Understanding Text Types and Discourse Features
The text is the maximum language and communication unit and must be appropriate, consistent, and cohesive. It utilizes various markers:
- Additive markers: (besides, too)
- Opposition markers: (however, in contrast)
- Consequence markers: (so, that’s why)
- Temporal markers: (Later, at another time)
- Spatial markers: (right, next to)
- Discourse organizers: (to start, to end)
- Reformulation markers:
- Explanation (i.e., that is)
- Exemplification (e.g., specifically)
- Conclusion (in fact, in short)
Textual Types
Textual types are defined by several factors:
- Issuer’s Intent: (informational, explanatory, persuasive, prescriptive, expressive, educational, propaganda, playful, aesthetic, didactic)
- Language Level: (Cultivated, Popular, Vulgar)
- Atmosphere: (Formal, Informal)
- Channel: (e.g., written)
- Nature of Code: (Verbal, Nonverbal, Mixed)
- Structure: (Descriptive, Narrative, Dialogue, Expository, Argumentative)
- Areas of Interaction: (Academic, Professional, Rural, Legal, Family, etc.)
Description
Description focuses on appearance (prosopography), moral or psychic traits (ethopoeia), or both (portrait).
Technical Description
Its purpose is to inform. Features include:
- Rigidity in content management
- Indicated enunciative perspective
- Specified denotative lexicon and adjectives
- Enumeration of technicalities, etc.
Literary Description
More flexible and aesthetic. Features include:
- Use of imperfective verb forms (also in technical)
- Use of attributive verbs (also in technical)
- Repetitions
- Explanatory lexicon and connotative adjectives
- Use of many literary devices (simile, metaphor, etc.)
- Use of spatial connectors (also supra-orational)
Narration
Narration is a variety of speech that orders a series of real or imagined events in time.
Structure
- Closed structure: Respects chronological development.
- Open structure (juxtaposition of episodes): Different order.
Viewpoint of the Narrator
- Omniscient Narrator: The narrator knows all, judges, and controls the events.
- Observer Narrator: Relates what is perceived; knows the whole story like a video camera.
- Protagonist Narrator: The person who recounts the events is the protagonist.
- Witness Narrator: Participates in the story as a minor character.
Exposition
Exposition is a type of writing that develops a theme clearly and orderly.
Topic
Knowledge and culture.
Structure
- Deductive structure: Main idea followed by examples.
- Inductive structure: Examples leading to the main idea.
Features
- Use of 3rd person singular and 1st person plural
- Use of declarative sentences
- Use of impersonal and reflexive passive sentences
- Preference for syntactic structures that nuance and specify concepts or suggest logical connections
- Denotative lexicon, abstract nouns, state verbs
- Technical style, nominalizations
- Use of opposition, additive, causative, and reformulation connectors
Argumentation
Argumentation is a type of speech that, through reasoning, aims to convince another person of the truth of an idea.
Topic
Issues under dispute.
Structure
- Deductive structure: Thesis + Body
- Inductive structure: Body + Thesis
- Framed structure: Thesis + Body + Reaffirmed Thesis
Features
Scientific Argumentation
- Use of 3rd person singular and 1st person plural
- Declarative sentences
- Impersonal and reflexive passive sentences
- Syntactic structures that nuance concepts or indicate logical connections
- Denotative lexicon, abstract nouns, technical terms
Subjective Argumentation
- Use of 1st-person pronouns
- Interrogative and exclamatory sentences
- Rhetorical devices
- Complex syntax
- Connotative lexicon, abstract nouns, technical terms
- Orderly presentation of ideas and use of logical connectors (also in scientific argumentation)
Literature
Literature is the art of words, a product of intelligence and imagination.