TOPICS - Extratextual Reference
Keywords
- Referential Cohesion
- Extratextuality
- Context
- Inference
- Discourse
- Intertextuality
- Pragmatics
- Ellipsis
Key Questions
- What is extratextual reference and how does it differ from other types of referencing?
- How does context influence the understanding of extratextual reference?
- In what way does extratextual referencing contribute to the cohesion and coherence of a text?
- How to identify an extratextual reference in a discourse?
Crucial Topics
- Definition and recognition of extratextual references
- Differentiation between extratextual reference and situational reference
- Practical examples of extratextual referencing
- Analysis of the role of context in the interpretation of extratextual references
Specificities by Areas of Knowledge
Meanings
- Extratextuality: References that are not explicitly found in the text but are understood from the general context or prior knowledge.
- Referential Cohesion: Use of elements in the text that refer to previously mentioned or inferred information.
Vocabulary
- Inference: Act of deducing implicitly presented information.
- Ellipsis: Omission of elements in a sentence that are easily recoverable from the context.
- Pragmatics: Study of language considering the context in which it is produced and interpreted.
NOTES - Extratextual Reference
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Referential Cohesion: Referential cohesion is the connection between elements in a text that promotes its continuity. It occurs through the use of pronouns, synonyms, and other linguistic forms that refer to previously mentioned elements or that are known by the context.
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Extratextuality:
- Definition: It is the mechanism of referencing elements that are not directly contained in the text but are brought to understanding through the shared knowledge between speaker and listener, or writer and reader.
- Importance: Allows linguistic economy and interpretative richness, connecting the text to a broader context of knowledge and real situations.
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Context:
- Role: Fundamental to interpret extratextual references, as it provides the necessary keys to understand allusions and implicit elements in the discourse.
- Example: If a student says, "The test was a disaster, like Icarus' fall," the extratextual reference (Icarus' fall) depends on the interlocutors' knowledge of Greek mythology to be fully understood.
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Inference:
- Concept: Cognitive process of deducing or extracting meanings that are not explicitly expressed in the text.
- Importance in Referencing: Crucial to understand allusions and references that depend on the receiver's prior knowledge.
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Discourse and Intertextuality:
- Discourse: The practice of language in use and how we construct meaning and interact with others.
- Intertextuality: The connection and reference between a text and other pre-existing texts, whether by direct quotation, allusion, or paraphrase.
- Interrelation: Intertextuality is a form of extratextual referencing, while discourse is the concrete manifestation of these practices.
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Pragmatics:
- Definition: Branch of linguistics that studies how context influences the interpretation of meaning.
- Relevance: Helps understand how extratextual references are decoded in specific communicative situations.
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Ellipsis:
- Concept: Omission of an element in the construction of a sentence, which is implied by the context.
- Example: In "Are you going to have lunch?", the ellipsis of the subject in "Are you going to have lunch [with me]?".
Topics' Contents
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Definition and recognition of extratextual references:
- Step by step: Identify the part of the text that seems incomplete or requires additional knowledge. Infer the meaning based on world knowledge and the context in which communication occurs.
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Differentiation between extratextual reference and situational reference:
- Situational references refer to elements present in the immediate context of communication (e.g., "This book here is great").
- Extratextual references appeal to knowledge that is outside the text and immediate context (e.g., "Like in Romeo and Juliet, their romance was doomed to fail").
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Practical examples of extratextual referencing:
- In literature, references to historical events or previous works to create an effect or convey a message without having to explain the entire context (e.g., "This was his 1984", referring to George Orwell's book).
- In everyday life, when we talk about celebrities or events known worldwide without needing to introduce who they are or what happened (e.g., "He wants to be the next Steve Jobs of technology").
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Analysis of the role of context in the interpretation of extratextual references:
- Social, historical, and cultural context plays a crucial role. Understanding depends on familiarity with such contexts.
- For example, the mention of a "wall" can evoke different images and concepts depending on whether the context is historical (Berlin Wall), geographical (a division between properties), or literary (reference to the wall in Shakespeare's "Macbeth").
SUMMARY - Extratextual Reference
- Extratextual reference is a key concept in textual cohesion and coherence, concerning the use of information that is not explicitly present in the text but is understood through shared knowledge and context.
- Recognizing these references depends on the reader's or listener's ability to make inferences based on prior knowledge and the context in which the text or speech is produced.
- Ellipsis can be considered a form of extratextual reference, as it involves the omission of information that the receiver can easily infer from the communication context.
Conclusions
- Extratextual references are essential for linguistic economy and for connecting the text to a broader panorama of knowledge and events.
- Context is a vital element for understanding extratextual references, underscoring the importance of pragmatics in interpreting meaning.
- Differentiating between extratextual and situational references is important for understanding the scope and applicability of references within and outside the text.
- Practical examples, such as literary quotations or allusions to cultural events, help solidify the understanding of extratextual references and their application in various communicative contexts.
