Journal of Business and Technical Communication Jan 1993

Power Relations, Technical Writing Theory, and Workplace Writing

MALCOLM RICHARDSON ; SARAH LIGGETT

Abstract

Technical writing theory and research about communication in large organizations mostly ignore from-the-top control of rhetoric. The usual emphasis on an individual writer negotiating with a known audience and generally free to decide on matters of style, organization, and so on can hide the ways that power relations often silently control internal rhetoric. Conclusions are based on two case studies: In the later Middle Ages, professional letters had to conform to a rhetorical format that necessarily foregrounded unequal power relations. In a contemporary nuclear power station, similar power relations purposely obscure writer and audience while procedures dictate format and content.

Journal
Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published
1993-01-01
DOI
10.1177/1050651993007001006
CompPile
Open Access
Closed
Topics
rhetorical criticism composition theory technical communication professional writing
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Citation Context

Cited by in this index (7)

  1. Moran et al. (2012)
    A Bibliography of Works Published in the History of Professional Communication …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Knievel et al. (2010)
    Breaking the Rules: Teaching Grammar “Wrong” for the Right Results in Technical…
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
  3. Todd (2003)
    Teaching the History of Technical Communication: A Lesson with Franklin and Hoover
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Todd (2000)
    Burkean Invention in Technical Communication
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Ding (1998)
    Marxism, Ideology, Power and Scientific and Technical Writing
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Show all 7 →
  1. Savage (1996)
    Redefining the ResponsibiIities of Teachers and the Social Position of the Tech…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. FREEDMAN et al. (1994)
    Wearing Suits to Class: Simulating Genres and Simulations as Genre
    Written Communication

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CrossRef global citation count: 8 View in citation network → Build reading path →

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