Analyzing Narrative and Descriptive Writing Techniques

Understanding Narrative-Descriptive Texts

This text can be classified as narrative-descriptive because it combines both narrative and descriptive elements. Descriptive passages focus on detailing elements, such as a room mentioned in the text. These descriptions are often subjective, reflecting the narrator's point of view, although objective adjectives might also be present.

Linguistic Features of Description

Key linguistic features in descriptive writing include verb forms, nouns, adjectives, semantic structures, and literary procedures.

Verb Forms in Descriptions

In descriptive sections, verb forms often have an imperfect aspect (e.g., imperfect, present tense), reflecting ongoing or unfinished actions. This contributes to a more static feel in the text. In the example analyzed, the imperfect tense is predominant (e.g., 'it was invited', 'called').

Nouns and Adjectives in Descriptions

Nouns and adjectives are crucial in descriptions for naming and detailing elements. Examples of nouns from the analyzed text might include 'female voice', 'curtain', 'dream', 'lives'. Adjectives are often explanatory (e.g., 'high', 'fat', 'evening').

Linguistic Features of Narration

The narrative part recounts facts or events. It may use both direct speech (representing character thoughts and dialogues) and indirect speech.

Narrative Elements

Key narrative elements include:

• Narrator: In the specific text analyzed, the narrator tells the story in the first person and is also a character.
• Characters: Few characters appear; in the example, only the narrator and a 'superior'.
• Events: The plot points or actions. In the example: the narrator is in the superior's office, they talk, the narrator cries, and the superior consoles them.
• Time: While sometimes unspecified (as in the example, though context might suggest morning or afternoon), time frames the events.
• Place (Lugar): The setting where events occur. In the example, all events happen in the superior's office.

Verb Forms and Syntax in Narration

Linguistic features prominent in narration include specific verb forms and syntactic structures. Verbs often have a perfect aspect (e.g., simple past, present perfect), reflecting completed actions. Examples from the analyzed text include 'want', 'wish', 'drew', 'said'. Syntactic structures are often predicative, advancing the action and adding dynamism (e.g., 'All of a sudden, [I] want to get an equal').

Textual Properties: Consistency and Cohesion

Consistency

Consistency ensures the text maintains a central theme and can be summarized. A consistent narrative is typically arranged chronologically according to events, is structured logically, and features interconnected paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect.

Cohesion

Cohesion refers to the linguistic links within a text. It is achieved through various procedures:

• Lexical-semantic procedures: Such as word repetitions and substitutions using words from the same semantic field.
• Grammatical procedures: Including anaphora (using pronouns or other words to refer back to previously mentioned items) and maintaining consistent verb tense usage (e.g., predominantly present or past tense).