Reading, Writing: Radix

Abstract

In this exploratory essay the authors treat three hypotheses of the radical intersection ("radix") of composing and reading. The emerging context is seen as controlling element in themes of composing and interpreting. Is the interrelation of author, reader, subject/topic and situational context the connecting point worthy of further study? The second hypothesis is that the more specific, concrete act of discovering questions may be the radix; a model used to teach writers how to discover topics (invention) and readers what avenues of questions may be helpful in the "physical" hypothesis — that the radix of composing and interpreting is actually neurophysiological — based in recent knowledge of the hypothalamic switching center, parallel nerve circuits and cortical distribution of memory.