Structure and Language in Scientific Texts & Spanish Romantic Poetry
Scientific Text: Structure and Language
Structure
Scientific texts are typically structured in three parts:
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
Language
A clear and precise target language is essential, with the following features:
Vocabulary
- Neutral verbs (e.g., ser, estar, found) indicating non-affective states or processes.
- Specific descriptions using descriptive adjectives, avoiding subjective ones.
- Use of abstract, universally understood technical terms and symbols.
Morphology and Syntax
- Limited intonation, primarily for referential and informative purposes.
- Present indicative tense to emphasize the continuing validity of scientific truths.
- Third-person perspective and impersonal sentence structures (e.g., “it is,” “it happens,” “is divided,” “comprises”) to maintain objectivity.
Words: Composition
The word is the smallest unit of meaning. It is composed of:
- Lexeme/Root: Provides the primary meaning.
- Morpheme: Can be linked or unlinked to the lexeme.
- Linked Morphemes:
- Derivational: Form new words.
- Inflectional/Desinencial: Indicate grammatical changes within a word.
- Unlinked Morphemes: Separate words (prepositions, conjunctions, determinants).
- Linked Morphemes:
Words can be classified as:
- Primitive/Simple: Not derived from another word in the language, consisting of a lexeme and inflectional morphemes.
- Derivative: Formed by derivational morphemes.
- Compound: Formed by the union of two lexemes.
Invariant lexical phrases are composed of two or more words and can be nominal, verbal, adjectival, quantitative, adverbial, prepositional, or conjunctive.
Grammatical Cohesion Mechanisms
Grammatical cohesion mechanisms establish formal relationships between different parts of a text. These include:
- Agreement: Gender, number, person, tense, mood, etc.
- Mode of Statements: Declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory.
- Connectors/Textual Organizers: Words or phrases that link statements or paragraphs, guiding the reader through the text.
Registers of Language
1. Informal Registers
The conversational register, characteristic of oral communication, is spontaneous and dialogic. Key features include:
- Emphasis on verbal language.
- Emotive function.
- Interaction between speakers.
- Economy of expression.
Family and juvenile registers share conversational features, appearing in both spoken and written communication.
2. Formal Registers
Formal registers require respectful language and are used in situations demanding social respect. They include:
- Formal register with select vocabulary and learned references.
- Formalized literary register, prioritizing precision and correctness.
- Specialized scholarly registers, rich in technical terms.
3. Restricted Registers
Restricted registers are characterized by limited knowledge of language mechanisms:
- Restricted code: Limited vocabulary compared to standard registers.
- Slang: Informal vocabulary with phonetic, morphological, and syntactic irregularities, often used by marginalized groups.
Spanish Romantic Poetry
Espronceda
Espronceda, known for his passionate life, is a key figure in Spanish Romanticism. He wrote long poems like El Estudiante de Salamanca and El diablo mundo, and shorter poems featuring marginalized characters who value freedom and rebel against society (e.g., Song of the pirate). His powerful and musical language utilizes sound effects (alliteration, onomatopoeia), polymetry (varied lines and stanzas), and rhyme to express a range of emotions.
Bécquer
Bécquer represents the intimate side of Romanticism in the late 19th century. His life, marked by hardship, influenced his work, which explores inner conflicts. He sought pure lyricism, expressing feelings directly to the reader with simple language, assonance, and rhyme. He is considered a precursor to modern lyric poetry. His Rimas (84 poems) are an intimate autobiography centered on poetry, love, loneliness, and death. He also wrote prose Leyendas, fantastic short stories with mysterious and supernatural elements.