"TOPOI" and the Generation of Discourse: A Critical Analysis.

ABSTRACT Literally defined, topoi are places in the mind where items of information (ideas, 4,rguments, etc.) may, be stored. The purpose of this paper is to conduct a critical analysis of a number of studies which have appeared in communication literature on the concept of topoi and to discuss the function of topoi in communication. Utilizing the Aristotelian concept of topoi, a number of writers, including Bacon, Wilson, and Arnold, have developed topical systems of their own. All-systems are based on the fundamental principle that topoi can provide one with a procedure for searching one's memory in order to discover material appropriate to , any particular subject. The studies discussed in .this paper affirm that topoi do seem to facilitate the generation of discourse for a variety of communicative contexts and a number of communicative tasks. It is concluded that topoi provide an area for additional investigation, one with great practical and theoretical implications. What is needed is to build on the possibility that topoi can improve the generation of discourse,by looking more closely at what topoi do, how well, and in which forms in various communicative contexts. (TS)