An understanding of genres in communication (written and spoken) is essential to professional success. This volume studies situationally appropriate responses in professional communication in face-to-face interaction and distance communication, from a socio-cognitive point of view. A traditional rhetorical approach does not give much insight in the ways in which genres are embedded in communicative activity or how actors draw upon genre knowledge to perform effectively. However, if genres are considered as embedded in social interaction “as typified forms of typified circumstances”, the rich dynamic aspects of genre knowledge can be disclosed.
The chapters deal with genre knowledge in various settings, illustrating the impact of time, place, medium, skills and purpose, and some chapters deal with genre analysis in a broader sense giving ideas for applied genre analysis.
The book is of interest to professionals and scholars in communication studies, discourse analysis, and social and cognitive science.

Catherine Nickerson, University of Nijmegen:
For anyone interested in the status of genre studies at the beginning of the new century, this book will no doubt prove to be required reading.