First published in 1985, The Word and the World is a significant, empirically-based contribution to the sociological analysis of scientists' discourse and scientific culture. It also offers a radical departure from established forms of sociological discourse which has far-reaching implications for all areas of sociological study. The central aim of this book is to widen the range of textual forms used in empirical sociological research, and thereby to increase sociologists' ability to furnish interesting, valid and practically useful conclusions. The unusual textual forms employed for the purposes of sociological analysis are 'the play', 'the investigative inquiry', 'the participant-analyst dialogue', and 'the parody'. One of the main substantive topics that provides the material for these explorations in form is the 'scientific debate'. This book will be of interest to students of sociology, rhetoric, linguistics and science.