Positioned by Reading and Writing — Rhetoric & Composition

Written Communication Jan 2009

Positioned by Reading and Writing

Anna-Malin Karlsson Södertörn University

Abstract

In the research project Literacy Practices in Working Life, the role played by reading and writing in common nonacademic occupations in Sweden was investigated. The results highlight not only some typical ways of using writing to frame units of work but also differences reflecting the main focus of work (“people” or “things”) and overall organizing principles. This article deals with patterns in the use of writing, which may be related to modern ways of organizing work (efficiency and flexibility, personal responsibility, identification with the company, etc.). Case studies show a range of literacy practices—running from extensive and rather complicated uses of writing connected with individual responsibility to very restricted and dependent uses of reading and writing governed by a top-down organization. Examples illustrate how emerging ways of governing work through written discourse, related to the new, knowledge-based work order, create very different roles for workers.

Journal: Written Communication
Published: 2009-01-01
DOI: 10.1177/0741088308327445
Open Access: Closed
Topics: multimodality multilingual writers

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (6)

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Blikstad-Balas et al. (2018)

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Karlsson et al. (2016)

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Spinuzzi (2011)

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Journal of Business and Technical Communication

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Cohen et al. (2011)

A Time Use Diary Study of Adult Everyday Writing Behavior

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Cites in this index (3)

Kress (2005)

Gains and losses: New forms of texts, knowledge, and learning

Computers and Composition
WINSOR (2000)

Ordering Work

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Hull (1997)

Changing Work, Changing Workers: Critical Perspectives on Language, Literacy, a…

College Composition and Communication

Also cites 6 works outside this index ↓

10.4324/9780203448885

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10.1017/CBO9780511841057

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10.1093/applin/24.3.316

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10.1177/1470357204045782

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10.1525/aeq.1985.16.3.05x1486d

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10.1006/jvbe.1996.0009

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CrossRef global citation count: 26 View in citation network →