Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Language

Vanguards and "Isms": Ramón Gómez de la Serna

In the 1920s, Novecentismo rejected mimetic and realistic poetry. It embraced a disruptive position, obsessed with aesthetic exploration and experimentation. The concept of "art" encompassed various movements, including Futurism, Cubism, Surrealism, Creationism, and Ultraism. These diverse trends rejected imitation, sentimentality, conformity, and established rules. They argued that the poet, the creator, must be original and forge their own aesthetic. The quest for originality became essential, emphasizing surprise and provocation through play and humor.

From 1926 onward, Spain witnessed the emergence of the avant-garde. Creationism, the first movement, appeared through Gerardo Diego's magazine,... Continue reading "Spanish Avant-Garde Movements in the 1920s" »

Introduction

This document analyzes a newspaper editorial, examining its communicative intentions, discursive form, language use, and stylistic devices. The editorial addresses a topical issue, reflecting on it with a moderate tone and offering solutions.

Communicative Intentions and Discursive Form

The editorial exhibits a dual communicative intention: reporting and commenting. This duality is reflected in the discursive form, which blends argumentative (subjective) and expository (objective) elements. Objectivity is achieved through the use of third-person pronouns, declarative sentences, specific adjectives, and factual data. Subjectivity is evident in the use of evaluative lexis, notable emphasis, and the emergence of first, second, and third-... Continue reading "Analysis of a Newspaper Editorial" »

Kinds of Nouns

Common Nouns

Words for realities that form classes.

Proper Nouns

Words used to identify and refer to individual beings.

Concrete Nouns

Show realities that may be perceived by any of our senses.

Abstract Nouns

Designate things not perceived by the senses but only by the mind.

Collective Nouns

Singular words that refer to sets of individuals of the same nature.

Individual Nouns

Refer to each of the elements within a set, opposing groups that do not presuppose the existence of a set.

Uncountable Nouns

Realities that do not support designating numerals.

Adjectives

Morphological Viewpoint

Adjectives have morphemes of gender and number, allowing them to agree with the nouns they accompany. They can be derived or compound.

Semantic Viewpoint

Adjectives... Continue reading "Exploring Nouns, Adjectives, and Verbs in Language" »

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - Summary

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer is a novel by Patrick Süskind, narrated in the third person, that tells the life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille.

Grenouille was born in 18th-century France amidst the most obnoxious odors imaginable. Abandoned by his mother, he barely survived. However, he possessed something special from birth: an extraordinary sense of smell. This gift, coupled with his lack of a personal odor, drove him to become a murderer with a singular goal: to create the most exquisite human scent.

This obsession led him to commit heinous crimes, extracting the most exquisite fragrances from his victims' bodies, culminating in an unexpected and surprising ending.

The Development of Odors in the Book

The... Continue reading "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - A Detailed Summary" »

The Main Theme of Machado's Criticism

The main theme of this poem by Antonio Machado is a criticism of Spain at the time, primarily highlighting the negative attributes of both the characters and the region of Castile. The characters are depicted as "bad men capable of insane, brutal vice and crime, which (...) hide an ugly soul." Castile is defined as the "land of the eagle, a piece of the planet where the shadow of a fallen wanderer crosses." Machado presents a negative and hopeless vision of Castile and, by extension, Spain. He suggests that man, its inhabitant, destroys himself systematically by killing his neighbor and the vegetation, leaving behind a desolate void that reflects his pathetic soul.

The Destructive Nature of the Castilian

The Solar System and Its Components

It consists of a single star called Sol, which gives this system its name, plus eight planets orbiting the star: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Plus a number of small bodies:

• Dwarf planets (Pluto, Eris, Makemake, Haumea, and Ceres)
• Asteroids
• Moons
• Comets

...and interplanetary space between them.

Earth Sciences and Geosciences

The Earth Sciences and Geosciences are all the disciplines that study the internal structure, surface morphology, dynamics, and evolution of Planet Earth. Earth Science is a special case of planetary sciences, dealing generally with the study of Solar System planets and respect.

Earth's Movements: Rotation and Revolution

The rotation occurs from left to right... Continue reading "Dynamics of Earth and the Solar System: Movements and Phenomena" »

Understanding Textual Structure and Linguistic Functions

1. External and Internal Structure

Texts possess a structure that depends entirely on the type to which they relate.

2. Authorial Presentation Styles

The way an author presents their writing in a journalistic context is often referred to as News.

3. The Role of the Introduction

The beginning of a text is constituted by an introduction.

4. The Body of a Letter

The main body or core of a letter is known as the development.

5. Additional Clarifications

Additional clarifications made by an author are typically placed in the footnotes of a page.

6. Writing Scientific Texts

Scientific writing emphasizes a written narrative that summarizes readings and includes commentary.

7. Precision in Scientific Writing

To... Continue reading "Textual Analysis: Structure, Functions, and Writing Styles" »

The Description: Definition and Purpose

A description is the presentation of the characteristic features of beings, objects, places, or phenomena (belonging to the real world or imagined), so that the receiver can form an accurate idea of them.

Classification of Descriptions

• Objective Description

  The issuer shows reality without providing personal ratings. Factual descriptions are often technical or scientific.

• Subjective Description

  The issuer shows their particular perception of what they describe. Subjective descriptions are often literary or used in advertising.

• Static Description

  Presents a stable and unmoving reality.

• Dynamic Description

  Presents a changing and moving reality.

Language Used in Descriptions

In descriptions, adjectives gain relevance,... Continue reading "Essential Concepts of Grammar: Descriptions, Verbs, and Adverbs" »

Galician Popularization in Portugal

The great writers were concerned about the lack of written rules in common, which would be a priority goal. In Galician, we distinguish the following steps:

Precursors and writers belonging to the *Renacemento* (Renaissance). It is characterized by Castilianisms, dialects, and vulgarisms in speech, such as the use of Spanish to resolve lexical deficiencies. There is some interdialectal talk; it does not merely reflect the speech of the area. Eduardo Pondal's writing is cultured and refined; he takes into account Portuguese and makes use of cultism in spelling. The use of Spanish was something that they knew well. The best writing of the 19th century uses single quotes to represent contractions. An institution... Continue reading "Evolution of the Galician Language Since the 19th Century" »

Dialogue

Dialogue is a text type in which two or more people share the use of words. It is the most frequent form of communication in daily life. Dialogue can be conducted directly or through other means.

Kinds of Dialogue

• Unplanned: These are spontaneous, impromptu, and without preparation, such as a conversation.
• Planned: Prepared in advance, such as a party, debate, or interview.

Exposition

Exposition is a text that presents or explains a topic.

Structure of an Exposition

• Introduction: The topic is introduced.
• Body: Paragraphs in which the subject is developed.
• Conclusion: A final summary of the main ideas.

Argumentation

Argumentation is a text that defends an idea.

Varieties of Language

Verbal language is communicated through words.

• Oral: Spread by word