Analysis of Textual Features and Genres
General Text Characteristics
Texts often exhibit the following characteristics:
- Conservatism: Adherence to established norms.
- Explicitness: Clearly stated information.
- Precision and Accuracy: Exactness in language and facts.
- Monotony: Sometimes lacking variation in style or tone, especially in formal texts.
Morphosyntactic Features
- Predominance of impersonal sentences.
- Use of the passive reflexive voice.
- Use of the future subjunctive (less common in modern Spanish usage).
- Gnomic present (expressing general truths) and pluralis modestiae (plural of modesty).
- Prevalence of verbal phrases.
- Frequent use of quotations.
Semantic Features
- Inclusion of technical terms (technicalities).
- Use of Latinisms or terms derived from Latin.
- Employing set phrases or phraseological formulas.
- Striving for clarity can sometimes lead to dense or cumbersome phrasing.
Narrative Texts: Features and Structure
Narrative texts recount events and occurrences, which tend to be presented as real. They can be oral or written, similar to other text typologies.
Common Narrative Structure
Typically includes:
- Introduction/Approach: Sets the scene.
- Development/Middle: Describes the events.
- Conclusion/End: Resolves the narrative.
Characteristics of Non-Literary Narratives
- Often chronologically linear (no flashbacks).
- Examples: A conversation with a friend, a news report, a sports broadcast.
- Dominated by the referential function of language (focus on objective data).
- Uses standard language.
- Predominance of declarative sentences.
- Verbs are often more prominent than nouns and adjectives.
Note: Literary narratives, in contrast, frequently employ techniques like flashbacks and may not follow a strict linear order.
Administrative Texts and Communication
Administrative texts facilitate communication between administrative bodies and citizens (and vice versa), or between different entities.
Types of Administrative Documents
- Business Letters: Follow a standard format to communicate offers, information, etc. They adhere to a specific structure.
- Instances/Formal Requests: Documents used to present a problem or request and seek a solution or action. A common format includes: Introduction/Identification, Exposition (the facts/problem), Solicitation (the request), and Closing.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Presents personal information relevant to obtaining employment. Typically includes: Personal data, education, qualifications, work experience, skills, etc., often arranged chronologically or by relevance.
General Features of Administrative Texts
- Formal tone; improvisation is not appropriate.
- Require precision and conciseness.
- Often use set phrases and specific vocabulary.
- Generally aim for objectivity and do not seek to evoke emotional interest in the reader.
Linguistic Characteristics
- Employ a formal register (“cultivated level”).
- Primarily referential language function, but can also have an appellative or conative function (aiming to influence the recipient).
- Expository style is predominant.
Morphosyntactic Features
- Use of abstract nouns.
- Tendency towards masculine forms for generics (in some languages).
- Omission of articles in certain contexts.
- Frequent use of adjectives for precision.
- Predominance of the third person and the official plural (pluralis modestiae).
- Use of impersonal constructions.
Semantic and Lexical Features
- Specialized vocabulary, distinct from colloquial usage.
- May include archaisms (older terms).
- Use of learned words (cultismos) and formalisms.
- Employment of circumlocutions and euphemisms.
Understanding Humanistic Texts
Humanistic texts deal with aspects related to human beings, society, and culture.
Scope and Disciplines
Commonly include observations, analyses, interpretations, and hypotheses. Fields include:
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Politics
- Sociology
- Philosophy
- Ethics
- History
- Linguistics
- Journalism (essays, analysis)
- Etc.
General Characteristics
- Universality: Often address broad human themes.
- Abstraction: Deal with concepts and ideas.
- Objectivity: Strive for unbiased presentation, though interpretation is key.
- Stylistic Interest: Often value clarity, coherence, and sometimes elegance in expression.
Language Functions
- Primarily referential (conveying information).
- Can also be conative/appellative (persuading or influencing the reader).
Linguistic Features
- Predominance of declarative sentences and exposition.
- Use of sentences expressing obligation or necessity (deontic modality) where appropriate (e.g., in ethics, law).
- Use of verbal periphrasis and non-finite verb forms (infinitives, gerunds, participles).
- Common use of the third person.
- Inclusion of quotes and references to support arguments.
- Use of specialized terminology or jargon specific to the discipline.
Scientific Texts: Purpose and Features
Scientific texts focus on the natural and physical sciences. Their primary purpose is educational – to inform – and their main language function is referential.
Types of Scientific Texts
- Informative/Popular Science: Aimed at a general audience, not necessarily experts in the field.
- Specialized Scientific: Written for experts within the specific discipline.
General Characteristics
- Universality: Findings aim to be universally valid under specified conditions.
- Objectivity: Based on empirical evidence and logical reasoning, minimizing subjective bias.
- Precision: Language must be exact.
- Univocal Language: Terms have specific, unambiguous meanings within the context.
- Specialized Nature: Often require prior knowledge to fully understand (can seem cryptic to non-experts).
Linguistic Features: Technicalities
Scientific texts rely heavily on technical terms (technicalities). These are formed through various processes:
- Morphological Derivation/Composition: Creating new words by joining morphemes (prefixes, suffixes) and lexemes (base words).
- Specialization: Assigning a specific, technical meaning to a word from common language.
- Phrase Composition: Forming compound terms or multi-word units.
- Metaphorization: Creating terms based on metaphorical resemblance (e.g., “black hole”).
- Metonymic Designation: Naming something after its creator or a related concept (e.g., “volt” after Volta).
- Acronyms and Initialisms: Using the first letters of multi-word concepts (e.g., DNA, laser).
- Borrowing: Importing words from other languages (often Latin or Greek).
Morphosyntactic Features
- Predominance of declarative sentences.
- Frequent use of impersonal sentences and passive voice.
- Use of the plural of modesty (e.g., “we found that…”).
- Inclusion of formal definitions.
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer: Rhymes and Legends
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, known for his Rimas y Leyendas (Rhymes and Legends), initially struggled for recognition and financial success.
- In 1857, he authored Historia de los templos de España, a historical work reflecting his interests in history, religion, and architecture. His relationship with Julia Espín is often cited as an influence, sometimes described as platonic.
- He wrote approximately 25 legends, primarily in the horror genre, with some adventure and costumbrista (customs-focused) elements.
- These legends are set in various parts of Spain. While often based on existing folklore, Bécquer’s originality lies in his unique narrative style and retelling.
- Death is a recurring, significant theme in many legends, reflected in motifs like tombs, skeletons, the moon, and night settings. This focus may stem from his personal experiences, including being orphaned and suffering from illness, as well as broader Romantic influences.