DISCOURSE

ANALYSI
S
TEXTS AND THEIR SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
GENRE
The study of the social functions of different kinds of texts

ANALYSIS
 Vijay Bhatia, Analyzing Genre
(A genre is) a recognizable communicative event
characterized by a set of communicative purposes identified
and mutually understood by members of the community in
which in occurs. Most often it is highly structured and
conventionalized with constraints on allowable contributions
in terms of their intent, positioning, forma and functional
value. These constraints, however, are often exploited by
expert members of the discourse community to achieve
private intentions within the framework of the socially
recognized purpose(s).
 GENRES ARE
COMMUNICATIVE
EVENTS
• All te xt s a re ba si c a l ly inst ances of people doi ng thi ngs wit h or to
ot her pe opl e
⚬ A ne wsp a pe r a rt i cle is someone informing someone else about
re c e nt e ve nt s
⚬ A re c i pe i s some one inst ruct ing someone on how to prepare a
pa rt i c ul a r di sh
⚬ A j ob a pp l i c a t i on lett er is someone requesti ng that another
pe rson gi ve hi m or her a job
 GENRES ARE
COMMUNICATIVE
EVENTS
• Most texts are not just trying to get only one thing done. The
communicative purposes of texts are often multiple and complex
⚬ A recipe may be persuading you to make a dish as much as it is
instructing you on how to do it
⚬ A newspaper article might be trying to affect your opinion on a
matter on top of informing you about it.
 CONVENTIONS
AND CONSTRAINTS

• Genre s a re a b out ‘get ti ng t hings done’, so t he way t hey are

struct ure d a nd t he ki nd of features they cont ain are l argely
determi ne d by wha t peopl e want to do wi th them. Therefore, genres
come wi t h ‘bui l t -i n’ const rai nts as t o what kinds of t hings they can
include a nd wh a t ki nds of thi ngs t hey cannot , based on the act ivi ty
they a re t ryi ng t o a c compli sh.
 CONVENTIONS
AND CONSTRAINTS

• What should be included

⚬ A job application should include qualifications, experience, etc
• How things should be included
⚬ The order in which things are included
 CREATIVITY
• Creativity would not be possible without the existence of
conventions and constraints
⚬ Innovation can be effective because they ‘play off ’ or exploit
previously formed expectations
• Creativity itself must have some relationship to the communicative
purpose of the genre and the context in which it is used
• Expertise is required to be able to ‘bend’ and ‘blend’ genres
⚬ In order to break the rules effectively, you must also be able to
show that you’ve mastered the rules.
 DISCOURSE
COMMUNITIES
• Genres are always associated with certain groups of people that
have certain common goals and common ways of reaching these
goals
⚬ Doctors use medical charts and prescriptions
⚬ Solicitors use contracts and legal briefs
⚬ Students use things like textbooks and handouts
• John Swales calls these groups discourse communities
 DISCOURSE
COMMUNITIES
(AS DEFINED BY JOHN SWALES)
• Discourse communities contain the following features:
⚬ ‘Expert’ members, who socialize new members into ‘how things are done’
⚬ Members have ways of regularly communicating with and providing
feedback to one another
⚬ Members tend to share a certain vocabulary or ‘jargon’
• The two most important characteristics of discourse communities:
⚬ Members have common goals
⚬ Members have common means of reaching said goals
 MOVES
What writers of specific texts do in order to
achieve their desired purpose
Example: Academic paper introduction

Establish the field in

which the writer of
interpretive space (a ‘niche’)
the study is working
MOVE 1
Summarizes the
related research or
interpretations on one
aspect of the field
Creates a research space or
for the present study by
indicating a gap in current
knowledge or by raising
Introduces the study by
question
indicating what the
investigation being reported
will accomplish for the field
MOVE 3
MOVE 4

MOVE 2
 MOVES

• Moves are not universal or in some way obligatory , but they are
prototypical moves one would expect to occur in a genre
• Understanding default expectations is the first step to
understanding how ‘expert users’ might creatively flout these
conventions
 PERSONAL ADVERTISEMENT
A genre which has a particularly consistent set of communicative moves, often appearing
in classified sections of newpapers and online social media dating sites

“Sensual, imaginative brunette, 25, artistic, intelligent, with a sense of

humor. Enjoys home life, cooking, sports, country life. No ties, own
home. Seeking a tall, strong, intelligent fun companion with inner depth
for passionate, loving romance, 25-35. Photo guarantees reply. Must feel
able to love Ben my dog too. London/anywhere.”
PERSONAL ADVERTISEMENT
The advertiser describes himself or herself (sensual, imaginative brunette, etc.)
01
The advertiser describes the kind of person he or she is looking for (seeking tall, strong, intelligent, etc.)
02

The advertiser describes the kind of relationship or activities he or she wishes to engage in with the
03 target (for passionate, loving romance, etc)

The advertiser gives additional information, makes a humorous remark or issues a challenge (photo
04 guarantees reply, etc)

The advertiser indicates how he or she can be contacted (giving telephone number, email address,
05 etc.)
 BENDING AND BLENDING

• Genre bending involves flouting the conventions of a genre in

subtle ways which, while not altering the move structure
substantially, makes a particular realization of a genre seem
creative or unique.
• Genre blending involves mixing the conventions of one genre with
another.
 GENRE BENDING

CHINESE, 20, STILL YOUNG, but not good-looking,

not attractive, not sexy, not hairy, not fit, not tall, not
experiences, not mature, not very intelligent, but
thoughtful and sincere, looking for friendship and love

• Blends the personal advertisement genre by doing

the opposite of what’s normally done.
 GENRE BLENDING

CLASSIC LADY limousine, mint condition, excellent

runner for years seeks gentleman enthusiast 45+ for
TLC and excursions in the Exeter area BOX 555L

• Blends the personal advertisement genre with the

automobile genre
 MODES, MEDIA, &
CONTEXT
• Different modes (writing, graphics, video, etc.) can be used to
construct a genre.
• Genres can change drastically over time
⚬ The personal advertisement genre has largely migrated online
due to the internet and can rarely be found in the newspaper
anymore.
 MODES, MEDIA, &
CONTEXT
How the personal advertisement genre changed over time
• Different modes are now available. It is easy to upload digital photographs or even
video online, self-descriptions are no longer dependent on text alone
• Websi tes that host such advertisement often require users to fill out web forms,
creati ng a more standardized format, making i t easier t o search through thousands
of ads using keywords
• Internet-based dating advertisements include more ways for t he advert iser and the
target to interact (online messages, video chat, emojis, etc)
• Users of the genre can access the sit es from anywhere, and search for suitable
partners within a certain area of them using GPS