Language of Non-literary Texts
LESSON 2: Types and Functions of Non-
literary texts
Types of Non-literary texts
The goal of non-literary works can be categorized. These can be for the purpose
of revealing information, explaining a problem, releasing the results of an inquiry,
or revealing a person's behavior. Despite the fact that these texts all have the
same function of referential language, it's likely that they have a different one
depending on their goal.
Englopedia a website that is specifically designed for English learning emphasized
the types and the characteristics of Non-literary texts through a table. See table
below…
EXPOSITORY OR NORMATIVE OR ACADEMIC OR
ARGUMENTATIVE
INFORMATIVE INSTRUCTIVE SCIENTIST
Expressing or
communicating a
Inform and provide
Communicate or point of view or
Inform and facilitate directions or orders
disseminate opinion with the
OBJECTIVE understanding of a about how someone
knowledge on a intention of
topic. should act in a
specific matter. persuading or
specific context.
convincing
someone.
MAIN
LANGUAGE Referential. Appellate. Referential. Appellate.
FUNCTION
• Imper • Present a
• Produce • Usually
sonal, use of hypothes
d within produced
the third is that
an in an
person. must be
institution institution
• Simpl tested.
al al setting.
e and
CHARACTERI framewo • Intertextu • You can
organized
STICS structure. rk. ality and follow
• Obje • Formality reference inductive
ctivity. and to other ,
• It technical texts. deductiv
proposes to vocabul e, or
• Specific
disclose, ary. emotion
receptor.
expose or al
Language of Non-literary Texts
report any • Clear • Formality reasonin
topic and and g.
• May succinct. specialize • Presence
present d and
• Objectivi of
technical or technical
ty. discursive
specialized vocabular elements
vocabulary. • Focused y. to
• It can on the
receiver.
• Organized demonstr
present
structure. ate the
characteristic • Regulate hypothes
s of literary s
• Communi
is.
texts. cate
behavior
results or a • Formal
in a
state of and
certain
the art. organize
context.
d
• Linear or
• Compreh
structure.
ensive
step
and • There is
structure.
methodol an
ogical. emphasis
on the
issuer,
their
opinions
or
perspecti
ves.
Cooking recipes, Dissertations, theses, Speeches,
Lectures, reports, instructions, manuals, academic articles, philosophical texts,
news, essays, legislative and legal encyclopedic entries, essays, opinion
EXAMPLES
biographies, and documents, political monographs, articles, advertising
others. constitution, and scientific essays, and messages, and
others. others. others
Function of non-literary text
Because it is referential, the message in this type of writing is referring to something
outside of the text. The sender is attempting to achieve a goal with his work,
whereas the receiver is seeking particular information or expertise.
In the same manner, one of its most essential goals is to get the message
out. It can be a fact, a procedure, a set of rules, a description of an item or a
person, and so on. The procedure of fixing an automobile, for example, is referred
to in an auto mechanic manual.
Language of Non-literary Texts
This means that the non-literary text must be objective, which means that it
should not be ambiguous, and it should not be as dense as the literary text in terms
of polysemic density. That is, it is a denotative text (what is written pertains to
reality) and, in general, what is written in it is not open to interpretation.
Anyone who creates a non-literary text, on the other hand, might employ
features of literary writings to convey a message or information. When reporting
or recounting a news event in a newspaper, for example, rhetorical methods
can be utilized. In this situation, the reader may come across a character in
literature who makes him feel empathy for the characters or who makes him
respond negatively to what is being said.
WORKSHEET
Culminating Activity 2
General instruction: Answer the following questions in 300 words each. Do not plagiarize.
1. Identify whether the play “Breath” by Samuel Beckett is a Non-literary text or not. Justify
your answer by giving sufficient arguments based on the given definitions to the types of
non-literary texts. You may watch the video here :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5F9rzGrL74 and refer here :
https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2021/01/06/breath-samuel-beckett/
for additional information about the play.
2. It has been noted in the discussion that Non-literary texts should be less dense and
unambiguous. Given that laws are examples of non-literary texts, why is it that some laws
in the Philippines are lengthy, dense, and are often interpreted differently or in other wise
lacking and insufficient which somehow results to indeterminate offenses of the accused?
3. Provide specific samples of non-literary texts which are written in literary form with
figurative language. MODULE SUMMARY
