Beyond single modes and media : writing as an ongoing multimodal text production (original) (raw)

In this chapter, we focus on new, hybrid forms of text production and their research. We start from the practical example of Wikipedia, and the ways in which articles are developed quickly and then refined over time by Wikipedians (Part 1). This approach illustrates transitions from a narrow to a broader orientation in writing research (2). We then develop a framework for the state-of-the-art analysis of writing as a focused and incidental, by-the-way activity of producing editable and storable multimodal communication offers (3). Within this framework, challenges for and controversial issues of contemporary writing research can be identified (4). This allows us to outline what such research can contribute to Applied Linguistics (5) and to sketch a related research roadmap (6). Finally, in the reference section, we list key publications that explain writing research beyond single modes and media (7). 1 From focused writing to writing-by-the-wayintroductory example Intentional, organized, and efficient writing has long been a key competence of academic and professional life: people sit down at their desk or another comfortable space in order to write a good text. They use pen and paper, a typewriter or a computer, and start with a draft. Then, they edit their text until they consider it complete. Finally, they send it off or publish it as a carefully designed piece. Unlike speech, it is decoupled from traces of fighting with thoughts and words-a close-to-perfect communicational offer. For the purposes of our argument, this conventional way of producing texts can be termed focused writing, a type of production that takes place over some span of time and with some degree of revision. Whether it is an email that takes just a minute, or a book that takes a lifetime, any type of focused writing still involves a recursive process. The final products of focused writing-essays, reports, letters, stories, poems, blog posts, books, and more-remain the currency of highquality composition for school, work, and the community. Digitalization, mediatization, and glocalization (Khondker 2004), however, are increasing the necessity to communicate with writing in new, hybrid forms. These forms transgress traditional boundaries between speech and text-often incorporating audio, video, and still images with the written word-as well as between private, educational, and professional domains (Oakey and Russell, this volume). Using mobile interfaces to global networks, individuals and organizations communicate across cul