What is a Multimodal Text?
Multimodal text conveys meaning to the reader through varying combinations of
visual (still image) written language, and spatial modes.
Text – a written or spoken
passage.
Multimodal- a
combination of two or more
modes to create meaning.
Mode – a means of
communicating. There are
five modes of
communication: visual,
linguistic, spatial, aural,
and gestural.
▪
Five Modes of Communication
Linguistic: vocabulary, structure, grammar of
oral/written language
Visual: colour, vectors and viewpoint in still and
moving images
Audio/Aural: volume, pitch and rhythm of music
and sound effects
Gestural: movement, facial expression and body
language
Spatial: proximity, direction, position of layout,
organisation of objects in space
Why Multimodal Text is important?
In order for you to communicate effectively in an
increasingly digital world, you must learn
comprehend and compose meaning across different
forms of multimodal text, and to do so using a range
of different meaning modes.
 A multimodal text can be delivered through:
• Paper – a combination of linguistic, visual, spatial or gestural mode
such as
• Digital – a combination of linguistic, visual, aural, gestural, spatial
such as slide presentations, e-books, blogs, e-posters, etc.
• Live – a combination of linguistic, visual, aural, gestural, spatial a
performance or an event.

Note: The five modes of communication are often combined in composing texts in
order to explain or elaborate the topic. Any combination of modes could result to
paper, digital or live multimodal text.

(Source: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingr
esources/discipline/english/literacy/multimodal/Pages/creat
emultimodal.aspx.)

L k at these examples below.

Comic strip is an example of a paper

multimodal text. In this example, this comic
strip relies on both linguistic and visual mode
as it uses written language for conversation
of the characters and visual mode to show
images of the characters and setting.
However, comic strips that are uploaded in
different web pages are considered as digital
multimodal text.

A YouTube video is an example of a

digital multimodal text. The video displays a
linguistic mode as it uses written language to
give the meaning of a multimodal text. It is
combined with visual mode as it includes
images to show examples and audio mode as
it uses voice over and other sound effects to
further explain the topic.

Speech choir is an example of live

multimodal text. Speech choir uses a
linguistic mode because it uses oral language
in delivering the speech. It is combined with
various modes such as spatial, gestural and
audio.

2
 Let’s Practice
Activity 1
Directions: Identify the multimodal elements/texts used in the given examples. Write
P if it is paper, D if it is digital and L if it is live.

1. Trailer of the movie, “Ploning”

2. Oral storytelling
3. Vlog about the different tourist spots in Palawan
4. Local newspaper in Palawan
5. Facebook post about the number of active COVID-19 cases in
Puerto Princesa
6. English 10 Module
7. Musical Show
8. Print advertisement
9. Choral reading in school
10. A podcast about learning English

Activity 2

Directions: Supply the mode needed to complete the multimodal elements present in the
examples given below. Write whether it is visual, linguistic, aural, gestural or spatial.

Example: Powerpoint Presentation- Linguistic + Visual

Tweet by @juandlcrz Ted Talks Daily Podcast

1. Linguistic + ____________________ 2. Linguistic + __________________

3
 Teaching Tips Book Heart Care Printed Brochure

3. Visual+ ____________________ 3. Spatial+ ____________________