Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jan 1986

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
Open Access
Closed
Topics
multimodality technical communication voice and style

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (3)

  1. Fatt (2000)
    The Value of Linguistics to Technical Authors in a Digital World
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Todd (1998)
    A Longinian concept and methodology for technical communication
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Harmon (1994)
    The uses of metaphor in citation classics from the scientific literature
    Technical Communication Quarterly

Cites in this index (5)

  1. Paul et al. (1983)
    Discovering and Teaching Syntactic Structures in Three Technical Disciplines
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Ramsey (1980)
    Grammatical Voice and Person in Technical Writing: Results of a Survey
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Halloran (1978)
    Technical Writing and the Rhetoric of Science
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  4. Chard (1975)
    The Incidence of Sentence Openers in Selected Technical or Scientific Periodica…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Dandridge (1973)
    Notes toward a Definition of Technical Writing
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Also cites 6 works outside this index ↓
  1. 10.1038/scientificamerican1067-81
     ↗
  2. 10.1038/scientificamerican0466-102
     ↗
  3. 10.1021/es60019a005
     ↗
  4. 10.1126/science.211.4480.341
     ↗
  5. 10.1126/science.92.2389.319
     ↗
  6. 10.1038/scientificamerican0350-38
     ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 4 View in citation network →

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