Written Communication Jan 1989

Text Comprehensibility and the Writing Process: The Case of Laws and Lawmaking

BRITT-LOUISE GUNNARSSON

Abstract

Texts reflect the conditions under which they are produced. This means that the writing process can favor or counteract a comprehensible text. In this article, problems of law text comprehensibility are related to the legislative writing process. The drafting of three pieces of Swedish consumer legislation was observed at different stages, and the results of this study are summarized and analyzed in relation to rhetorical and sociolinguistic theories of writing. Law writing can roughly be described by a rhetorical model as regards the role of the main phases in the process. It is, however, found to be less reader-oriented and more oriented toward the speech community than the rhetorical model prescribes.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1989-01-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088389006001006
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical criticism
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

  1. GUNNARSSON (1997)
    The Writing Process from a Sociolinguistic Viewpoint
    Written Communication

References (27) · 1 in this index

  1. Bruce, B.
    A cognitive science approach to writing
  2. Dale, W.
    Legislative drafting: a new approach—A comparative study of methods in France, Germany, S…
  3. Flower, L. S.
    Revising functional document: The scenario principle
  4. FLOWER et al. (1984)
    Images, Plans, and Prose: The Representation of Meaning in Writing
    Written Communication
  5. Gibson, E. J.
    The psychology of reading
Show all 27 →
  1. 10.1016/S0022-5371(80)90132-2
     ↗
  2. Griffiths, M.
    Exploration in the development of writing
  3. Gunnarsson, B.-L.
    Lagtexters begriplighet. En språk-funktionell studie av medbestämmandelagen
  4. Gunnarsson, B.-L. (1984)
    Text
  5. Gunnarsson, B.-L.
    Recht und Sprache
  6. Gunnarsson, B.-L.
    Beads or bracelet? How do we approach LSP
  7. Gunnarsson, B.-L.
    Facktext
  8. Gunnarsson, B.-L.
    Laganvändning på kommunnivå
  9. Halliday, M.A.K.
    Grammars and descriptions
  10. Halliday, M.A.K.
    Language as social semiotic: The social interpretation of language and meaning
  11. Hayes, J. R.
    Cognitive processes in writing
  12. Hymes, D.
    Foundations in sociolinguistics: An ethnographic approach
  13. Hymes, D.
    Directions in sociolinguistics: The ethnography of communication
  14. 10.1037/0033-295X.87.4.329
     ↗
  15. 10.1016/S0022-5371(81)90268-1
     ↗
  16. Larsson, K.
    Skrivförmåga. Studier i svenskt elevspråk
  17. Myndigheternas föreskrifter. Handbook i författningsskrivning. (1986). Statsrådsberedni…
  18. Ny disposition av propositioner. (1984). Statsrådsberedningen, PM 2. Cabinet Office. St…
  19. Nystrand, M.
    What writers know: The language, process, and structure of written discourse
  20. Några riktlinjer för författningsspråket. (1979). Statsrådsberedningen, PM 2. Cabinet O…
  21. Språket i lagar och andra författningar. (1967). Statsrådsberedningen, PM. Cabinet Offi…
  22. Utformningen av kommittédirektiv. (1984). Statsrådsberedningen, PM 3. Cabinet Office. S…
CrossRef global citation count: 14 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Computers and Composition Jun 2026
    Navigating platform algorithms: Global south feminist activists’ rhetorical and composition practices in digital advocacy on social media ↗
    Kalpana Shrestha
    rhetorical criticism social media gender and writing
  2. Computers and Composition Jun 2026
    Legacies, commitments, and new challenges: The Sweetland Digital Rhetoric Collaborative interviews three generations of Computers and Composition editors ↗
    Ali Alalem; Alyse Campbell; Thais Rodrigues Cons; Funmilola Fadairo; Nicole Koyuki Golden
    rhetorical criticism collaborative writing digital rhetoric
  3. Computers and Composition Jun 2026
    How Baldwin's voice moved Cambridge: Activation contours, mimesis, and a computational approach to rhetoric's sensorium ↗
    David M. Rieder; Michael R. Jackson
    rhetorical criticism
  4. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly May 2026
    Andrew Carnegie and the Rhetorical History of Business and Professional Communication ↗
    Joe Edward Hatfield
    rhetorical criticism teacher development professional writing archival research
  5. Written Communication May 2026
    Tuning In: Rhetorical Attunement as a Methodological Practice for Collaborative Research ↗
    Amber Hedquist; Liliana Caughman; Claire Lauer
    rhetorical criticism collaborative writing