Expressions of Possibility

ABSTRACT

There are, at least, three varieties of mental representations. However, the limited number of mental representations produce a considerable variety of discursive representations to match the vriety of communication situations. Linguistic expression combine to form discourses. Whether the modularity of mind theorem is justified or not, there is ample evidence for the "modularity of expressions" in a discourse. Genres of discourse are, in Geertz's terms, "blended." The identification of a genre type follows the "axiom of predominance." Consider a newspaper account of an accident. The linguistic expressions that comprise this genre of discourse—a report (description) are not uniformally descriptions. Discourses, e.g., narratives, are comprised of a variety of different types of expression "modules" whose function is governed by generic expectations.