A text is more than the bare listing of words in a row or the adding of various sentences randomly to each other. The knowledge of what components are included in a text and in which way these components interact with each other is the key in truly understanding a text, as well as it is essential for being able to fully receive its message.
For many jobs – especially for language related jobs, for example interpreters and translators –the task to develope and enhance textual skills is undeniable crucial for employees.To have the knowledge of text competence includes the cognitive ability to analyze unknown text in order to receive ist useful information and to be able to create a text by oneself.
Therefore, the main question to answer is: “What makes a text a text?“ Even if this might look at first sight very simple to answer, this topic is far more complex than originally expected. In fact, since the 1960s there has been a linguistic science field named “text linguistic“ which deals with this question in greater detail.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Objective of this study
1.2. Structure of the present study
2. Definitions of basic terms
2.1. Text
2.2. Textuality
3. Seven standards of textuality
3.1. Cohesion
3.2. Coherence
3.3. Intentionality
3.4. Acceptability
3.5. Informativity
3.6. Situationality
3.7. Intertextuality
4. Sample text
5. Conclusion
6. List of references and literature
Research Objectives and Themes
This study explores the fundamental criteria that define a text, seeking to answer the core linguistic question of what makes a text a coherent and communicative entity. It investigates the seven standards of textuality as defined by Beaugrande and Dressler to demonstrate how these elements facilitate successful communication.
- The linguistic definition of text and textuality.
- Analysis of the seven standards of textuality: cohesion, coherence, intentionality, acceptability, informativity, situationality, and intertextuality.
- Practical application of textuality criteria to a narrative sample text.
- Exploration of the intersection between text structure and reader perception.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Cohesion
The first of the seven criteria is cohesion. The text-centred term cohesion is related to the way how the text components of the surface text, which is the text we can truly see and hear, work with each other. The single surface text components are in a relationship which depends on grammatical rules. Therefore, cohesion is based on grammatical dependence. Typical grammatical phenomena which relate to cohesion are conjunctions, the word order, recurrence, the grammatical correct syntax and the resumption of terms, e.g. by using pronouns and nouns.
As an example, the following warning sign can be used to explain the grammatical depedence of cohesion:
(Figure 1)
This warning sign shows perfectly that the chronological order in which the reader is reading the words, does play an important role and has an impact on the way we understand this statement. There is no way in which the words could be switched without resulting in the readers‘ confusion (e.g. children at play slow, children slow at play) and result in a slower reaction of the driver, as it needs more than one attempt to understand the message.
Even if cohesion is a criterion for understanding the corresponding text, it does not provide the reader with a perfectly clear way to read. In the above-stated example “slow children at play“ could be understood as an encouragement to drive safe and slowly, but it could also inform the reader about “slow children“ who are playing in this moment.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the importance of textual competence and outlines the research objective regarding text functionality.
2. Definitions of basic terms: This section examines various scholarly definitions of "text" and "textuality" to establish a foundational understanding for the study.
3. Seven standards of textuality: This core chapter details the seven criteria proposed by Beaugrande and Dressler necessary for a sequence of sentences to be considered a communicative text.
4. Sample text: This chapter applies the previously defined theoretical framework to a specific narrative excerpt to verify the practical relevance of the criteria.
5. Conclusion: This chapter synthesizes the findings, acknowledging the lack of a universal definition for text and the ongoing debate regarding additional criteria.
6. List of references and literature: This section provides a comprehensive bibliography of the sources utilized for the paper.
Keywords
Text, Textuality, Cohesion, Coherence, Intentionality, Acceptability, Informativity, Situationality, Intertextuality, Linguistics, Text Analysis, Communication, Beaugrande, Dressler, Language Skills
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper fundamentally explores the definition of a text and examines what characteristics distinguish a functional text from a random sequence of words.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes are the linguistic definitions of text, the seven standards of textuality, and how these standards influence the communicative value and understanding of written or spoken language.
What is the main research question of this study?
The research is driven by the question: "What makes a text a text?"
Which scientific method is utilized in this analysis?
The study employs a linguistic analysis method, specifically applying the framework of the "Seven Standards of Textuality" by Beaugrande and Dressler to a sample text.
What is addressed in the main part of the study?
The main body focuses on the definitions of text and textuality, followed by an in-depth examination of each of the seven standards of textuality, illustrated by examples.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as textuality, cohesion, coherence, intentionality, and text analysis.
How does the author apply the theory to a sample text?
The author uses a blurb from the Harry Potter series to demonstrate how each of the seven standards is satisfied within a real-world, widely recognized text.
Why is the concept of "coherence" described as being dependent on the recipient?
Coherence is not just a text-centred attribute; it requires the reader's background knowledge and cognitive processing to link concepts and understand the internal logic of the text.
Does the author suggest adding more criteria to the existing seven?
Yes, the author discusses the possibility of adding "culturality" as an eighth criterion, noting that there is an ongoing linguistic debate regarding this potential expansion.
- Quote paper
- Rebekka Schneider (Author), 2019, What makes a text a text? Criteria for text functionality, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/925560
