Technical Communication Quarterly Oct 2019

Under Pressure: Exploring Agency–Structure Dynamics with a Rhetorical Approach to Register

Brian McNely

Abstract

This study traced the adoption of a new social language among financial advisors responding to intense regulatory pressures. Register – specialized vocabularies, argumentative moves, and syntactical patterns – was analyzed to explore rhetorical practices embedded in agency–structure dynamics. Through analysis of advisors’ correspondence with clients and semi-structured interviews exploring their communication practices, this study demonstrates how register changes embody everyday rhetorical tactics for managing complicated audiences. This article contributes to studies of agency–structure dynamics in professional communication contexts governed by strong regulatory constraints.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2019-10-02
DOI
10.1080/10572252.2019.1621387
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Topics
rhetorical criticism professional writing
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