Words of Written Discourse: a Genre-based view

Abstract

WORLDS OF WRITTEN DISCOURSE: A GENRE-BASED VIEW. Vijay K. Bhatia. New York: Continuum, 2004. Pp. xvii + 228. $49.95 paper. In this volume, Bhatia discusses multiple aspects of written discourse as produced in the real world by focusing not just on academic genres but on genres from professional and institutional contexts as well. His consideration of disciplinary variation in genres, relationships across genres, appropriation of generic resources as seen in hybrid genres, and the nature of generic integrity has led to an extension of genre theory not "constrained by the nature and design of its applications" (p. xiv) that is discussed here. In addition to this development of genre theory, this well-crafted volume provides a multiperspective, multidimensional model of genre analysis. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]