Book review: 'The linguistics of news writing' by D. Perrin

Abstract

For the past two decades or so, Daniel Perrin has been one of the leading figures in a small but increasingly influential network of res earchers who call for the systematic language-oriented study of news production proc esses: no analysis of media discourse, it is argued, can be complete witthout a thorough consideration of the contextual dynamic s in which it has emerged. Perrin’s Linguistics of Newswriting is now the first book-le ngth introducti on to this field. It is both deeply theoretical and overwh helmingly empirical. The book’s scope is ambittious, from the “ins” of gaining access to the “outs” of feeding back to the practitioners. This unique combination of breadth and depth makes The Linguistics of Newswritin ng essential reading for all scholars, students and practitioners interested in how the news or any o ther form of professional dis scourse is made. (On a personal note, Perrin’s book is so elegantly written, sharply focused and innovatively structured that he has single-handedly reconciled me with the monograph genre.)