Using Corporate Lore to Create Boundaries in the Workplace

Sam J. Racine

doi:10.2190/v68v-9g1c-5mw1-780d

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 1999

Using Corporate Lore to Create Boundaries in the Workplace

Sam J. Racine

Abstract

In the workplace setting professionals use language to create boundaries of exclusion and inclusion, using the discourses of their professions and of specific workplace domain. Some boundaries are marked by formal tests—directed memos, posted notices, stamps that read “For Your Eyes Only.” Less overt forms, and arguably more effective, are specific rhetorical devices relying on knowledge of the corporate and professional culture. People are included or excluded from such cultures by their knowledge and ability to manipulate professional fables and folklore, historical data, workplace experience narratives, and practical knowledge. These discourse practices can be used to promote solidarity and positively strengthen professional cultures, but they can also be used to obstruct communication and to create social fragmentation in the workplace. This article examines some examples of discourse practices among managers and employees in the customer service department of a large manufacturing firm, and shows how knowledge of the ways that language can both include and exclude people from cultural groups in the worksite can help professional communicators facilitate more effective and responsible communication practices in workplace settings.

Journal: Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published: 1999-04-01
DOI: 10.2190/v68v-9g1c-5mw1-780d
CompPile: Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access: Closed
Topics: rhetorical criticism discourse analysis
Export: BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

References (17) · 2 in this index

Linde C., Life Stories: The Creation of Coherence. Oxford University Press, New York, p. 62, 1993.

↗
Polanyi L., Telling the American Story, MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, p. 15, 1989.
10.1515/9783110851694

↗
Polanyi L. (1981)

STCL
Polanyi L. (1982)

Spoken and Written Language: Exploring Orality and Literacy

Show all 17 →

10.1515/text.1.1981.1.4.315

↗
Geertz C. (1973)

The Interpretation of Cultures
Kreps G. L., Organizational Communication, Longman, New York, p. 126, 1990.
Deal T. E. and Kennedy A. A., Corporate Cultures: The Rites and Rituals of Corporate Life, Addison-Wesley, Re…
Molpus D. (1998)

Job Training
Bartholomae D. (1986)

Facts, Artifacts, and Counterfacts: Theory and Method for a Reading and Wrtiting Course
10.2307/358177

↗
10.2307/2095325

↗
JOURNET (1993)

Interdisciplinary Discourse and “Boundary Rhetoric”: The Case of S. E. Jelliffe

Written Communication
Winsor (1988)

Communication failures contributing to the Challenger accident: an example for …

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Kalmbach J. R. (1986)

Journal of Reading
Porter J. (1992)

Audience and Rhetoric

CrossRef global citation count: 1 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Using Corporate Lore to Create Boundaries in the Workplace

Abstract

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

References (17) · 2 in this index

Related Articles