Chris Gledhill, Paris Diderot 2013

M1 Langues Appliques ILT !da"tion Te"hnique

Te"hni"al #riting and Te$t Anal%sis
The Field Tenor Mode framework for analysis
The framework for analysis given below can be used to contextualise a written or spoken genre
and account for its linguistic realisation.
In the class today you will have an opportunity to apply the framework to a set of example genres
from EAP and other settings. Having done a more detailed analysis of the linguistic features of
exemplars of genres in eek !" use this opportunity to focus on the context features of the genres
in #uestion.
! $!%
CONTEXTUAL
Analysis
G&'!& 1( 'a)e hat is the name of the genre of which this
text is an exemplar&
*I&LD 2( o"ial "onte$t In what social setting is this kind of text
typically produced& hat constraints and
obligations does this setting impose on
speakers and listeners $ writers and readers&
3( Co))uni"ati+e
purpose
hat is the communicative purpose of this
text 'this may involve explicit and implicit
factors(&
T&',! -( !oles hat roles may be re#uired of writers and
readers in this genre&
.( Cultural +alues hat shared cultural values may be re#uired
of speakers and listeners $ writers and readers
in this genre&
M,D& /( Te$t "onte$t hat knowledge of other texts may be
re#uired of speakers and listeners $ writers
and readers in this genre&
0( *or)al te$t
1eatures
hat shared knowledge of formal text
features 'conventions( is re#uired to
participate effectively into this genre&
LINGUITIC ! FUNCTIONAL Analysis
*I&LD 2( ID&ATI,'AL3
e$periential 4
logi"al
)eta1un"tion
)ocus on lexico*grammar+ what is the text
about& How are the logical relationships in
the text signalled
T&',! 5( I'T&!P&!,'AL
)eta1un"tion
How is the relationship between the writer
and reader constructed& How is the power
relationship between writer and reader
signalled& How does the writer signal
evaluations 'approval $ disapproval"
acceptance $ re,ection" certainty $ uncertainty
etc.(
M,D& 10( T&6T7AL
)eta1un"tion
How is the text organised at a micro level
'Theme $ -heme( and as a series of larger
units of meaning 'e.g. discourse moves such as
.P-E" -eason / -esult" 0eneral / Particular"
Time se#uence(&
1 $!%
Te"#$al me#af$n%#ion & a no#e on Coheren%e 's( Cohesion+
Example text+ Initial 2rder 3est 2rder 4iscourse function
I had started the 8ar A
I shot at hi) 3
I 8as on guard dut% 5
I sa8 an ene)% soldier 4
Coheren%e 6 'implicit( structure $ organisation of the text in terms of discourse functions.
Cohesion 6 'explicit( grammatical and lexical links with which bind the text together.
)is%o$rse f$n%#ion 6 'in 7arratives( .ituation" Problem" -esolution" Evaluation '.P-E(
8 $!%
EXAM*LE ANAL+I ,Mis% $n-$.lished Lo#hian Co$n%il do%$men#s /NC ref(0*L11
An example analysis of a short text is provided below. This might help you see what9s going on:
If you intend to continue storing petroleum spirit you must complete the enclosed renewal
application form and return it to this address before the date of expiry of your existing licence.
If you intend to discontinue storage you must notify your intention in writing to this office" in
accordance with the conditions of your existing licence" in order that the necessary safety
measures may be seen to.
)AI;<-E T2 42 EITHE- 2) THE A32=E THI70. >A? >EA7 THAT ?2< I;; 3E
527T-A=E7I70 THE P-2=I.I27. 2) THE A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27.
72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- I;; 3E I..<E4.
CONTEXTUAL Analysis
2( Name .afety leaflet or letter addressed to a license holder 'storage of
petroleum spirit(
3( so%ial %on#e"# 0overnment $ administration 'Health and .afety(
4( %omm$ni%a#i'e
-$r-ose
Advice and instruction 'with an element of warning(
5( roles -egulator / -egulated. There is an une#ual power relationship
between the author and audience of the text
6( %$l#$ral 'al$es >utual acceptance of legal constraints on social behaviour.
Assumed authority on the part of the author to issue
imperatives and threats. illingness of audience to accept and
respond to imperatives
7( #e"# %on#e"# Public notices and legal documents
8( formal #e"#
fea#$res
.ingle sentence paragraphs. <se of capital letters for emphasis
@ $!%
LINGUITIC ANAL+I I)EATIONAL 9e"-erien#ial ! lo:i%al;
<( E"-erien#ial me#af$n%#ion
!. If you intend to continue storing petroleum spirit you must complete the enclosed
renewal application form and return it to this address before the date of expiry of
your existing licence.
