Skip to main content

A Sociocultural Perspective on Classroom Discourse

  • Chapter
Oral Discourse and Education

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Language and Education ((LANG,volume 3))

  • 371 Accesses

Abstract

In this review, we draw upon three strands of theory work that are currently being woven together in explorations of classroom discourse. The first strand concerns Vygotsky’s theory of how social language serves to mediate the development of the individual’s higher mental functions. The second is Bakhtin’s work on heteroglossia and dialogism. And the third strand concerns Halliday’s functional theory of language as social semiotic.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bakhtin, M.M.: 1986, Speech Genres and Other Late Essays (Trans. Y. McGee), University of Texas Press, Austin TX.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, A.L. & Campione, J.C.: 1994, ‘Guided discovery in a community of learners’, in K. McGilly (ed.), C.lassroom Lessons: Integrating Cognitive Theory and Classroom Practice, MIT Press/Bradford Books, Cambridge MA, 229–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cazden, C.: 1988, C.lassroom Discourse, Heinemann, Portsmouth NH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coughlan, P.J.: 1995, ’sociocultural theory, second language discourse, and teaching: An interview with James Lantolf, Issues in Applied Linguistics 6(2), 137–145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engeström, Y.: 1991, ‘Non scolae sed vitae discimus: Toward overcoming the encapsulation of school learning’, Learning and Instruction 1, 243–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forman, E.A. & McPhail, J.: 1993, ‘Vygotskian perspectives on children’s collaborative problem-solving activities’, in E.A. Forman, N. Minick & C.A. Stone (eds.), Contexts for Learning: Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gee, J.P.: 1992, The Social Mind: Language, Ideology, and Social Practice, Bergin & Garvey, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halliday, M.A.K.: 1978, Language as Social Semiotic: The social Interpretation of Language and Meaning, Arnold, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halliday, M.A.K.: 1993, ‘Towards a language-based theory of learning’, Linguistics and Education 5, 93–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halliday, M.A.K. & Hasan, R.: 1989, Language, C.ontext and Text: A Social Semiotic Perspective, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lantolf, J. P. & Appel, G.: 1994, Theoretical framework: An introduction to Vygotskian approaches to second language research’, in J.P. Lantolf & G. Appel (eds.), Vygotskian Approaches to Second Language Research, Ablex, Norwood NJ, 1–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lave, J. & Wenger, E.: 1991, Situated Learning: Legitimate Peripheral Participation, Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Leont’ev, A.N.: 1981, ‘The problem of activity in psychology’, in J.V. Wertsch (ed.), The Concept of Activity in Soviet Psychology, Sharpe, Armonk NY, 37–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemke, J.L.: 1990, Talking Science; Language, Learning and Values, Ablex, Norwood NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemke, J.L.: 1995, Textual Politics: Discourse and Social Dynamics, Taylor & Francis, Bristol PA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercer, N.: 1995, The Guided Construction of Knowledge, Multilingual Matters, Clevedon, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moll, L.C. & Greenberg, J.: 1990, ‘Creating zones of possibilities: Combining social contexts for instruction’, in L.C. Moll (ed.), Vygotsky and Education: Instructional Implications and Applications of Sociohistorical Psychology. Cambridge University Press, New York, 319–348.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, D., Griffin, P. & Cole, M.: 1989, The Construction Zone: Working for Cognitive Change in School, Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orsolini, M. & Pontecorvo, C.: 1992, ‘Children’s talk in classroom discussions’, Cognition and Instruction 9(2), 113–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palincsar, A.S. & Brown, A.L.: 1984, ‘Reciprocal teaching of comprehension fostering and comprehension monitoring’, Cognition and Instruction 1(2), 117–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogoff, B.: 1990, Apprenticeship in Thinking: Cognitive Development in Social Context, Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smagorinsky, P.: 1995, ‘Constructing meaning in the disciplines: Reconceptualizing writing across the curriculum as composing across the curriculum’, American Journal of Education 103, 160–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tharp, R. & Gallimore, R.: 1988, Rousing Minds to Life: Teaching and Learning in Social Contexts, Cambridge University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L.S.: 1978, Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes (M. Cole, V.J. Steiner, S. Scribner, & E. Souberman, eds.), Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L.S.: 1981, ‘The genesis of higher mental functions’, in J.V. Wertsch (ed.), The Concept of Activity in Soviet Psychology, Sharpe, Armonk NY, 144–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L.S.: 1987, ‘Thinking and speech’, in R.W. Rieber & A.S. Carton (eds.), The Collected Works of L.S. Vygotsky, Volume 1: Problems of General Psychology (trans. N. Minick), Plenum, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells, G.: 1994, ‘The complementary contributions of Halliday and Vygotsky to a “Language-Based Theory of Learning”’, Linguistics and Education 6, 41–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, G.: 1996, ‘Using the tool-kit of discourse in the activity of learning and teaching’, Mind, Culture, and Activity 3(2), 74–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, G. & Chang-Wells, G.L.: 1992, Constructing Knowledge Together: Classrooms as Centers of Inquiry and Literacy, Heinemann, Portsmouth NH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wertsch, J.V.: 1991, Voices of the Mind: A Sociocultural Approach to Mediated Action, Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wertsch, J.V. & Toma, C.: 1995, ‘Discourse and learning in the classroom: A sociocultural approach’, in L.P. Steffe & J. Gale (eds.), Constructivism in Education, Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale NJ, 159–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, D., Bruner, J.S. & Ross, G.: 1976, ‘The role of tutoring in problem solving’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 17, 89–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Measures, E., Quell, C., Wells, G. (1997). A Sociocultural Perspective on Classroom Discourse. In: Davies, B., Corson, D. (eds) Oral Discourse and Education. Encyclopedia of Language and Education, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4417-9_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-4417-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-7923-4930-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-4417-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics