Textanalysis 1 notes
Week 1: Introduction: A discourse perspective on communication
In this course: Analyze texts, not sentences!
Any text form longer than 1 sentence is called discourse. Text: Sequence of sentences or
utterances.
Discourse perspective: A sequence of sentences or utterances serving a communicative purpose
Sample from lecture about solar panels persuasive text
Model Jakobson (1960):
Depending on position of text it can have six functions: metalingual, poetic, phatic (just “hello”),
conative, representative, expressive
Sample text conative: persuasive, make receiver perform an action, instructive, opiniating,
activating
Werlich’s discourse typology (1982):
Sample text lecture argumentative: Standpoint markers (in my opinion, etc.), argumentation
markers (on one hand, etc.), evaluative expressions (wisest investment benefits will get even greater),
truth claims, discourse connectives (so, since, because)
2
, Narrative text type: Past tense verbs, reference to persons (characters), main character, protagonist’s
subjective viewpoint, indications of time and place (this year, last year), chronological ordering of
events, causal relations
Normally narrative texts have expressive functions, in this case also in a way but also persuasive
function (another argument for buying the product)
Powerful communication strategy! enhances persuasiveness, text understanding and motivation
to read
Example: Function Information; Type Informative discourse
Labov’s story structure (1972;2013):
1. Abstract (what is it about?)
2. Orientation (who, when, what, where?)
3. Complicating action (= story proper) (then what happened?)
4. Evaluation (so what?)
5. Resolution (what finally happened?)
6. Coda (are there links to the present?)
College:
Discourse vorm en functie: functie manier waarop je de vorm wilt weergeven
Voorbeeld tekst hoorcollege was een direct mail letter, deze was argumentatief en persuasive,
argumentatieve indicatoren, evaluatieve termen. Ook narratief.
Discourse types ≠ discourse genres
Five dimensions of Biber (1989):
Tekst les: gesprek tussen patiënt man en arts. Middenin verhaal over iemand anders. Kenmerken van
narratief taalgebruik. Functie is wel overtuigen. Dus narratief met persuasieve functie.
Titel kan ook abstract zijn bij bijv. geschreven tekst. Bij wetenschappelijke artikelen zit dit er apart bij.
Alles van het verhaal kan je indelen bij een van de 6 punten (i.p.v. Zinnen blanco laten)
2
Week 1: Introduction: A discourse perspective on communication
In this course: Analyze texts, not sentences!
Any text form longer than 1 sentence is called discourse. Text: Sequence of sentences or
utterances.
Discourse perspective: A sequence of sentences or utterances serving a communicative purpose
Sample from lecture about solar panels persuasive text
Model Jakobson (1960):
Depending on position of text it can have six functions: metalingual, poetic, phatic (just “hello”),
conative, representative, expressive
Sample text conative: persuasive, make receiver perform an action, instructive, opiniating,
activating
Werlich’s discourse typology (1982):
Sample text lecture argumentative: Standpoint markers (in my opinion, etc.), argumentation
markers (on one hand, etc.), evaluative expressions (wisest investment benefits will get even greater),
truth claims, discourse connectives (so, since, because)
2
, Narrative text type: Past tense verbs, reference to persons (characters), main character, protagonist’s
subjective viewpoint, indications of time and place (this year, last year), chronological ordering of
events, causal relations
Normally narrative texts have expressive functions, in this case also in a way but also persuasive
function (another argument for buying the product)
Powerful communication strategy! enhances persuasiveness, text understanding and motivation
to read
Example: Function Information; Type Informative discourse
Labov’s story structure (1972;2013):
1. Abstract (what is it about?)
2. Orientation (who, when, what, where?)
3. Complicating action (= story proper) (then what happened?)
4. Evaluation (so what?)
5. Resolution (what finally happened?)
6. Coda (are there links to the present?)
College:
Discourse vorm en functie: functie manier waarop je de vorm wilt weergeven
Voorbeeld tekst hoorcollege was een direct mail letter, deze was argumentatief en persuasive,
argumentatieve indicatoren, evaluatieve termen. Ook narratief.
Discourse types ≠ discourse genres
Five dimensions of Biber (1989):
Tekst les: gesprek tussen patiënt man en arts. Middenin verhaal over iemand anders. Kenmerken van
narratief taalgebruik. Functie is wel overtuigen. Dus narratief met persuasieve functie.
Titel kan ook abstract zijn bij bijv. geschreven tekst. Bij wetenschappelijke artikelen zit dit er apart bij.
Alles van het verhaal kan je indelen bij een van de 6 punten (i.p.v. Zinnen blanco laten)
2
