In this essay, the question of what makes a text a text will be discussed. The seven key criteria of textuality defined by Beaugrande and Dressler will be explained using an example of a classic American drama.
The question at what point a text is a text or whether a text can be called a text at all is one of the core questions of linguistics and goes all the way back to the ancient Greek language theory of Plato and Aristotle, which dealt with this topic at the most basic level. In the 1960s, the expression “text” became a focus of linguists with the development several definitions of what a text is. Since then, numerous definitions have been formed and there is no consensus about which one is the best, but one can find many similarities among them.
The 1981 work of the Austrian linguists Robert-Alain de Beaugrande and Wolfgang U. Dressler has been used as the basis for many discussions and definitions of text ever since. Their work is often seen as a good framework for agreement which is based on seven criteria of textuality.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 The Definition of a Text
3 The Seven Key Criteria of Textuality
3.1 Cohesion
3.2 Coherence
3.3 Informativity
3.4 Intentionality
3.5 Acceptability
3.6 Situationality
3.7 Intertextuality
4 Conclusion
5 Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the linguistic requirements that transform a sequence of words into a functional text. It explores diverse academic definitions of "text" and applies the theoretical framework of the seven criteria of textuality, as established by Beaugrande and Dressler, to analyze examples from Thornton Wilder's drama "Our Town."
- Linguistic definitions of text vs. textuality
- Theoretical framework of the seven criteria of textuality
- Application of textuality criteria to dramatic literature
- The role of the recipient in text interpretation
- Distinction between text and non-text artifacts
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Cohesion
The expression “cohesion” comes from the Latin word cohaerere which means sticking together in the widest sense. If we do speak of cohesion in the field of physics for example, it refers to the inner cohesion of the atoms or even molecules in a liquid or solid substance which is caused by the force of attraction. The substance only becomes a certain material by this cohesion of the atoms.
In linguistics, cohesion is the semantic tool which connects various single linguistic elements to form a structure. To create cohesion, there are several grammatical structures, such as reference, substitution, ellipsis, conjunction and lexical cohesion. These structural aids are called the “five types of ties” by Halliday and Hasan, but there are many more linguistic devices to create this relationship between elements in order to form a text such as repetition, recurrence, parallelism, or paraphrasing. These grammatical tools can be used to clarify, emphasize, or accentuate passages and contents of a text. The following passage shows how some of these grammatical tools give this text a certain cohesive structure:
“Good-by, Good-by, world. Good-by, Grover’s Corners… Mama and Papa. Good-by to clocks ticking…and Mama’s sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new-ironed dresses and hot baths… and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for any body to realize you.” (Emily, S.93 Act III)
The use of ellipses emphasize the extreme length of this farewell while tying together numerous different subjects covered within it.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the historical development of text definitions in linguistics and introduces the primary theoretical framework by Beaugrande and Dressler.
2 The Definition of a Text: Investigates various scholarly perspectives on what constitutes a text, distinguishing between the linguistic structure and the interpretive aspect of textuality.
3 The Seven Key Criteria of Textuality: Details the seven foundational elements—cohesion, coherence, intentionality, acceptability, informativity, situationality, and intertextuality—using Thornton Wilder's play as a practical example.
4 Conclusion: Reflects on the complexities of defining texts and suggests that even non-textual artifacts can be subjected to textual analysis depending on the recipient's interpretation.
5 Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary sources used to support the theoretical arguments presented in the assignment.
Keywords
Linguistics, Textuality, Cohesion, Coherence, Intentionality, Acceptability, Informativity, Situationality, Intertextuality, Beaugrande, Dressler, Text Definition, Text Analysis, Our Town, Thornton Wilder
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this assignment?
The paper focuses on defining what constitutes a "text" in linguistics and explores the criteria necessary for a sequence of words to function as a unified whole.
Which theoretical framework serves as the basis for the analysis?
The work relies on the seven criteria of textuality established by the linguists Robert-Alain de Beaugrande and Wolfgang U. Dressler in their 1981 work.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to discuss the conditions a cluster of words must meet to be considered a text and to explain these conditions through practical examples from literature.
What methodology is employed in this study?
The author uses a qualitative, descriptive-analytical approach, applying linguistic theories to specific excerpts from the play "Our Town" to illustrate how textual functionality is achieved.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body breaks down each of the seven criteria of textuality—cohesion, coherence, informativity, intentionality, acceptability, situationality, and intertextuality—and provides literary examples for each.
How is "text" differentiated from "textuality"?
The paper defines "text" as the linguistic structure or artifact, while "textuality" refers to the interpretive quality and characteristics that allow a recipient to perceive it as a meaningful unit.
How do the seven criteria interact according to the author?
The author argues that these criteria are interlocked, noting that even if an author's intention is clear, a text may fail to be perceived as such if it lacks acceptability or coherence in the mind of the recipient.
What role does Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" play in the text?
The play serves as a consistent case study, providing concrete examples (like monologues from the Stage Manager) to demonstrate how linguistic devices create cohesion and convey informativity.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the definition of a text?
The author concludes that there is no single simple definition for a text, and suggests that even non-traditional artifacts can be treated as texts depending on the context and the recipient's perspective.
Why might some of the seven criteria be intentionally omitted by an author?
The author suggests that criteria can be omitted on purpose as a stylistic device to create tension or to guide the recipient's focus in a specific direction.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Ulrike Gabert (Autor:in), 2020, What makes a text a text?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/925133
