WRITTEN COMMUNICATION. DIFFERENT TYPES OF WRITTEN TEXTS.

STRUCTURE
AND FORMAL ELEMENTS. NORMS OF WRITTEN TEXTS. ROUTINES AND FORMULAS.

1. INTRODUCTION

A. Definition of Written Communication:

Both human and animals need a means of communication to transmit messages to other
beings.
All communicative acts consists of the following elements:

 The message: is what the speaker or writer expresses to the receiver.

 The channel: is the means by which the message goes from the speaker or writer
to the receiver.
 The speaker or writer: is the being that transmits a message.
 The receiver: it the person that receives the message.
 The context: is the situation in which the speaker or writer and the receiver of
the message are, which allows them to interpret this message correctly.
 The code is the system of signs used to transmit a message.

The writer has to encode the message he wishes to convey in appropriate language, while
the reader has to decode or interpret the message. It should be kept in mind that the
reader’s interpretation will not necessarily correspond to the writer’s intended meaning.

B. Nature of Written Communication:

When we write, we use letters or combinations of letters which relate the sounds we
make when we speak. These symbols have to be arranged to form words and words have
to be arranged to form sentences. These sentences have to be ordered and linked
together in certain ways, forming a coherent whole called a text. It is importat to know
that what we write can be understood without any further help from us.

C. The Importance of Learning a Second Language, Especially English:

A language understandable to all parties is necessary. In many cases English is the

chosen medium, mainly because of the great influence that Britain had in the past and
that of the United States in present. Also, in many parts of the world people of the
same nationality communicate in English. (India and Africa)

As economic cooperation, the role of the common second language is becoming more
important. University students in countries with a small population find impossible to
obtain specialist books on their subjects in their own languages and are obliged to use
English Texts. The U.S.A attracts many European specialists including a large number
of Spaniards who develop their knowledge for the benefit of the host country in English.

International educational project and foreign travel has become available to the masses.
English is often uses in countries like Spain . It is important to learn a second language
especially inside the economic European Community.
 The students of a second language have to produce written texts which may be useful
for them in the future. ( notes, letters, postcards, booklets, brochures, filling in the
forms, designing a c.v, dialogues, narration, description , reflexive essays and
argumentation.

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF WRITTEN TEXTS

Consists of graphemes, they must include the situational context. They use verbal and
graphic elements: punctuation, margins, underlining, illustrations and types of letters.
Repetitions and abusive use of interejections, exclamations and onomatopoeia are
avoided. Lexis is careful, syntax explicit and coherent and the same linguistic register
is kept throughout the text.

3. STRUCTURE AND FORMAL ELEMENTS OF WRITTEN TEXTS. FORMULAS AND

ROUTINES.

There are so many different sorts of written texts. We are going to mention the most
important:

a) Postcards:
These are cards which have a picture or a photo on one side and on the other side
the text. Left part the text and right side we put the name and address….
They are not very big, texts have to be quite sort. They are especially used for
congratulations and greetings or when people are on their holidays.
RULES:
- Town, ordinal number the day, month and year.
- Dear…
- Brief text
- Love/Lots Of Love/ Best wishes/Yours….
- Signature.

Colloquial, everyday language is used. An informal style is preferred.

b) Letters:
Written messages sent from one person to another. We can divide them into
informal and formal letters:
 Informal Letters:
Written to friends or family.
Rules: writer’s address top righ-hand corner with the date.
Left side : Dear + name
Following paragraphs: introduction, several beginnings.
Second paragraph the reason for your letter.
Third paragraph the additional information
Last paragraph a conclusion
Colloquial style.
 Formal letters:
Written to enterprises and other official places.
Rules:
Writer’s address in the top right-hand corner with the date.
Top left-hand the address of the centre or enterprise it’s addressed
to.
Three paragraphs:
First: reason why you are writing
Second what you want from the addressee
The end yours sincerely you know the person and yous faithfully
Signature
Clear and concise and not use emotional language.