Grammatical Devices for Sharing Point

Certain linguistic devices play a central role in facilitating the exchange of thoughts between the speaker and the listener in natural communication. These devices are designed to control the ebb and flow of knowledge, belief, narration, and assertion during both planned and unplanned discourse. The collection of such devices constitutes what I call the "point-sharing system." From the speaker's point of view, the function of point sharing is realized through point making, because each attempt by the speaker to share his thoughts with his listener involves the making of a "point." From the listener's point of view, the function of point sharing is realized through point using, because the listener takes the points that have been presented by the speaker and uses them to alter his own cognitive structures. When we wish to speak about both point making and point using, we can talk about the overall function of point sharing.