Written Communication Oct 1993

Rule-Governed Approaches to Language and Composition

JAMES D. WILLIAMS

Abstract

Composition theory generally has ignored grammar over the past 15 years, focusing instead on what has been described as “classifications of texts and relations among writers, readers, and subject matter.” Nevertheless, composition has been and continues to be strongly influenced by the model of language that is implicit in modern grammar. This model proposes that language is rule governed and, as a result, is deterministic. Transformational-generative grammar is the most well-known articulation of the model among composition specialists. This article describes the general features of the model and discusses some of the ways it has influenced composition. After assessing the various weaknesses of the rule-governed model, the article outlines a new model of language that is being developed in cognitive science by David Rumelhart, James McClelland, and others working in parallel distributed processing. This alternative model is associational and probabilistic and is grounded in connectionist theory and research. An association model of language provides composition specialists new perspectives on writers, research, and theory. The article concludes by suggesting possible ways to reconsider the act of composing and related theories.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1993-10-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088393010004003
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
composition theory grammar and mechanics
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. Kearns (2001)
    Relevance, rhetoric, narrative
    Rhetoric Society Quarterly

References (58) · 9 in this index

  1. Bateman, D.
    The effect of a study of transformational grammar on the writing of ninth and tenth graders
  2. Bereiter, C.
    The psychology of written composition
  3. Braddock, R.
    Research in written composition
  4. Bridwell (1980)
    Revising Strategies in Twelfth Grade Students’ Transactional Writing
    Research in the Teaching of English
  5. Brown, G.
    Discourse analysis
Show all 58 →
  1. Calkins, L.
    Lessons from a child
  2. Campbell, G.
    The philosophy of rhetoric
  3. 10.2307/357655
     ↗
  4. Cherry, R. (1988)
    Review of The structure of written communication
    The Composition Chronicle
  5. Chomsky, N.
    Syntactic structures
  6. Chomsky, N.
    Aspects of the theory of syntax
  7. Chomsky, N.
    Language and mind
  8. Clark, H.
    The psychology of language
  9. CROWLEY (1989)
    Linguistics and Composition Instruction: 1950-1980
    Written Communication
  10. Dasenbrock, R.
    Defining the new rhetorics
  11. Davidson, D.
    Essays on actions and events
  12. Davidson, D.
    Inquiries into truth and interpretation
  13. Davidson, D.
    Truth and interpretation: Perspectives on the philosophy of Donald Davidson
  14. de Beaugrande, R.
    Introduction to text linguistics
  15. Edelsky, C.
    Writing in a bilingual program: Había una vez
  16. Elley, W. (1976)
    The role of grammar in a secondary school English curriculum
    New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies
  17. Elley et al. (1976)
    The Role of Grammar in a Secondary School English Curriculum
    Research in the Teaching of English
  18. 10.3102/00346543057004481
     ↗
  19. 10.2307/356600
     ↗
  20. Fodor, J.
    The modularity of mind
  21. 10.1016/0010-0277(88)90031-5
     ↗
  22. Gale, I. (1968)
    An experimental study of two fifth-grade language-arts programs: An analysis of the writi…
    Dissertation Abstracts
  23. 10.1080/19388076709556976
     ↗
  24. Hillocks, G.
    Research on written composition
  25. Hudson, R.
    Sociolinguistics
  26. Johnson-Laird, P.
    Mental models
  27. Krashen, S.
    Claremont reading conference 42nd yearbook
  28. Krashen, S.
    Current issues in bilingual education
  29. Krashen, S.
    Writing research, theory, and applications
  30. Leech, G.
    Principles of pragmatics
  31. 10.1016/0010-0277(83)90026-4
     ↗
  32. Luria, A.
    Cognitive development: Its cultural and social foundations
  33. Nystrand, M.
    The structure of written communication: Studies in reciprocity between writers and readers
  34. NYSTRAND (1989)
    A Social-Interactive Model of Writing
    Written Communication
  35. 10.2307/454819
     ↗
  36. 10.2307/358894
     ↗
  37. Quinlan, P.
    Connectionism and psychology: A psychological perspective on new connectionist research
  38. RUBIN (1984)
    Social Cognition and Written Communication
    Written Communication
  39. Rumelhart, D.
    Parallel distributed processing
  40. Scardamalia, M.
    The psychology of written language
  41. Searle, J.
    Intentionality: An essay in the philosophy of mind
  42. Sebeok, T.
    A sign is just a sign
  43. Slobin, D.
    Studies of child language development
  44. Smith, F.
    Essays into literacy
  45. Sokolov, A.
    Inner speech and thought
  46. Stoddard et al. (1993)
    A Peer Editor Strategy: Guiding Learning-Disabled Students in Response and Revision
    Research in the Teaching of English
  47. van Dijk, T.
    Text and context
  48. Vygotsky, L.
    Language and thought
  49. White, R. (1965)
    The effect of structural linguistics on improving English composition compared to that of…
    Dissertation Abstracts
  50. Wilkinson et al. (1993)
    The Effects of Sentence Combining on the Reading Comprehension of Fourth Grade …
    Research in the Teaching of English
  51. WILLIAMS (1985)
    Coherence and Cognitive Style
    Written Communication
  52. Williams, J. D.
    Preparing to teach writing
  53. WITTE (1992)
    Context, Text, Intertext: Toward a Constructivist Semiotic of Writing
    Written Communication
CrossRef global citation count: 2 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. The Peer Review Sep 2025
    Moving Against the Grain: Combining Writing Center Theory and In-House Editing Services to Create a Graduate Writing Center ↗
    Brian Harrell; Brook Wyers; Craig Theissen
    rhetorical criticism composition theory writing pedagogy graduate education teacher development collaborative writing writing centers peer tutoring professional writing labor and working conditions online writing instruction multilingual writers grammar and mechanics editorial matter
  2. Philosophy & Rhetoric Sep 2024
    Where’s the Rhetoric? Imagining a Unified Field ↗
    Joshua Hanan
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism composition theory genre theory discourse analysis cultural rhetorics argument qualitative research quantitative research digital rhetoric social media grammar and mechanics gender and writing disability studies public rhetoric affect and writing body and rhetoric editorial matter
  3. Rhetorica Mar 1998
    Hermeneutics and the Rhetorical Tradition: Chapters in the Ancient Legacy and Its Humanist Reception by Kathy Eden ↗
    Richard A. Miller
    classical rhetoric modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism composition theory argument grammar and mechanics race and writing
  4. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Oct 1990
    Grammar and Technical Writing ↗
    K. Scott Ferguson; Frank Parker
    composition theory discourse analysis writing pedagogy technical communication grammar and mechanics
  5. Rhetoric Review Jan 1986
    On the possibility of a unified theory of composition and literature ↗
    Patricia Bizzell
    classical rhetoric rhetorical criticism composition theory genre theory discourse analysis writing pedagogy basic writing grammar and mechanics literary studies