1. If you intend to discontinue storage you must notify your intention in writing to this
office" in accordance with the conditions of your existing licence" in order that the
necessary safety measures may be seen to.
8. )AI;<-E T2 42 EITHE- 2) THE A32=E THI70. >A? >EA7 THAT ?2< I;; 3E
527T-A=E7I70 THE P-2=I.I27. 2) THE A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27.
@. 72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- I;; 3E I..<E4.
word %lass word %lass word %lass
A32=E THI70. administrative A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27 legal storing topic
address administrative accordance legal petroleum spirit topic
application form administrative conditions legal discontinue storage topic
date administrative 527T-A=E7I70 legal
enclosed administrative existing licence legal
office administrative expiry legal
return administrative )AI;<-E legal
writing administrative intend legal
intention legal
I..<E4 legal
necessary safety measures legal
72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- legal
P-2=I.I27. legal
renewal legal
Lo:i%al me#af$n%#ion
!. If you intend to continue storing petroleum spirit you must complete the enclosed
renewal application form and return it to this address before the date of expiry of
your existing licence.
1. If you intend to discontinue storage you must notify your intention in writing to this
office" in accordance with the conditions of your existing licence" in order that the
necessary safety measures may be seen to.
8. )AI;<-E T2 42 EITHE- 2) THE A32=E THI70. >A? >EA7 THAT ?2< I;; 3E
527T-A=E7I70 THE P-2=I.I27. 2) THE A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27.
@. 72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- I;; 3E I..<E4.
A $!%
=. In#er-ersonal me#af$n%#ion
!. If you intend to continue storing petroleum spirit you m$s# complete the enclosed
renewal application form and return it to this address before the date of expiry of
your existing licence.
A. If you intend to discontinue storage you m$s# notify your intention in writing to this
office" in accordance with the conditions of your existing licence" in order that the
necessary safety measures may be seen to.
B. )AI;<-E T2 42 EITHE- 2) THE A32=E THI70. MA+ >EA7 THAT ?2< >ILL 3E
527T-A=E7I70 THE P-2=I.I27. 2) THE A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27.
C. 72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- >ILL 3E I..<E4.
.econd person address
Implied imperative indicated with modal of obligation
Implied risk of committing an offence indicated with modal of possibility
<se of 5AP. signals urgency
Absence of agency in sentence 8 and @ increases the personal obligation of the reader to
comply.
;exical density+
?*2@ D5!E If you !FintendF. ! to 1Fcontinue 8Fstoring @Fpetroleum A F spiritF. 1 D51E you
must BFcompleteF. 8 the CFenclosedF. @ GFrenewalF. A HFapplicationF. B !%FformF. C and
D58E !!Freturn it to this !1Faddress before the !8Fdate of !@FexpiryF. G of your
!AFexistingF. H !BFlicenceF. !% .
?*3@ D5@E If you !CFintendF. !! to !GFdiscontinueF. !1 !HFstorageF. !8 D5AE you must
1%FnotifyF. !@ your 1!FintentionF. !A in 11Fwriting to this 18Foffice" in
1@FaccordanceF. !B with the 1AFconditionsF. !C of your 1BFexistingF. !G 1CFlicenceF. !H "
D5BE in 1GForder that the 1HFnecessary 8%Fsafety 8!FmeasuresF. 1% may be 81Fseen to.
?*4@ D5CE 88F)AI;<-E T2 42 EITHE- 2) THE A32=EF. 1! 8@FTHI70. >A? 8AF>EA7 D5GE
THAT ?2< I;; 3E 8BF527T-A=E7I70F. 11 THE 8CFP-2=I.I27.F. 18 2) THE A32=E
8GF;E0I.;ATI27F. 1@ .
?*5@ D5HE 72 8HF)<-THE- @% F -E>I74E-F. 1A I;; 3E @!FI..<E4F. 1B .
5lauses 6 H
I5ontentI words 6 @!
;exical density 6 @.A
;2 lexical density Jimplies a conversational orientation
3ut there is a tension between this orientation and the legal $ directive oriention that is
signalled in the experiential component.
B $!%
2A( Te"#$al me#af$n%#ion
!. If KKyou intend to continue storing petroleum spirit you must complete the enclosed
renewal application form and return it to this address before the date of expiry of
your existing licence.
