Nick Martin (in Australia) and I (in Northern Ontario, Canada) have been
having an email collaboration discussing the ins and outs of genre theory
these last few weeks. We're both students and make no pretence to any
great expertise. . . . If anything, we are huddling together for mutual
support!
In any case, we keep running aground on an apparent dispute between Jim
Martin's group and another group which seems to be represented by R. Hasan.
The issue seems to be whether genre is a distinct level of analysis
separate from register (Martin), or whether genre is merely an expression
of register (Hasan).
I know there are several people on xmca who are extremely knowledgeable in
this rather technical area. We would very much appreciate a concise
explanation of what this issue is all about, at least as much as that is
likely to be possible -- if anyone has the time.
--glenn
Glenn D. Humphreys
P.O. Box 11
Echo Bay, Ontario
Canada, P0S 1C0
Telephone: (705) 248-1226
Internet: glenhump who-is-at soonet.ca
Fax (Phone/Email to arrange fax transmission): (705) 248-1226