Writing & ReadingWriting & ReadingSkills in EnglishSkills in English

Unit 2: Contents:Unit 2: Contents:Genres & Genre Analysis Genres & Genre Analysis

Prof. Marian Prof. Marian AlesonAleson

Genre AnalysisGenre Analysis

�� Swales (1990:1): Genre AnalysisSwales (1990:1): Genre Analysis

From a didactic perspective genres can teach From a didactic perspective genres can teach how to effectively learn conventions and how to effectively learn conventions and

norms.norms.

It’s an It’s an operativeoperative method that allows us to method that allows us to understand thousands of understand thousands of communicativecommunicative events events that can be performed in a that can be performed in a specificspecific academic or academic or

professional professional contextcontext

Preliminary NotesPreliminary Notes

�� What’s GENERAL LANGUAGE?What’s GENERAL LANGUAGE?

�� Are there uses of LANGUAGE that are not Are there uses of LANGUAGE that are not specific?specific?

�� What’s GOOD WRITING? What’s GOOD WRITING?

What’s good writing?What’s good writing?

�� No mistakesNo mistakes

�� Understandable TextUnderstandable Text

�� Recognizable Communicative EventRecognizable Communicative Event

�� Adopts Text ConventionsAdopts Text Conventions

�� Follows Follows TextualityTextuality ConditionsConditions

�� Focus on audienceFocus on audience

�� Text:Text:

�� Clear, concise, to the point, coherent.Clear, concise, to the point, coherent.

FaigleyFaigley (1985)(1985)

GenreGenre

Barrier between Literary and NonBarrier between Literary and Non--literary Genres ?? literary Genres ?? T.VanT.Van DijkDijk 19751975

�� Communicative Event with a Communicative Event with a Communicative Purpose Communicative Purpose ((Swales 1990, Bhatia 1994Swales 1990, Bhatia 1994))

�� Linguistic Realization of a Linguistic Realization of a Social Social Activity (Activity (UllaUlla Connor Connor

19961996))

�� Social Entities that allow Social Entities that allow InteractionInteraction among the among the members of a Community (members of a Community (UllaUlla Connor 1996Connor 1996))

Literature & RhetoricLiterature & Rhetoric

Functionalism (Functionalism (ProppPropp))

Analysis of a GenreAnalysis of a Genre

�� Communicative Function Communicative Function �� MacrostructureMacrostructure

�� Discursive ModalityDiscursive Modality (Narration, Description (Narration, Description Argumentation, etc.)Argumentation, etc.)

�� Discursive TechniquesDiscursive Techniques (Definition, (Definition, Classification, Exemplification, etc.)Classification, Exemplification, etc.)

�� Vocabulary Vocabulary �� Syntax Syntax �� SocioSocio--pragmatic Conventions pragmatic Conventions

SocioSocio--cultural Contextscultural Contexts

Discursive CommunityDiscursive Community

ModelModel

�� Macrostructure Macrostructure (textual (textual patterns, schemas, etc.)patterns, schemas, etc.)

�� Moves (episodes)Moves (episodes)� Discursive Modality

� Strategies

� Rhetoric Features

�� Microstructure Microstructure ((recurrence and frequencyrecurrence and frequency))�� Vocabulary ChoiceVocabulary Choice

�� Syntax Syntax

�� Textual ConditionsTextual Conditions

�� IntentionalityIntentionality

�� CoherenceCoherence

�� CohesionCohesion

�� ProgressivityProgressivity

�� ClosureClosure

�� Context (3 areas)Context (3 areas)

�� SpaceSpace--time time situationsituation

�� CotextCotext

�� Format, Paralinguistic F.Format, Paralinguistic F.

Discursive MeaningDiscursive Meaning

ToolsTools forfor DiscDisc. . MeaningMeaning

�� TOPIC PROGRESSIONTOPIC PROGRESSION�� ISOTOPYISOTOPY�� ELLIPSISELLIPSIS�� MICROMARKERS MICROMARKERS �� TopicTopic SentencesSentences�� RhetoricRhetoric TechniquesTechniques�� MacromarkersMacromarkers ((movesmoves))

�� ThematizationThematization

�� DISCURSIVE MEANINGDISCURSIVE MEANING�� Literal Literal MeaningMeaning�� ConventionalConventional

PresupositionPresuposition�� LexicalLexical ImplicatureImplicature�� Social Social ImplicatureImplicature�� PragmaticPragmatic

PresupositionPresuposition

�� NOUN NOUN

�� DefinitionDefinition, , Denotation,ConnotationDenotation,Connotation

�� ReferenceReference & & sensesense

�� SynonymSynonym, , antonomyantonomy, , hiperonimyhiperonimy, , hiponimyhiponimy, , polisemypolisemy,..,..

�� LexicalLexical implicatureimplicature, , lexicallexical solidaritiessolidarities,,

�� WordWord--formationformation, , NeologismNeologism, , cognatescognates, , lendingslendings, etc., etc.

Typology of GenresTypology of Genres

�� They have a NAME: They have a NAME: �� Informal letter, formal letter, report, ad, etc.Informal letter, formal letter, report, ad, etc.

�� The Members of the Discourse Community The Members of the Discourse Community recognize themrecognize them

�� Manuals of Specific TextsManuals of Specific Texts

�� They have Idiosyncratic Features.They have Idiosyncratic Features.

�� Threats & Weaknesses:Threats & Weaknesses:�� Which to Teach?Which to Teach?

�� How to distinguish genres & subHow to distinguish genres & sub--genres?genres?

�� And Creativity? Is it Deviation?And Creativity? Is it Deviation?

Learning ImplicationsLearning Implications

� Curricula :� More descriptive

� Less prescriptive

� Genres replace Notions

� Tasks (genre-focused)

� Modified Materials

� Output::� Care for Lay-out

� Respect to othercultures conventions

� Texts more Real-like

� Authentic Materials

�� ObjectiveObjective::

MakeMake thethe studentsstudents becamebecame membersmembers ofof

a a differentdifferent--languagelanguage

DiscourseDiscourse CommunityCommunity

BibliographyBibliography

� ALCARAZ (2000): El Inglés Profesional y Académico. Madrid: Alianza.

� BHATIA, V. K. (1994): Analysing Genre: Language Use in Professional Settings .New York: Longman.

� CUTTING, J. (2000): Analysing the Language of Discourse Communities. Oxford: Elsevier.

� Dudley-Evans y St. John (1998): English for Specific Purposes.� FAIGLEY, L. (1985):"What is Good Writing? Views from the public”

en GREENBAUM, S. (ed.). The English Language Today. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

� CONNOR, U. (1996): Contrastive Rhetoric: Cross-cultural Aspects of Second-Language Writing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

� SWALES, M. J., (1990): Genre Analysis: English in Academic and Research Settings. Cambridge: C.U.P.

� SWALES, J.M. & Christine B. FEAK (1994):Academic Writing for Graduate Students: A Course for Non-native Speakers of English.Michigan, Michigan University Press.

Writing & ReadingWriting & ReadingSkills in EnglishSkills in English

Unit 2: Contents:Unit 2: Contents:Genres & Genre Analysis Genres & Genre Analysis

Prof. Marian Prof. Marian AlesonAleson