Voicing Consciousness: The Mind in Writing

Abstract

In this paper, the authors investigate the enduring power of voice as a concept in writing pedagogy. They argue that one can benefit from considering Elbow’s assertion that both text and voice be considered as important aspects of written discourse. In particular, voice is a powerful metaphor for the material, social and historical nature of language. Drawing on current psycho-neurological literature as it is used in literary studies, the authors suggest that voice can also act as a metaphor for consciousness. Using findings from a study that used writing practices designed with a focus on consciousness, the authors offer examples that illustrate the potential in recognizing the relations among voice, text and consciousness.