ITL - International Journal of Applied Linguistics - Volume 64, Issue 1, 1984

This article argues for a semantic theory of discourse structure, with a strong cross-linguistic focus. Its argument starts with analysis of two phenomena related to discourse and cognition : conjunction; and categorization. After this initial justification, claims are developed within a specific research model for discourse, but also drawing on the rich field of data available in intercultural environments. Specific results include the claim that 'Mediterranean' discourse-types differ from Anglo AND 'Oriental ' types in preferring a different form of 'framing' device for discourse, namely a particularizing rather than generalizing form. There is also discussion of the implications of the approach for linguistic methodology and cognitive theory.

This article attempts to answer two questions : firstly, the question of what cloze actually is. Explanations using the principle of 'redundancy1 in the text and the 'grammar expectancy' of the decoder seem to be more satisfactory than theories based on gestalt psychology or the 'information theory'.

Secondly, the question of what cloze actually does. This would appear to be only satisfactorily answered by reference to the syntactic, semantic and rhetorical elements of language. Comprehension assessment for which cloze is often used is normally understood as getting at the conceptual world of the encoder. This cannot be directly tapped by cloze as it would involve skills over and above those accessible by cloze, such as skimming, scanning, reorganization, inference and evaluation.