Christopher Hall – författare

First published in 1997, this volume presents a critical analysis of how social work is formulated in everyday practice. Christopher Hall sets the task of exploring how social workers make their work visible and justifiable through their talk and writing. The analysis examines conversations and documents in which social workers describe and justify their work in research interviews, reports and case notes. Social workers construct convincing occupational stories to convince judges, supervisors and other critical readers and listeners. Drawing on narrative analysis, Hall explores how such language practices create characters, plots and address audiences. At the time of publication the use of reflexive writing was seen as controversial; however, this study was a forerunner to what has become a flourishing scholarship in narrative and reflexivity in social work writing and practice.

First published in 1997, this volume presents a critical analysis of how social work is formulated in everyday practice. Christopher Hall sets the task of exploring how social workers make their work visible and justifiable through their talk and writing. The analysis examines conversations and documents in which social workers describe and justify their work in research interviews, reports and case notes. Social workers construct convincing occupational stories to convince judges, supervisors and other critical readers and listeners. Drawing on narrative analysis, Hall explores how such language practices create characters, plots and address audiences. At the time of publication the use of reflexive writing was seen as controversial; however, this study was a forerunner to what has become a flourishing scholarship in narrative and reflexivity in social work writing and practice.

Moisture dynamics in brick, stone and concrete has a controlling influence on the durability and performance of the built environment. Water Transport in Brick, Stone and Concrete provides a unified description of transport processes involving saturated and unsaturated flow in porous inorganic materials and structures. It sets out fundamental physics and materials science, mathematical description and experimental measurement as a basis for engineering design and construction practice.

Now in its third edition, the book combines a systematic presentation of the scientific and technical principles with new analyses of topics such as sorption isotherms, temperature dependence of sorptivity, time-dependent properties of cement-based materials, layered materials, air-trapping and driving rain.

It serves as an authoritative reference for research workers, practising engineers and students of civil, building, architectural and materials engineering. Much of the fundamental work is relevant to engineers in soil science and geotechnics, as well as oilfield, chemical and process engineering.

Moisture dynamics in brick, stone and concrete has a controlling influence on the durability and performance of the built environment. Water Transport in Brick, Stone and Concrete provides a unified description of transport processes involving saturated and unsaturated flow in porous inorganic materials and structures. It sets out fundamental physics and materials science, mathematical description and experimental measurement as a basis for engineering design and construction practice.

Now in its third edition, the book combines a systematic presentation of the scientific and technical principles with new analyses of topics such as sorption isotherms, temperature dependence of sorptivity, time-dependent properties of cement-based materials, layered materials, air-trapping and driving rain.

It serves as an authoritative reference for research workers, practising engineers and students of civil, building, architectural and materials engineering. Much of the fundamental work is relevant to engineers in soil science and geotechnics, as well as oilfield, chemical and process engineering.

Analysis of language and discourse in social sciences has become increasingly popular over the past thirty years. Only very recently has it been applied to the study of social work, despite the fact that communication and language are central to social work practice.

This book looks at how social workers, their clients and other professionals categorise and manage the problems of social work in ways which are rendered understandable, accountable and which justify professional intervention. Features include:

The purpose of this engaging study is to increase awareness of language and discourse in order to help develop better practice in social work. It is essential reading for professionals in social work, child welfare and the human services and will be a valuable contribution to the study of professional language and communication.

Analysis of language and discourse in social sciences has become increasingly popular over the past thirty years. Only very recently has it been applied to the study of social work, despite the fact that communication and language are central to social work practice.

This book looks at how social workers, their clients and other professionals categorise and manage the problems of social work in ways which are rendered understandable, accountable and which justify professional intervention. Features include:

The purpose of this engaging study is to increase awareness of language and discourse in order to help develop better practice in social work. It is essential reading for professionals in social work, child welfare and the human services and will be a valuable contribution to the study of professional language and communication.

With communication and relationships at the core of social work, this book reveals the way it is foremost a practice that becomes reality in dialogue, illuminating some of the profession’s key dilemmas. Applied discourse studies illustrate the importance of talk and interaction in the construction of everyday and institutional life.

This book provides a detailed review and illustration of the contribution of discourse approaches and studies on professional interaction to social work. Concentrating on how social workers carry out their work in everyday organisational encounters with service users and colleagues, each chapter uses case studies analysing real-life social work interactions to explore a concept that has relevance both in discursive studies and in social work. The book thus demonstrates what detailed discursive studies on interaction can add to professional social work theories and discussions. Chapters on categorization, accountability, boundary work, narrative, advice-giving, resistance, delicacy and reported speech, review the literature and discuss how the concept has been developed and how it can be applied to social work.

The book encourages professional reflection and the development of rigorous research methods, making it particularly appropriate for postgraduate and post-qualifying study in social work where participants are encouraged to examine their own professional practice. It is also essential reading for social work academics and researchers interested in language, communication and relationship-based work and in the study of professional practices more generally.

With communication and relationships at the core of social work, this book reveals the way it is foremost a practice that becomes reality in dialogue, illuminating some of the profession’s key dilemmas. Applied discourse studies illustrate the importance of talk and interaction in the construction of everyday and institutional life.

This book provides a detailed review and illustration of the contribution of discourse approaches and studies on professional interaction to social work. Concentrating on how social workers carry out their work in everyday organisational encounters with service users and colleagues, each chapter uses case studies analysing real-life social work interactions to explore a concept that has relevance both in discursive studies and in social work. The book thus demonstrates what detailed discursive studies on interaction can add to professional social work theories and discussions. Chapters on categorization, accountability, boundary work, narrative, advice-giving, resistance, delicacy and reported speech, review the literature and discuss how the concept has been developed and how it can be applied to social work.

The book encourages professional reflection and the development of rigorous research methods, making it particularly appropriate for postgraduate and post-qualifying study in social work where participants are encouraged to examine their own professional practice. It is also essential reading for social work academics and researchers interested in language, communication and relationship-based work and in the study of professional practices more generally.