Lesson 4.

3: Literary Reading through a Linguistic

Context

Learning Objectives
1. Understand a literary text deeper by knowing the meaning of words are used by the
author.
2. Analyze how the words, tone, form, and syntax affect the meaning of a literary text.

Learning Probe (Analysis)

Language is the medium used in Literature. Almost everything we do is expressed and
communicated through Language. This is why literary texts can be read through the context of
the language used, as well as the way the language is used in the literary text. Knowing the
language used in the literary pieces we are reading will help us understand the author is trying to
convey in his/her work.

Learning Time (Acquire New Knowledge)

Linguistic context refers to the words and sentences within the literary piece that helps to
determine its meaning. This is the relationship between the words, phrases, sentences, and even
paragraphs. Take for example the word “gloomy” as an example. We will not understand the exact
meaning of the sentence, “Britts is so gloomy.” without the linguistic context to make clear the
exact meaning of this word.
There are many reasons why we need to read a literary piece through the linguistic
context. First, analyzing the words, sentences, patterns, imagery, etc. of the text will help us
understand the literary piece better, even without knowing the author's biography and the
sociocultural context of his/her work. Then, by simply looking at the literary text’s grammar,
syntax, or phonemic pattern can help you find the meaning of the text within its form and help you
interpret it by simply analyzing the content of the literary work.
To help you read through the linguistic context, these are some guide question that you
can answer while reading a piece of literature:
• What are the striking words in the text? What are the words that are unfamiliar to
you? And which words attracted your attentions?
• Are the words used dramatic?
• What nouns are the most prominent? Are these concrete nouns (something you
can touch, hear, smell, taste; e.g. Rey, cat, suitcase) or abstract nouns (something
that denotes idea or quality; e.g. love, beauty, calmness)?
• What are the verbs used?
 • Does the author use common or lofty diction?
• Is there any word with more than one meaning?
• What literary devices are used? Are there imagery? Do those images stand for
anything aside from the literal meaning?
• What is the tone of the speaker? Is he happy about the subject Is the tone negative
or positive?
• What is the structure of the text? Is it a narrative? Is it linear or nonlinear?
• What is the point of view of the text? Is it a poem? What type of poem is it?
• Does the language help in delivering and understanding its content? Is there a
theme?
• What is it saying about its subject matter? How do the literary elements contribute
to the effectiveness of the text?
• What is the text saying about the world in general?

Take note that even if Literature uses languages, it does not always mean that the
structure of literature and the language are the same. Some writers may not follow
grammatical rules, and this kind of deviation may also be used in your analysis. The
characteristics of the language in which the text was written may also help in analyzing
the literary work. You can try to find out why the author used that certain language, and if
the language used is weak or strong. You can also look at the different literary approaches
that focus on language.
The following are some of the literary approaches you ca use in reading a literary work
through the linguistic context.
Table 2. Approaches in Literary Reading

Approaches Meaning

Structuralism Structuralism is an approach where the text are examine to a larger

structure. The structure of the text may be a particular style, range of
intertextual, genre, system of recurrent patterns or motifs, and a model of
a universeal narrative structure.

Formalism (New Formalism is a school of literary theory and criticism. It looks into the text
Criticism) without taking any account any outside factors and influences.

Poststructuralism Poststructuralism was created as a reaction to structioralism. In the

context of linguistics, there may be underlying structures that may have
different meaning and interpretations based on how the words or phrases
were used in the literary text.