Writing and Cognition

Writing is central to the functioning of developed societies. However, the psychological processes that allow us to transform complex ideas into language and express them on paper or computer screen are poorly understood. "Writing and Cognition" goes some way towards remedying this. It describes new and diverse work both by field leaders and by newer researchers exploring the complex relationships between language, the mind, and the environments in which writers work. Chapters range in focus from a detailed analysis of single-word production to the writing of whole texts. They explore the basic processes involved in writing, the effects of writing on thought and how these vary across different educational and workplace contexts: How do student writers differ in how they approach their text? What processes are associated with the transformation of knowledge during writing? How do the writers of press releases balance the demands of message and reader? Where do writers look when they write? Is memory retrieval easier in writing or when speaking? How does dyslexia affect text production? How does writing by speech-input differ from traditional keyboarding? This volume is essential reading for writing researchers. It will also interest educators, linguists, psychologists, psycholinguists, and anyone who wants to find out more about how thought is transferred to the page. It investigates the psychological processes that allow us to transform complex ideas into language and express them. The chapters examine a wide range of writing contexts and issues. Contributors include field leaders and newer researchers, allowing for a diversity of opinion.