Written Communication Jan 1989

A Speech Act Theory of Metadiscourse

PAUL J. BEAUVAIS

Abstract

Metadiscourse commonly is defined as “discourse about discoursing.” In its brief history, the term has appeared in several studies of text structure; however, theorists disagree concerning the functions and forms of metadiscursive structures and the role of metadiscourse in a larger theory of text linguistics. This study provides representative examples of the problems that diminish the utility of the metadiscourse theories that currently are available. It then proposes an alternative theory that locates metadiscourse within the larger context of speech act theory. The study defines metadiscourse as indicators of expositive illocutionary acts, and it then provides a taxonomy of metadiscursive functions and forms.

Journal
Written Communication
Published
1989-01-01
DOI
10.1177/0741088389006001002
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Open Access
Closed
Topics
discourse analysis
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (5)

  1. Takač et al. (2026)
    Metadiscoursal Superimposition as a Methodological Approach: Towards a Structur…
    Written Communication
  2. Swarts (2022)
    Uses of Metadiscourse in Online Help
    Written Communication
  3. Amelia et al. (2006)
    Rhetorical Argumentation in Italian Academic Discourse
    Argumentation
  4. BARTON (1995)
    Contrastive and Non-Contrastive Connectives: Metadiscourse Functions in Argumentation
    Written Communication
  5. Mao (1993)
    I conclude not: Toward a pragmatic account of metadiscourse1
    Rhetoric Review

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CrossRef global citation count: 43 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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