Humanistic, Legal, and Administrative Texts Analysis
Humanistic Texts
General Characteristics
Humanistic texts study issues related to human beings. They distinguish between the social sciences, dealing with society, and the human sciences, which refer to the individual. The social sciences (sociology, history, etc.) are more technical and analyze social reality. In the human sciences (philosophy, philology, etc.), the focus is on an individual level and is deductive. They are characterized by the use of verbal language to convey knowledge and the deductive method, more suited to reflection.
Kinds of Text and Structure
The text types that predominate in the human sciences are exposition and argumentation. Exposition dominates when the text is intended to analyze or synthesize, while argumentation dominates if the author proposes evaluations and positions. We can also find description or narration. The overall structure is classic. The human sciences are based on logical premises or accepted arguments. They usually aim to convince the receiver using solid arguments. Finally, it should be noted that sources have been consulted.
Linguistic Forms
The language of humanistic texts is characterized by the use of technicalities and natural languages that are imprecise and open to multiple meanings.
- Morphological and Syntactic Level: Predominates nominal style. The aim of denotative and referential language is achieved through the use of the declarative mode, the indicative mood, or the timeless present and historical structures, although these may alternate with the first person singular or plural to involve the recipient.
- Cohesion Mechanisms: Textual connectors guide the order, progression, and relationship between ideas, establishing a balanced structure with paragraphs.
- Lexicon: The most characteristic features are given in the lexicon, using the following:
- Some technicalities are loans of Greco-Roman origin, modern languages (particularly English), xenisms, and acronyms (GDP, GNP, etc.). Others are formed by derivation or composition.
- Many of these technicalities are, in turn, abstract words, reflecting the mental nature of the human sciences. There are many nouns formed by the derivation of adjectives and verbs.
- Some technicalities acquire connotative values. To ensure the interpretation of a technicality, it can appear highlighted with typographical resources.
Legal and Administrative Texts
Legal and Administrative Language
Legal texts, judicial or administrative, present a specific language: the legal and administrative language. In a complex society like ours, a large number of texts govern relations between citizens, their relationships with the Administration, and the relationships within the Administration itself. These are subject to a set of rules and regulations that appear in documents related to the three branches of democracy: legislative texts (Parliament), judicial, and administrative (public service management). It is often difficult to distinguish between administrative and legal language since justice is also part of the administration. Administrative texts are used by a broader social sector and deal with less technical issues, making them simpler.
Types of Text and Structure
The most characteristic administrative text is legal, and the conative function dominates. Some texts define a concept; some are prescriptive, prohibiting, requiring, or allowing certain actions. Narrative, descriptive, explanatory, and argumentative texts also appear in legal and administrative writing. They employ an external structure that responds to a predetermined schedule. Administrative texts are often converted into forms that the issuer only has to fill, such as a tax return.
Linguistic Form of Legal and Administrative Texts
Legal and administrative texts require clear and precise language. They are characterized by formality, objectivity, and universality. The objective is often hampered by uncertainties and ambiguities of language. Because of this, legal and administrative texts tend to be complex and difficult for the average citizen. The language is highly specialized in content, structure, the weight of tradition, and linguistic forms.
- Morphosyntactic Level: The most characteristic features are: nominal style, nominalization trend (to follow, pursue), substantivized adjectives (provisions), deletion of the article (will be processed (the) file), preposed adjectives, long and complex sentences (causing a slow and heavy style, which seeks to clarify the maximum content). In contrast to deleted articles, there is a special use of the verb, which shows the tendency to impersonality. Gerunds, participles, and infinitives abound, given the prescriptive nature. Forms that express obligation are common.
- Treatments: Express distance, using the official plural.
- Lexical Level: Is denotative and formal. Technicalities, archaisms, catchphrases, clichés, polite phrases, and acronyms abound. Legal texts are conservative, resistant to change, and use a more formal register. Many Latin terms are still alive.
Classes of Legal and Administrative Texts
Administrative and legal texts are divided into different classes according to the issuer. Texts emanating from a legislative authority are always normative or prescriptive. In legal texts, the sender requests that the justice system act to resolve a conflict. In administrative texts, the issuer requests a benefit or performance of duty. They are varied. Here are some examples: law, proclamation, decree law, regulation, sentence, appeal, complaint, contract, license, resolution, etc.