1. If KKyou intend to discontinue storage you must notify your intention in writing to
this office" in accordance with the conditions of your existing licence" in order that
the necessary safety measures may be seen to.
8. FAILUBE TO )O EIT0EB OF T0E A/OCE T0ING KK >A? >EA7 THAT ?2< I;; 3E
527T-A=E7I70 THE P-2=I.I27. 2) THE ABOVE LEGISLATION.
@. NO FUBT0EB BEMIN)EB I;; 3E I..<E4.
;exical repetition maintains cohesion 'you $ license(
Anaphoric reference to maintain cohesion 'it $ above(
7ominalisations unmarked themes in emphasises impersonality FAILUBE TO )O EIT0EB OF
T0E A/OCE T0ING ! NO FUBT0EB BEMIN)EB .
C $!%
*BEENTATION OF T0E ANAL+I
Contextual analysis
This text is a safety leaflet or letter addressed to a license holder 'storage of petroleum spirit(. It is
written within a framework of shared responsibilities J that of the government agency which
issues the license and the license holder who stores a dangerous fluid '-egulator / -egulated(.
The text realises an un*e#ual power relationship and the author is allowed to use imperatives as a
primary mode. Proper interpretation of this text re#uires an awareness of other administrative $
legal documents and could present significant challenges to readers with limited literacy.
Linguistic analysis
Ideational
The legal $ administrative focus of the text is made clear by the three main lexical sets which can
be identified+
word %lass word %lass word %lass
A32=E THI70. administrative A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27 legal storing topic
address administrative accordance legal petroleum spirit topic
application form administrative conditions legal discontinue storage topic
date administrative 527T-A=E7I70 legal
enclosed administrative existing licence legal
office administrative expiry legal
return administrative )AI;<-E legal
writing administrative intend legal
intention legal
I..<E4 legal
necessary safety measures legal
72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- legal
P-2=I.I27. legal
renewal legal
The logical structure of the text is established through a series of explicit I) / THE7 statements
Interpersonal
Although the text makes use of second person address" the power relationship between the
author and audience is une#ual" with the author expressing some statements as imperatives
'through the use of modals of obligation(" as well as expressing threats 'through modals of
possibility(. The absence of agency in sentence 8 and @ increases the sense of personal obligation
to comply with legal re#uirements which are beyond the control of the author of the text. The use
of capital letters in the last two statements signals a high level of urgency.
ith its low lexical density '@.A( the text is close to conversational production" but" because of its
use of imperatives and its dependence on a restricted set of lexis and collocations" it is closely
aligned with legal texts. It would seem that there is a tension between a desire to present a low
processing load on the reader 'low lexical density( and the need to use unambiguous legal terms
which will be less accessible to the reader.
Textual
P! and P1 stress the repercussions of failure to comply by thematising the conditional con,unction
I). P8 and P@ thematise two nominal structures in a way which distances the actors from the
actions. The whole text is organised around a series conditional time se#uence statements using I)
G $!%
/ THE7 logic...
Beferen%es
3hatia =L '!HH8( Anal%sing Genre3 Language use in pro1essional settings ;ongman Harlow
0ledhill" 5. '1%%%(. Collo"ations in "ien"e #riting( 0unter 7arr+ TMbingen.
)lowerdew N '!HH8( IAn educational or process approach to the teaching of professional genresI
&LT9 @C$@8%A*8!B 2xford <niversity Press 2xford
Nohns A> '!HHC( Te$t, role and "onte$t3 de+eloping a"ade)i" litera"ies 5ambridge <niversity
Press 5ambridge
.wales N '!HH%( Genre Anal%sis 5ambridge <niversity Press 5ambridge
Tribble 5 '1%%1( I5orpora and corpus analysis+ new windows on academic writingI in )lowerdew N
'ed.( A"ade)i" Dis"ourse Addison esley ;ongman Harlow
H $!%
Be-or#in: forma#
E"am-le D EEEEEEE
CONTEXTUAL Analysis
na)e
so"ial "onte$t
"o))uni"ati+e
purpose
roles
"ultural +alues
te$t "onte$t
1or)al te$t
1eatures
LINGUITIC Analysis
ID&ATI,'AL3
e$periential 4
logi"al
I'T&!P&!,'AL
T&6T7AL
COMMENTAB+
Contextual analysis
Linguistic analysis
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