What makes a Text a Text?

Abstract or Introduction

The question “What makes a text a text?” is the topic of this assignment.
The definition of text has been discussed extensively among linguists. They have taken different approaches to define what makes a text a text. Although some were similar, no consensus on a definition has been reached yet. The question is particularly interesting in regard to text production. This assignment is therefore of interest to text producers and those who analyse texts. Texts serve the purpose of conveying a message or information. More literally, their purpose is to communicate with the recipient. Thus, to produce meaningful and comprehensible texts, a basic understanding of the criteria for textuality is essential.
This assignment and its results are based on an extensive literature research of books, scientific journals, and the internet. The assignment begins by exploring the definition of “text” and “textuality”. Both concepts are defined, and some linguistic issues are discussed. The work of De Beaugrande and Dressler often serves as a point of reference when discussing this topic. They defined seven criteria for textuality to distinguish texts from non-texts. These criteria are examined and defined in the third section, and examples of each criterion are given. Excerpts are taken from the “I have a dream” speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. The aim is to determine whether this speech can be regarded as a text based on the criteria of De Beaugrande and Dressler. The assignment ends with a critical discussion and conclusion.