A method of analysing recontextualisation in the communication of science

Although communication is a creative process, this does not mean that alldiscourse is entirely novel. On the contrary, speakers and writers often drawupon material encountered within previous discourse-situations, and reuse itin their current discourse-environment. This process, whereby content thathas been given expression in one context is subsequently lifted into a differentcontext, is known as recontextualisation. Furthermore, such recontextualisationis frequently accompanied by the recasting or reexpression of the text itself, aprocess which may be termed resemiotisation. The present chapter proposes abroadly-based, three-tier method for the systematic analysis of recontextualisationand of the accompanying resemiotisation, and applies it to the practicalstudy of communication in science education.