DEFINITIONS OF TEXT

DEFINITIONS OF
DISCOURSE
A piece of naturally occurring A continuous stretch of
spoken, written, or signed
(especially spoken) language
discourse identified for the
larger than a sentence, often
purposes of analysis. It is
constituting a coherent unit,
often a language unit with a such as a sermon, argument,
definable communicative
joke or narrative. (Sir David
function, such as a
Crystal)
conversation, a poster.
A stretch of language
Stretches of language
interpreted formally, without perceived to be meaningful,
context.
unified, and purposive. (Guy
Cook)
Unit of communication seen Whole complicated process
as a coherent syntactic and
of linguistic interaction
semantic structure which
between people uttering and
can be spoken or written
comprehending texts. (Roger
down.
Fowler)
A text can be defined as an
The term discourse is taken
actual use of language, as
here to refer both to what a
distinct from a sentence
text producer meant by a
which is an abstract unit of
text and what a text means
linguistic analysis.
to the receiver. (Henry
Widdowson)

FEATURES
Degree of
abstraction

TEXT
ABSTRACT

DISCOURSE
CONCRETE

Role in
communication
Linguistic status
Type of meaning

PRODUCT

PROCESS

FORMAL
PROPOSITIONAL

Relationship to
context
Linguistic unit
Mode

DECONTEXTUALISED
ANY
WRITTEN/SPOKEN

FUNCTIONAL
NONPROPOSITIONAL
CONTEXTUALISED
ANY
WRITTEN/SPOKEN

NORMS OF TEXTUAL COMMUNICATION

SENDERS

INFORMATIVITY
RECEIVERS
COHESION

INTENTIONALITY
ACCEPTABILITY

COHERENCE

SITUATIONALITY

INTERTEXTUALITY

CONTEXTS

OTHER
TEXTS

Dressed to kilt
Even highlanders follow fashion.(1) Geoffrey Tailor
Kiltmakers, based in Scotland, now produces "21st century
kilts," with pockets for modern necessities like mobile
phones.(2) Designer Howie Nicholsby sees the evolution as
a means of tapping into the youth market.(3) "The kilt is
free and fun."(4) His pleated skirts come in various
materials from the traditional tartan to PVC.(5) And for
male buyers too shy to purchase in person, the kilts are
also available online.(6) Robert the Bruce never had it this
easy.(7)
Newsweek