Re: Responsibility for our theories
Judy Diamondstone (diamonju who-is-at rci.rutgers.edu)
Fri, 5 Jan 1996 09:20:59 -0500
Aha! I just read Linda Flowers' article in the most recent issue of
_Written Communication_, which discusses "dealing with [sociocultural]
differences" beautifully, focussing on the _dealing_, not the _differences_.
She draws on a mix of theories (e.g., conversation analysis, Pierce's
semiotics, cognitive psychology) to look at the complex tensions that
arise at the literacy center where black & white academics, activists,
students work together to problem-solve issues that arise in the urban
Philadelphia community where the center is located. She shows what the
tools can and cannot do to provide some understanding for educators in
similar situations & constructs a framework within which she ultimately
makes powerful use of her own background in problem solving and cognitive
psychology to theorize what "happened" in the communicative encounters among
participants. Surely an exemplary "mix" of theories for a certain purpose and
a certain audience.
It would not of course prove exemplary for the study of an AIDS epidemic
or for answering questions about changes in genre, etc. There is not only
no mega theory, there is no mega mix of theories. I'm sending this
note though I do wonder if it's appropriate to publish the painfully obvious.
Judy
Judy Diamondstone
diamonju who-is-at rci.rutgers.edu
Rutgers University