Multimodality

11Diagrams and infographics

This use case chapter engages with a broad range of multimodal ensembles that tightly integrate different means of expression: diagrams and infographics. Beginning with diagrams, this chapter considers the diagrammatic mode a particularly challenging target for multimodal analysis for two reasons. Firstly, the diagrammatic mode can realise independent, ‘self-standing’ diagrams, such as charts, graphs and schematic drawings, which may be readily combined with many other semiotic modes in equally many media. Some genres in page-based media that deploy the diagrammatic mode frequently include, among others, scientific articles (Lemke 1998; Hiippala 2016a), school textbooks (Guo 2004; Bezemer and Kress 2008) and assembly ...