Typology of texts and their genres in different

Typology of texts and their genres in different speech registers. Max Zabiyaka Gr. 413

Table of contents Text typology Genre vs. Text type Major text types Genre vs. Register

Text typology is concerned with the identification of the criteria leading to the classification (typology) of texts. Depending on the criteria adopted, there are several possibilities of classifying texts. Using some of the most obvious criteria, texts can be classified as spoken or written, dialogical or monological, spontaneous (unprepared) or ritual (prepared), informal or formal, subjective or objective, etc. Dolnik and Bajzikova (1998) maintain that it is possible to approach texts as either theoretical linguistic constructs (text typology), or as concrete psychological realities. (text classification)

Genre Genres reflect differences in external format and situations of use, and are defined on the basis of systematic non-linguistic criteria. Universally recognized literary and subgenres are poetry (epic, lyrical), drama (comedy, tragedy) and fiction (novel, short story). However, the transition between literary and non-literary genres is smooth (e. g. , science fiction, essay, postmodern novel).

Genre vs. Text type One way of making a distinction between genre and text type is to say that the former is based on external, non-linguistic, "traditional" criteria while the latter is based on the internal, linguistic characteristics of texts themselves A genre, in this view, is defined as a category assigned on the basis of external criteria such as intended audience, purpose, and activity type, that is, it refers to a conventional, culturally recognised grouping of texts based on properties other than lexical or grammatical (co-)occurrence features, which are, instead, the internal (linguistic) criteria forming the basis of text type

Genre vs. Text type Textual types refer to the following four basic aspects of writing: descriptive, narrative, expository, and argumentative.

Descriptive Purpose : Description is used in all forms of writing to create a vivid impression of a person, place, object or event e. g. Description is a style of writing which can be useful for a variety of purposes: • to engage a reader's attention • to create characters • to set a mood or create an atmosphere • to bring writing to life. Language : aims to show rather than tell the reader what something/someone is like • relies on precise use of adjectives, similes, metaphors to create images/pictures in the mind.

Narrative Based on perception in time. Narration is the telling of a story; the succession of events is given in chronological order. Purpose : The basic purpose of narrative is to entertain, to gain and hold a readers' interest. The typical elements are: • Setting—when and where the story occurs. • Characters —the most important people or players in the story. • Initiating event —an action or occurrence that establishes a problem and/or goal. • Conflict/goal —the focal point around which the whole story is organized. • Events —one or more attempts by the main character(s) to achieve the goal or solve the problem. • Resolution —the outcome of the attempts to achieve the goal or solve the problem. • Theme —the main idea or moral of the story.

Genre vs. Text type Coming back to the distinction between genre and text type, therefore, the main thing to remember here is what the two different approaches to classification mean for texts and their categorisation. In theory, two texts may belong to the same text type , even though they may come from two different genres because they have some similarities in linguistic form (e. g. , biographies and novels are similar in terms of some typically "past-tense, third-person narrative" linguistic features).

Expository & Argumentative Expository aims at explanation, i. e. the cognitive analysis and subsequent syntheses of complex facts. Example: An essay on "Rhetoric: What is it and why do we study it? “ Argumentative based on the evaluation and the subsequent subjective judgments in answer to a problem. It refers to the reasons advanced for or against a matter.

Genre Text Type Recipe Personal letter Advertisement Police report Student essay Formal letter Format letter News item Health brochure Student assignment Biology textbook Procedure Anecdote Description Exposition Problem–Solution Recount Procedure Recount Report

Genre vs. Register Crystal (1991, p. 295) defines register as "a variety of language defined according to its use in social situations, e. g. a register of scientific, religious, formal English. It is possible to regard register as a communicative situation that recurs regularly in a society and genre as a message type that recurs regularly in a community. (e. g. , cookbook recipes, stock market reports, regional weather forecasts) and genres (e. g. , chat, debate, conversation, recipe, obituary, scientific textbook writing)