Discourse, Language Functions, and Scientific Text Structures

Classified in Social sciences

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Understanding Discourse and Language Functions

The Notion of Discourse

Discourse refers to messages that proliferate and spread rapidly, often linked to specific language functions.

Key Language Functions

  • Referential Function

    When the focus is on revealing facts or information.

  • Emotional Function

    When the sender expresses their mood, allowing insight into their privacy.

  • Poetic Function

    When the purpose is to draw attention to the message itself, highlighting its form or content.

  • Conative Function (Appeals)

    When the aim is for the receiver to accept an idea through persuasive arguments.

  • Phatic Function

    When speakers attempt to maintain open communication using conventional expressions like "say," "if," "uh-huh," "well," etc.

Characteristics and Structure of Scientific Texts

Defining Scientific Texts

Scientific texts are documents that aim to present facts shaping reality, supported by research and evidence.

Classification of Scientific Texts

  • Specialized Scientific Texts

    Aims to present scientific truth in its full complexity, intended for receivers with sufficient training for its interpretation.

  • Didactic Scientific Texts

    Directly aimed at teaching general principles of various sciences. Their language tends to be clear and accessible to specific recipients with formal schooling.

  • Popular Science Texts

    Its purpose is to make the essentials and basics of scientific disciplines accessible to the general public. They employ dynamic and entertaining language, often found in mass-circulation magazines.

Features of Didactic and Popular Science Texts

  • Referentiality

    Every signifier has a specific meaning relevant to the science it concerns.

  • Objectivity

    Ideas are stated directly, without the speaker's emotions involved.

  • Third-Person and Impersonal Verbs

    The use of verbs in the third person grammatical is a consequence of objectivity. Impersonal verbs include infinitives, gerunds, and participles.

  • Argumentation

    The speaker uses logical reasoning to support the validity of their claims.

Ideographic Chronology (Text Structure)

This refers to the ordered representation of ideas that shapes the internal structure of the text. The typical order is:

  • Introduction

    The beginning of the text.

  • Development

    Comprising multiple sections or subsections, which may include the following parts:

    • Problem Statement
    • Presentation of Hypotheses
    • Development of a Theory
      • Argumentation
      • Experimentation
      • Comparison
      • Verification

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