Mastering Written Communication: Text Types & Grammar Essentials
Textual Properties and Communication Principles
Suitability: Introduction to Textual Elements
Suitability refers to how well a text adapts to its context. Key elements include:
- Margins and Paragraphs: Proper formatting for readability.
- Bold and Italic Typeface: Effective use for emphasis.
- Spelling Rules: Adherence to linguistic legislation for credibility.
Textual Register: Adapting to Context
The register of a text depends on the issue, the channel, and the receiver. There are two main types:
- Formal Register: Used for serious issues, characterized by specialized vocabulary.
- Informal Register: Employed for everyday affairs, using informal vocabulary.
Purpose: Author’s Communicative Intention
The author’s communicative intention is determined by the type of text (e.g., expository, argumentative) and the type of language used.
Principles of Textual Organization
Coherence: Logical Relationship of Ideas
Coherence ensures a logical relationship between the parts of a text. This includes:
- Maintaining a consistent subject across ideas.
- Organizing content effectively into paragraphs.
- Ensuring related ideas form a unified unit of meaning.
Cohesion: Unifying Textual Elements
Cohesion refers to the linguistic mechanisms that link parts of a text together. Key resources include:
- Lexical Repetition: Repeating key words or phrases.
- Semantic Fields: Using words related by meaning.
- Synonymy: Using synonyms to avoid repetition.
- Hypernyms and Hyponyms: Using broader or narrower terms.
- Pronominalization: Using pronouns to refer to previously mentioned nouns.
- Connectors (Discourse Markers): Words or phrases that link sentences and paragraphs (e.g., “however,” “therefore,” “in addition”).
Common Text Types and Their Characteristics
Opinion Article
- Structure: Expository-argumentative (introduction, development, conclusion).
- Theme: Free choice.
- Style: Lively and clear language.
- Perspective: First person.
- Intent: To disseminate the author’s opinion.
Personal Column
- Author: Typically a renowned writer.
- Genre: Hybrid between journalism and literature.
- Style: Literary, incorporating arguments and personal opinion.
Editorial
- Signature: Not signed (represents the publication’s stance).
- Structure: Argumentative (introduction, body, conclusion).
- Intent: To reflect the publication’s ideological line.
- Perspective: Third person.
- Style: Clear, concise, and often uses cultivated language.
Letters to the Editor
- Recipient: Addressed to the editor of a publication.
- Content: Often in response to real events or published articles.
- Signature: Signed by the reader.
- Length: Short, typically up to 30 lines.
- Language & Structure: Standard language, expository-argumentative structure.
Institutional Correspondence
Formal communication from an institution.
- Header: Agency identification, address, and date.
- Salutation: Addressed to the citizen (e.g., “Esteemed Citizen”).
- Body: Contains the main information.
- Closing: Formal closing and signature.
Formal Petition (Instance)
A formal document for making a request or statement.
- Header: Addressed to the authority (e.g., “To Mr./Ms. [Title], [Affiliation]”).
- Body/Exposure: States who is submitting the petition, outlines the facts (“EXHIBITS who, having…”), and clearly states the request (“REQUESTS…”).
- Closing: Date, signature, and identification of the applicant, often including a formal address (e.g., “Honorable Sir,” “Illustrious Mr.”).
Grammar Essentials: Conjunctions & Sentence Structure
Conjunctions: Linking Words and Clauses
Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses. They are categorized by their function:
- Copulative: Additive (e.g., and, nor).
- Disjunctive: Present a choice (e.g., or, either…or).
- Adversative: Express opposition or contrast (e.g., but, however, yet).
- Causal: Indicate a reason or cause (e.g., because, since, as).
- Conditional: Introduce a condition (e.g., if, provided that, unless).
- Consecutive: Show a result or consequence (e.g., therefore, consequently, so).
- Concessive: Introduce a concession or unexpected outcome (e.g., although, though, despite).
- Final: Express purpose or aim (e.g., so that, in order that).
- Distributive: Distribute meaning or action (e.g., one…another, here…there).
Sentence Structure: Coordinate and Subordinate Clauses
Coordinate Clauses
Coordinate clauses are independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction, each retaining its own meaning.
- Copulative: Clauses that add meaning to propositions.
- Adversative: Clauses that express opposition or contrast.
- Disjunctive: Clauses that present a choice between propositions.
- Distributive: Clauses where senses or actions are shared or distributed.
- Explanatory: Clauses where the second proposition clarifies or explains the first.
Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses depend on a main clause and cannot stand alone. They function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
- Causal: Explain the cause of the main clause’s action; the conjunction precedes the cause.
- Consecutive: Show the effect or consequence; the conjunction precedes the effect.
- Conditional: One proposition sets a condition for the other’s fulfillment.
- Final: Express the purpose or aim of another proposition.
- Concessive: Establish an opposition or concession to the main clause.
Nominal Subordinate Clauses (Substantive Clauses)
These clauses function like a noun within a larger sentence.
Morphology: The Study of Word Structure
Morphology examines the internal structure of words and how they are formed.
- Pronouns: Words that refer to nouns (e.g., he, she, it).
- Verb Aspect: Indicates how an action, event, or state is viewed in time (e.g., imperfective, perfective).
- Prepositions: Words that show the relationship between a noun/pronoun and other words (often independent morphemes).
- Periphrastic Verbs: Verb phrases that combine auxiliary verbs with main verbs to express tense, aspect, or mood.
- Noun Derivation: Formation of nouns (e.g., from verbs or adjectives, countable/uncountable).
- Adjective Endings: Variations in adjective forms (e.g., one or two endings for gender/number agreement).