Text analysis learning materials
Week 1: A discourse perspective on communication
Renkema. J.,& C. Schubert (2018). Introduction to discourse studies. Chapter 4
‘Discourse classification’, sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4 Amsterdam/ Philadelphia: John
Benjamins Publishing Company.
Renkema. J.,& C. Schubert (2018). Introduction to discourse studies. Chapter 11
'Narratives'.
Text: sequence of sentences or utterances
Discourse perspective on text: a sequence of sentences or utterances serving a
communicative purpose
Discourse types based on functions:
What purpose does the text have?
Jakobson’s (1960) classification based on text functions:
In Jakobson’s theory, there are six factors that are required for communication:
• Addresser/sender: This is the person who delivers a message to a specific audience.
• Addressee/receiver: This is the audience that receives the message. Must consist of at
least one person but could include many people.
• Context: The context forms the setting or the reason for the message that will be
communicated. The message refers to something in the world, the so-called context.
• Contact: There needs to be a relational channel and connection between the addresser
and the addressee. This connection keeps the lines of communication open. Physical and
psychological connection.
• Common code: The code includes the rules that combine to form the message and
correspond to the type of language used. -> how the message is transported
• Message: The message is what is sent by the addresser and corresponds to an
experience, idea, explanation, and so on.
,Expressive/emotive: pertains to the attitude of the addresser. This function helps us to
interpret emotions, feelings, desires, and moods of the subject. The emotive function gives us
direct information about the sender’s tone. For example: I’m excited about the new car I
bought!
Representative: One of the main functions of language is sharing information with an
audience. This is the language you use to convey information in an objective way. For
example: Sales are up 3% this quarter.
Phatic: The phatic function is used to establish a social connection without really
communicating any meaningful information (small talk). This type of language is used to start
or stop a conversation or to check the connection between the sender and receiver. For
example: “How are you?” “I’m fine.” “See you later.”
Conative: oriented towards the addressee, giving a command or instruction. Author wants
you to do something (functies als motivatie, aandrift, initiatief, en wilsbesluiten). This
function focuses on the receiver of the message. The language used with this function is
meant to get the attention of or a reaction from the addressee. For example: Can you show
John where to find the paper clips?
- Persuasive
- Instructive
- Opiniating
- Activating
Poetic: This one is also known as the aesthetic function of language. This function focuses on
the message as well as the way the message is communicated. This means that the message
might be embellished with rhetorical figures of speech or “flowery” language. You will find
the poetic function in quotations and colloquial sayings. For example: “It is a far, far better
thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever
known.”
Metalingual: Meta is basically defined as self-awareness. So metalingual refers to talking
about the language itself—its features, word definitions, clarifying ambiguity, and describing
deliberate word play are metalingual functions. The metalingual function is also relevant in
translation if foreign words are used to give special meaning or emphasis. For example: “I
couldn’t help but feel a touch of Schadenfreude (a sense of pleasure or joy from the failure of
others) when the other team lost by 50 points”.
It can have several functions! One can support the main function. Functions seldom
occur in their pure forms.
The discourse types constitute a limited number of categories that are highly generalized
and abstract. Discourse typologies comprise high-level, more or less universal categories.
Genres, on the other hand, form an open-ended list, and they are rather concrete and
specific.
Discourse (en communicatie in het algemeen) kan verschillende functies vervullen. Elke
functie kent specifieke verschijningsvormen die bij uitstek geschikt zijn om die functie te
realiseren.
, Discourse classifications based on text forms (grammatical!):
Argumentative text type:
• Standpoint markers (in my opinion, I think that)
• Argumentation markers (my first argument is, on the one hand, on the other...)
• Evaluative expressions (wisest investment, benefits will even get greater)
• Truth claims (many families will be struggling)
• Discourse connectives (so, since, because)
Narrative text type
• Past tense verbs
• Reference to persons (‘story characters’)
• Main character (‘protagonist’)
• Protagonist’s subjective viewpoint (they look superb)
• Indications of time and place (this year, last year)
• Chronological ordering of events
• Causal relations
In narrative discourse, a narrator relates a sequence of events and actions involving a
protagonist that took place in the past.
Powerful communication strategy!
• Enhances persuasiveness
• Enhances text understanding
• Enhances motivation to read
Cognitive effects of narratives:
• Simulation (impression of having lived the experience yourself)
• Identification with story characters (empathizing with them)
Labov’s story structure:
1. Abstract
2. Orientation
3. Complicating action (=story proper)
4. Evaluation
5. Resolution
6. Coda
