Where Techne Meets Poesis: Some Semiotic Considerations in the Rhetoric of Technical Discourse

John Steven Childs Sam Houston State University

Abstract

Stylistic analysis of scientific and technical prose reveals that technical and non-technical expository prose share a number of common characteristics; consequently, common assumptions about a clear stylistic separation between scientific and literary writing are faulty. Technical prose, moreover, possesses a number of rhetorical features which further increase its likeness to literary writing. Both style and rhetoric of technical writing thus point toward non-referential functions in scientific discourse, including the operation of significant cultural codes.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1986-01-01
DOI
10.2190/8fhy-87fe-vnhm-pp7c
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Cited by in this index (3)

  1. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Technical Communication Quarterly

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