Oral and Written Communication: Linguistic Fundamentals and Text Types

Linguistic Competence: Text Adequacy in Oral and Written Communication

Fundamentals of Text

A text or speech is a linguistic communication unit with a complete form and content, whose characteristics and elements adapt to the communicative situation in which its production takes place. Every text includes an issuer, a receiver, a purpose, a subject matter, and a transmission channel.

Coherence and Cohesion

Coherence refers to the content of a text, which is articulated around a central information or "topic" linked to the communicative intention of the speaker or writer. Secondary information is subordinate to it.

Cohesion refers to how the different parts of a text are formally connected, through procedures specific to each language community. Cohesion is achieved through the following markers:

• Additive markers: express addition or sum (e.g., and, also, moreover).
• Opposition markers: express contrast (e.g., but, however, nevertheless).
• Causal markers: express cause or consequence (e.g., because, therefore, so).
• Temporal markers: order events and actions chronologically (e.g., first, then, finally).
• Spatial markers: order objects in space (e.g., above, next to, behind).
• Discourse organizers: signal the different parts of a text.
• Performative markers: fulfill basic functions such as explanation, conclusion, and exemplification.

Types of Texts

Classification Criteria

Texts can be classified according to several criteria:

• Communicative intention of the issuer: informative, explanatory, persuasive, prescriptive, expressive, reportorial, propagandistic, playful, and educational.
• Linguistic level used by the issuer: cultivated, popular, and vulgar registers.
• Tension of the atmosphere between issuer and receiver: formal and informal.
• Channel of transmission: oral and written.
• Nature of the linguistic code: verbal, non-verbal (mimic-gestural, iconic, auditory), or mixed.
• Structure of the linguistic code: descriptive, narrative, dialogical, expository, and argumentative.
• Social sphere of interaction: academic, professional, labor, politico-institutional, judicial, parliamentary, economic-financial, and family.

Oral Texts

Oral language is typically spontaneous, more expressive, improvised, and sometimes imprecise.

• Lecture: a previously prepared speech that delves deeply into a subject, reporting or convincing an audience.
• Colloquium: an exchange of communication following an exposition on a topic by an expert.
• Debate: a dialogue organized between two or more people with differing viewpoints on a controversial topic.
• Round table: a discussion in a relaxed tone where several people expose their views on one or more topics.
• Conversation: a spontaneous, informal dialogue in which opinions are exchanged.

Written Texts

Written texts allow for prior reflection and correction, and are generally more elaborate, precise, and explicit. They may be narrative, dialogical, expository, argumentative, or descriptive.