Date:  Fri, 29 Mar 1996 12:43:11 -0500

From:  E Wayles Browne <ewb2[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]CORNELL.EDU>

Subject: Re: discussant



On Fri, 29 Mar 1996, SETH SKLAREY wrote:



> I am intrigued by the word "discussant" below. This is the first instance

> of its use I have seen. Any previous use? Apparently

> discussant=panelist=discusser

>

> Seth Sklarey

> crissiet[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ix.netcom.com

>

> ====================

>

> I would very much appreciate recommendations (including self-recommendations)

> for a qualified person to be a discussant for a panel I am chairing on

> "Computer-Mediated Conversation" for the 5th International Pragmatics

> Conference in Mexico City this July. The ideal discussant would be an

.....



Not quite the same as a panelist. I've been a discussant at various

linguistics meetings. The idea that is one or more panelists/speakers/

participants give their papers, and then the discussant comments on

their papers (criticizes, clarifies, adds further information, gives

his/her own opinion). So they're all panelists, but the discussant

doesn't present a paper in the same way that the others do.



Wayles Browne, Dept. of Linguistics, Cornell Univ.