of communication. [1] Discourse is a major topic in social theory, with work spanning fields such as sociology, …

Discourse Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
DISCOURSE meaning: 1 : the use of words to exchange thoughts and ideas; 2 : a long talk or piece of writing about a subject

DISCOURSE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
Discourse is spoken or written communication between people, especially serious discussion of a particular subject.

discourse noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage …
Definition of discourse noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

discourse, n. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English …
There are 14 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun discourse, six of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Discourse - definition of discourse by The Free Dictionary
1. communication of thought by words; talk; conversation. 2. a formal discussion of a subject in speech or writing, as a treatise or sermon. 3. any unit of connected speech or writing longer …

DISCOURSE Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com
to communicate thoughts orally; talk; converse. to treat of a subject formally in speech or writing. discoursed, discoursing. to utter or give forth (musical sounds). archaic.