Introduction to Textual Genres

Relevance of the Subject

Textual genres are the communication tools we use daily - from a cake recipe to a love letter. They are a reflection of our interaction with the world and with other people. Understanding textual genres is fundamental, as it facilitates our comprehension and production of texts, enabling the expression of ideas, feelings, and opinions appropriately to the contexts in which we are inserted.

Contextualization

In the vast ecosystem of the Portuguese language, textual genres are the different species that inhabit this universe. Each has its own characteristics, purposes, and structures, and all are necessary for the diversity and complexity of communication. They are present at all levels of our education, from school to higher education. Mastering textual genres is a cross-cutting skill that facilitates learning in all disciplines, in addition to being an essential competence for civic and professional life.

Theoretical Development

Components

• What are textual genres?

  • Textual genres are discursive structures that take on their own characteristics depending on the context in which they are used and the purpose they are intended for. They are shaped by social interaction and vary according to time, space, culture, communicative purpose, type of interlocutors, and text delivery support. They are classified according to their compositional form, style, and thematic content.

• Characteristics of textual genres:

  • Compositional form: Refers to the general format of the text, such as the structure of a note, a report, or a news article.
  • Style: Pertains to the linguistic choices that reflect the tone and attitude of the text, which can be formal, informal, colloquial, technical, among others.
  • Thematic content: Refers to the subject addressed in the text, such as sports, science, politics, among others.

• Functions of textual genres:

  • Textual genres perform various communicative functions, such as informing, persuading, instructing, entertaining, expressing feelings, among others. The function is determined by the communicative purpose and the context of use of the text.

• Types of textual genres:

  • Expository: Present and explain information, such as scientific articles, reports, and essays.
  • Argumentative: Defend an idea or point of view, such as editorials, petitions, and political speeches.
  • Narrative: Tell a story, such as short stories, novels, and biographies.
  • Instructional: Guide the performance of actions, such as recipes, manuals, and guides.

Key Terms

• Textuality: It is the quality that defines a set of statements as being a text. It is characterized by coherence, cohesion, intentionality, informativeness, situationality, and intertextuality.

• Textual coherence: It is the logical and semantic relationship between parts of the text. A coherent text is one in which ideas connect harmoniously and logically, conveying an overall meaning.

• Textual cohesion: Refers to the connection between words, sentences, and paragraphs of the text. This connection is established through linguistic elements, such as pronouns, adverbs, conjunctions, among others.

Examples and Cases

• Textual genre "Medicine leaflet":

  • This is an example of an instructional genre, as its purpose is to provide guidance on how to administer a medication. Its structure is well defined, containing information about the composition of the medication, indications and contraindications, dosage, side effects, precautions, and how to store.

• Textual genre "Opinion article":

  • This is an example of an argumentative genre. In it, the author presents a point of view on a specific topic, supported by arguments and counter-arguments. The opinion article is found in newspapers, magazines, and news websites, being a form of personal expression that aims to influence the readers' opinion.

• Textual genre "Email":

  • This is an example of a written genre, which can take different forms depending on the purpose and the recipient. It can be used for personal, professional, academic communication, among others. Its structure varies according to the purpose, and may contain an introduction, development, and conclusion, attachments, among other elements.

Detailed Summary

Relevant Points

• Concept of Textual Genres: Textual genres are discursive structures that vary according to the context, communicative purpose, target audience, and communication vehicle. Understanding that textual genres are social constructions that evolve over time is fundamental for comprehending textual diversity.

• Characteristics of Textual Genres: Textual genres have three main characteristics: the compositional form, the style, and the thematic content. The compositional form refers to the organization of the text, the style involves the linguistic choices to demonstrate attitude, and the thematic content refers to the subject addressed.

• Functions of Textual Genres: Textual genres have different communicative functions, which can inform, instruct, persuade, entertain, among others. The function is determined by the text's objective and the context of use.

• Types of Textual Genres: There are four main types of textual genres: expository, argumentative, narrative, and instructional. Each has its own characteristics and purposes, and are found in different contexts, such as the classroom, the workplace, and everyday life.

• Elements of Textuality: The presence of elements of textuality is what makes a set of statements a text. The elements of textuality include coherence (logical relationship between parts of the text), cohesion (connection between words, sentences, and paragraphs), intentionality, informativeness, situationality, and intertextuality.

Conclusions

• Textual Genres as Communication Tools: Textual genres are the "toolkit" we use for communication. They allow us to express our ideas, opinions, and feelings according to the context and purpose, facilitating interaction with the world and with other people.

• Cross-Cutting Skill: Mastering textual genres is a cross-cutting skill that facilitates learning in all areas of knowledge. Through textual genres, we learn to understand and produce different types of texts, developing linguistic, social, and cognitive competencies.

Exercises

1. Identification of Textual Genres: Analyze the following texts and identify to which textual genre they belong: (a) A newspaper article about a traffic accident; (b) A poem about nature; (c) An instruction manual for a game; (d) A dialogue between two characters in a book.

2. Characteristics of Textual Genres: Choose a textual genre and discuss its characteristics in terms of compositional form, style, and thematic content.

3. Elements of Textuality: Rewrite the following paragraph to improve its coherence and cohesion: "I love the beach. My dream is to live on the beach. The sun, the sand, the sea, everything fascinates me."

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