Text Classification – Text Typology (English Linguistics II)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on text classification and text typology.

Text classification

he process of organizing texts by identifying features that show their differences and similarities. It helps us recognize and better understand various discourse types.

In  text-­‐linguistics,  discourse  types  have  been  given  different  names:  

1 REGISTER:A type of text or language use shaped by the situation or context (e.g., formal vs. informal, scientific vs. everyday). Registers link the situation with typical language features that serve a clear purpose in the text.

2 GENRE: Genres  are  primarily  determined  by  the  communicative  functions  they  perform,  e.g.   warn,  persuade,  inform  etc.  They  are  characterized  by  their  internal  structure   (‘stages’)  and  salient  linguistic  features

3 TEXT TYPE/CLASS OF TEXT: Text  types  are  large  groups  of  texts  defined  on  the  basis  of  typical  content,  text   structure  and  linguistic  style  features.  (e.g.  descriptive,  argumentative)

Text Production Competence

Our  ability  to  produce  typical  exemplars  of  a  genre  (e.g.  letter  of  complaint,   application,  abstract,  blog  entry,  text  message,  diary  entry  etc.)

Text Reception Competence

Our  ability  to  recognize  and  correctly  interpret  exemplars  of  a  genre  including   mixes,  parodies  etc.  Both  skills  presuppose  linguistic  knowledge  of  text  types.

Text-Typological Competence

The ability of language users to recognize and work with different types of texts. This skill develops naturally over time through reading and writing, making it easy to identify text types in real life.

1. Genre Recognition

   >>  ability  to  give  names  to  the  genres  we  encounter  by  recognizing:  a)  their  social   func2on,  2)  their  internal  structure,  3)  their  linguistic  make-­‐up  

   >>  ability  to  see  through  mixes/hybrids  of  genres  (e.g.  advertorial)

2. Sense of Appropriateness

   >>  ability  to  judge  the  suitability  of  linguis2c  means  for  a  genre  or  discourse  type   both  produc2vely  and  recep2vely

Original Ideas of Register + 3 things

how language varies across contexts, highlighting the conventions and styles typical of a given situation or genre.

Field: What is the topic/ content of the text? Which kind of social action are the communicators engaged in? e.g. technical/everyday

Tenor: Who communicates with whom and what is the social relationship between the communicative partners? e.g. friends/strangers; public/private; formal/ informal

Mode: Which medium and what technology is used in communication? How are the texts structured? e.g. speech/writing; faceto-face/radio/TV

Modern Ideas of Register : definition+ 3 components

a variety of language linked to a specific situation of use and communicative purpose. According to Biber & Conrad (2009), the description of a register includes three main components:

Situational Context: (who, where, why communication happens)

e.g.  direct  interaction,  ‘sharedness’  of  time/place,  ‘keep  talking’

Linguistic Feature: (words, grammar, style typical of that situation)

e.g.  1./2nd  person  pronouns  &  questions  highly  frequent  (pervasive)

The Functional Relationship (between the two): (how those language features serve the purpose of the situation).need  to  interact,  address  one  another  and  talk  about  one’s  own  concerns   motivates  the  linguistic  features

BÜHLER’s ORGANON MODEL AS A POINT OF DEPARTURE

According to Bühler’s model, language has three main aspects, each linked to a function:

1. Symbol (reference to reality) → Function: information / transmission of facts.

2. Symptom (expression of the speaker) → Function: expression / feelings / creativity (e.g. poetry, stories).

3. Signal (influence on the hearer) → Function: persuasion / appeal (e.g. argument, advertisement).

JAKOBSON’S MODEL OF LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS

Jakobson expanded Bühler’s model by identifying six functions of language, each linked to one element of communication:

1. Referential → focuses on the context → function: to inform / describe reality.

2. Emotive (expressive) → focuses on the speaker → function: to express feelings or attitudes.

3. Conative → focuses on the addressee → function: to persuade / request / command.

4. Phatic → focuses on the contact/channel → function: to establish, maintain, or check communication (e.g. “Hello?”, “Can you hear me?”).

5. Metalingual → focuses on the code → function: to talk about language itself (e.g. “What does this word mean?”).

6. Poetic → focuses on the message itself → function: to highlight form, style, or aesthetics (e.g. rhyme, wordplay, slogans).

Text Classification based on Text Functions 5

• INFORMATION (Representative)

  • Purpose: Convey knowledge or facts about the world.

  • Speech acts: state, claim, predict, explain, describe, report.

  • Genres: news, report, description, diagnosis, textbook.

• APPEAL (Directive)

  • Purpose: Get the addressee to change thoughts/behavior or perform an action.

  • Speech acts: request, order, recommend, instruct, apply.

  • Genres: recipe, manual/instruction, advertisement.

• OBLIGATION (Commissive)

  • Purpose: Producer commits themselves to future action/behavior.

  • Speech acts: intend, plan, promise.

  • Genres: oath, guarantee, job offer, legal contract.

• CONTACT (Expressive)

  • Purpose: Express feelings or strengthen relationship with the addressee.

