Purposes of texts

Different purposes of a text:

Writing to instruct: e.g recipes,instruction manuals,

-Main function is to show the reader how to do something

-Usually include chronological, numbered sections

Lexis and semantics:

• Denotative lexis- factual lexis
• Factual language
• Statistical data
• Field specifc lexis or semantic field, e.g beat, whisk, fold
• Jargon- specialist language
• Concrete nouns-refer to things that physically exist
• Repetition
• Syndetic/asyndetic listing

Grammar and syntax:

• Imperative/disguised directives- commands/orders- very common
• Modal verbs- should, could, must
• Conditional clauses- if, when
• Simple sentences
• Complex sentences with subordinate clauses giving additional information/offering solutions etc
• Adverbial phrases- location, time, manner, direction, e.g for 5 minutes, carefully
• Prepositions/prepositional phrases- up, under, on the table
• Fronted conjunctions- so, but
• Fronted adverbials
• Stative verbs- express a state rather than an action. They usually relate to thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses.
• May use second person forms, e.g you do this to address the reader directly

Structure:

• Organisational strategies for the material, e.g discourse markers such as first, next, lastly
• Parenthesis- extra information between brackets and dashes
• Anaphoric reference

Graphology: clear and structured style

• Bullet points
• Charts
• Diagrams
• Images
• Columns

Writing to persuade: e.g, speeches, advertising, reviews

-they try to influence the readers opinions or persuade them to do something

Lexis and semantics:

• Emotive lexis that reveals…