The Power of Words: Unveiling the Speaker and Writer's Hidden Craft

David S. Kaufer,Suguru Ishizaki,Brian S. Butler,Jeff Collins

The Power of Words: Unveiling the Speaker and Writer's Hidden Craft
Format
Paperback
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Country
United Kingdom
Published
16 July 2015
Pages
272
ISBN
9780415652636

The Power of Words: Unveiling the Speaker and Writer’s Hidden Craft

David S. Kaufer,Suguru Ishizaki,Brian S. Butler,Jeff Collins

In 1888, Mark Twain reflected on the writer’s special feel for words to his correspondent, George Bainton, noting that the difference between the almost-right word and the right word is really a large matter. We recognize differences between a politician who is willful and one who is willing even though the difference does not cross word-stems or parts of speech. We recognize that being held up evokes different experiences depending upon whether its direct object is a meeting, a bank, or an example. Although we can notice hundreds of examples in the language where small differences in wording produce large reader effects, the authors of The Power of Words argue that these examples are random glimpses of a hidden systematic knowledge that governs how we, as writers or speakers, learn to shape experience for other human beings.

Over the past several years, David Kaufer and his colleagues have developed a software program for analyzing writing called DocuScope. This book illustrates the concepts and rhetorical theory behind the software analysis, examining patterns in writing and showing writers how their writing works in different categories to accomplish varying objectives. Reflecting the range and variety of audience experience that contiguous words of surface English can prime, the authors present a theory of language as an instrument of rhetorically priming audiences and a catalog of English strings to implement the theory. The project creates a comprehensive map of the speaker and writer’s implicit knowledge about predisposing audience experience at the point of utterance.

The book begins with an explanation of why studying language from the standpoint of priming–not just meaning–is vital to non-question begging theories of close reading and to language education in general. The remaining chapters in Part I detail the steps taken to prepare a catalog study of English strings for their properties as priming instruments. Part II describes in detail the catalog of priming categories, including enough examples to help readers see how individual words and strings of English fit into the catalog. The final part describes how the authors have applied the catalog of English strings as priming tools to conduct textual research.

This item is not currently in-stock. It can be ordered online and is expected to ship in approx 2 weeks

Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.