  • Speech acts: thank, apologize, congratulate, complain, swear.

  • Genres: postcard, love letter, condolence/complaint letter, small talk.

• DECLARATION (Declarative)

  • Purpose: Create a new reality/fact for the addressee.

  • Speech acts: certify, appoint, declare.

  • Genres: will/testament, certificates, wedding ceremony.

Media and Communicative Forms

Five media:

Comminicative Forms:

FIVE  MEDIA:  1  face-­‐to-­‐face,  2  telephone,  3  radio,  4  TV,  5  writing   COMMUNICATIVE  FORMS:  Lener,  Book,  Printed  Press,  Audiobook,  Cinema,   Theatre,  Tex2ng,  Skype,  Blog,  Chat,  Twiner,  E-­‐mail,  Packaging,  Poster  etc.  

Communicative Form

DIRECTIONALITY  of  comm.  –  monologic  VS.  dialogic  

CONTACT  in  space/time  –  space-­‐time  shared  VS.  not  shared  

ON/OFF-­‐OPTION  –  yes  (interactive)  VS.  no  (one-­‐way)  

MEDIAL  VARIANT  of  language  –  spoken  VS.  wrinen  

DOMAIN  of  use  –  public  /  official  /  private  (dt.  ‚Handlungsbereich‘)

Text Type: definition + 5 types

An idealized model of how texts are structured. It provides a set of rules and elements that guide how a writer or speaker expresses experiences linguistically.

Description

Narration

Exposition

Argumentation

Instruction

Descriptive Texts( Text types)

exts that describe places, objects, or phenomena, focusing on spatial details and features.

e.g. The DeepView 66 is a fourth-generation autonomous acrylic-hulled tourist submarine.”

Narrative Text ( text types)

Texts that tell a sequence of events, often focusing on time order and actions.

Tell events in chronological order, showing actions and experiences.

e.g. “Billy Weaver had travelled down from London on the slow afternoon train with a change at Swindon on the way, and by the time he got to Bath it was about nine o’clock in the evening and the moon was coming out of a clear starry sky over the houses opposite the station entrance.” (The Landlady, Roald Dahl)

Explanatory Text (text types)( exposition)

Texts that explain ideas, concepts, or phenomena, showing causal or logical relationships.

Explain how or why something happens, often using examples or logical reasoning.

e.g. “The cellular and genetic changes that drive most brain disorders aren’t well known. But new technologies are making it possible to understand these changes, which could help scientists identify new drugs or treatments. For example, scientists can grow a patient’s neurons in a petri dish and examine them for changes in appearance or function. Scientists can also test drugs on these neurons (…)”

Argumentative Text (text types)

Texts that present and support a point of view, aiming to persuade or convince the reader using reasoning, evidence, or evaluation.

Make a claim and support it with reasons, evidence, or evaluation.

e.g. “It's risky — almost premature — heaping five-star praise on a debut album. However, the Naked and Famous are different, because in the two years since forming they've proved themselves in many ways (…). So it would have been a let-down if Passive Me, Aggressive You didn't live up to the band's early promise. It's an accomplished, unique, and visionary record that's laced with searing doses of noise, spasms of guitar distortion, and electronic discord, while still rooted in a jaunty, poppy and thrilling intensity.”

Instructional Texts (text types)

Texts that give directions or steps to achieve a goal or complete a task.

e.g. “Cover steamer bottom with water and bring to a boil. Place about half of the bag’s contents in the steamer tray. Cover and steam 8–10 minutes or to desired tenderness. Season before serving.”

Genre

A structured, goal-oriented type of text in a social context, with typical patterns, purposes, and stages.

Genre Analysis

The study of different text genres to understand their structures, purposes, and the ways they function within specific contexts. It involves examining conventions, styles, and the social contexts in which genres emerge.

Function: inform/instruct/warn  consumer  about  drug

Social Setting/ Context: commercial  context,  situa2on  of  poten2al  use  

Linguistic Style: a)  questions/imperatives  (direct  address);  b)  short/fragmentary  sentences   (economy);  c)  no  linking  of  sentences  (enumerative);  d)  some  technical   language  (field:  medicine),  otherwise  very  simple  diction

Typical Structure : STAGE  1:  describe  function;  STAGE  2:  instruct  for  use;  STAGE  3:  warn  of   dangers;  STAGE  4:  state  brand/product  trademark;  STAGE  5:  give  codified  info

Genre Analysis 7

Participants:producer/recipient   social  characteristics

Relations:social  roles,  shared   knowledge,  inter-­‐ activeness

Channel: mode,  medium  of   communica2on   (technology,  material)

Setting:place/2me  of   communica2on   (public,  private)

Purpose:comm.  func2on,   amtude  to  content,   stance,  factuality

Topic:thema2c  domain,   specific  subject

Production Circumstances:way  in  which  text  is   produced  (e.g.  real-­‐ 2me,  scripted  etc.)

Structure/Stages: the specific language features and stylistic choices that characterize the text

Linguistic style: the specific language and stylistic elements that define how a text communicates and appeals to its audience.