TEXT AS

CONNECTED
DISCOURSE
Discourse vs. Text

Is it discourse analysis
Or Text analysis?
More Fact than Fiction
What time is it?

14 4
 Introduction

There has been some confusion in the

literature regarding the distinction
between discourse analysis and text
analysis.

It is a result of the confusion in the terms

discourse and text.
 The Confusion

Some researchers label their analysis

discourse analysis, while others claim
they are doing text analysis, but the
difference is often inconsistent.
Some claim to make clear distinctions
between discourse and text, but a closer
look reveals that their distinctions do not
hold.
Examples:
Widdowson (1973)

Text: Discourse:
is made up of is the use of such
sentences. sentences.
- A text is made up of - A discourse is made
sentences having the up of utterances
property of having the property
grammatical of coherence.
cohesion. - Discourse analysis:
-Text Analysis: deals investigates
with cohesion. coherence.
 Another distinction

Text: Discourse:
Text is defined in Discourse is viewed
terms of its being a as a process.
physical product.
Meaning is derived
Meaning is not found through the readers
in text. interaction with the
text discourse.
Others

Text: Discourse:
written Spoken
Text analysis: Discourse analysis:
investigates written analyzes spoken
form form.
Types of Discourse

Narration, Description,
Exposition, Persuasion
(including Argument)
Narration

Verbal depiction of events taking place in

time.
Storytelling
E.g., history, police report, traditional
novel.
Narration can be fictional or nonfictional
Description

Writing that uses sensory inputs to help

represent the physical world.
As in narration, description can be
fictional or nonfictional.
Exposition

Writing to explain, clarify or inform.

This group constitutes the majority of
writing people encounter.
Exposition depends on clear presentation
and the verifiability of data.
E.g., laboratory report, book summary,
stock report, encyclopedia, instructions
 Persuasion
Writing that aims to convince the audience of
something.
It focuses on influencing the reader through
evidence (and thus usually incorporates
expository writing).
Persuasion may use reason or emotion as
tools.
E.g., debate, election pamphlet, movie review,
grant proposal, advertisement
Persuasion: Argumentation
Argumentation is a subset of persuasion.
Argumentation uses reason (rationality) to
convince its audience. Argumentation does
not use emotion.
Acting on Words uses the phrase
distinterested consideration (p. 367)
E.g., Logical and mathematical proofs,
philosophical debate, scholarly research,
analytical decision-making
Combining Discourses

Writing often combines discourses.

E.g., An analysis of a historical event will
use both narration and exposition.
E.g., A review of a painting will have to
use description (what the painting looks
like) as well as exposition (informing)
Combining Discourses

One could argue that as soon as a writer

addresses an audience, the writer is trying
to persuade the audience of something.
We will be talking about these discourses
again.