Sentenced to write: a survey of attitudes to written discourse styles in manufacturing and construction industries

This study investigates attitudes toward written communication in the manufacturing and construction sectors, highlighting a general preference for oral discourse and a resistance to formal writing tasks. Through survey data and qualitative insights, the article reveals that many workers view writing as unnecessary, overly formal, or disconnected from practical job functions. Lynda Yates explores how workplace culture, educational background, and job roles shape these perceptions, and identifies a gap between institutional expectations and employee comfort with written discourse. The findings suggest that improving workplace writing practices requires not only training but also a shift in how writing is framed within vocational contexts. This research contributes to applied linguistics by linking discourse preferences to occupational identity and communication efficacy (AI generated abstract, Copilot)