Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics.pdf

Dictionary of language and linguistics 1192text themeThe content core of a text which carries its communicative function (text function). Thetext theme develops according to a special text structure which determines the structureof the text (thematic development, macrostructure). Some text sorts signal the texttheme by using a headline.text theory (also textology)A subdiscipline of linguistic theory. Text theory supplies an explanation for theconstitutive properties of texts in text linguistics. Common to all newer suggestions for aschema is the assumption that texts can only be explained and adequately described if allfactors of the communication process are included.ReferencesJakobson, R. 1968. Closing statement: linguistics and poetics. In T.A.Sebeok (ed.). Style inlanguage. Cambridge. MA.Petöfi, J.S. 1978. A formal semiotic text theory as an integrated theory of natural languages. In W.Dressler (ed.). Current trends in text linguistics. Berlin. 35–46.Van Dijk, T.A. 1985. Handbook of discourse analysis, 4 vols. London.text typesA term from text linguistics for different classes of texts. Within the framework of ahierarchical text typology, text types are usual-ly the most strongly specified class oftexts (e.g. recipes, sermons, interviews), characterized by different internal and externalfeatures. Distinctive text-internal features are the use of particular classes of words (e.g.deictic expressions, proper nouns), forms of textphoric, themerheme alternation, typeof style as well as the content and thematic structure (macrostructure, superstructure,thematic development). Text-external elements can be interpreted as complex speechacts that are defined by the factors of the communicative situation like the intention of thespeaker, the expectation of the listener, as well as locational, temporal, and institutionalconditions (communicative distance, text function). Because of the special pragmaticfeatures of text sorts, they determine situations, e.g. writ of execution, joke, conversation.