Forms of Speech: Narration, Description, Dialogue, Exposition, and Argumentation
The forms of speech are different modes of expression used in text. There are five main forms of discourse:
- Narration
- Description
- Dialogue
- Exposition
- Argumentation
Narration
Narration is an account of real or fictional actions carried out by characters. Texts can be literary or non-fiction. Elements of storytelling include:
- Narrator: The voice the author uses to tell the story. Can be external (explaining events) or internal (a character in the story).
- Action: A set of facts located in time and space. Time can be external (when events occur) or internal (perceived time). It can be real or imaginary.
- Characters: Those who carry out actions. Can be main, secondary, flat, or round.
Description
Description presents the characteristics of people, objects, places, or events, both real and imagined. Descriptions can be objective (technical, scientific) or subjective (literary, advertising).
- Prosopography: Description of physical features.
- Etopeya: Description of psychological traits.
- Portrait: Combines prosopography and etopeya.
- Topography: Description of a landscape.
Dialogue
Dialogue is an exchange of information between two or more parties. Dialogues can be spontaneous (conversations) or planned (debates, scripts).
Sentences are self-contained sets of words that convey meaning. Phrases are groups of words with a syntactic function (subject, predicate, object).
Types of sentences:
- Declarative: State a fact.
- Interrogative: Ask a question.
- Exclamatory: Express feelings (joy, pain, surprise).
- Mandatory: Express commands, requests, or prohibitions.
- Optative: Express desires.
- Dubitative: Express doubt.
- Chance: Express probability or assumptions.
Exposition
Exposition conveys information objectively, clearly, and orderly. There are informative presentations (for audiences without prior knowledge) and specialized presentations (for audiences with prior knowledge).
The subject agrees in number and person with the verb (predicate nucleus).
- Nominal Predicate: Uses a linking verb (e.g., “The stars are bright.”).
- Verbal Predicate: Uses an action verb (e.g., “Bright stars have great luminosity.”).
Patrimonial words: Words derived from Latin that have evolved over time (e.g., fabulare > fabla > hablar [to speak]).
Cultisms: Latin words incorporated into Castilian later, with less transformation (e.g., cathedra > cátedra [chair]).