Linguistics for Writers

This book is designed so that writers, teachers, and students can begin to incorporate the insights of linguistics into their study of communication and writing. It has two main purposes. One is to demystify some of the most worthwhile and powerful linguistic theories that illuminate written discourse. Basic linguistic principles and theories are outlined. The primary purpose is to present a way in which these theories can be developed into practical techniques and methods for dealing with the writing and editing of texts. Oriented toward users-people who are seeking methods to improve their writing-the book contains numerous examples and exercises. Topics covered: the linguistic study of language; the cognitive processing of information; using non-traditional grammars; achieving cohesion and coherence; creating global coherence through macrostructures; and the pragmatic and sociolinguistic parameters of written communication.