¹Information Science, University of Hildesheim, Hildesheim, Germany

Correspondence: Fahri Yetim, Information Science, University of Hildesheim, Marienburger Platz 22, Hildesheim D-31141, Germany. Tel: +49 5121 883 805; Fax: +49 5121 883 802; E-mail: yetim@acm.org

Received 27 May 2005; Revised 16 December 2005; Accepted 3 January 2006.

Abstract

The concept of genre represents a meaningful pattern of communication, which has been applied in the information systems field. Genres are socially constructed: they may consequently be socially more or less acceptable or contested. This paper focuses on the concept of communicative genre and addresses the issue of how meta-communication processes guided by discursive-ethical principles can promote a rational and legitimate definition, design and structuring of genres. Such a meta-communication process has not yet been thoroughly discussed in relation to the concept of genre as a means for structuring (organizational) communication. This paper claims to make the following contributions: firstly, it provides a wider spectrum of discursive concepts for critically reflecting on and discursive evaluation of the content and structures of genres and genre instances. Secondly, it demonstrates how different kinds of meta-communications (ex ante, in-action, and ex post) can be used to legitimate genres in a manner compatible with the discourse ethics. It illustrates the discourse-ethical viewpoint concerning the legitimacy of genre structuring processes and thus, also, the legitimacy of resultant norms and contents of communication, especially in global contexts.