Understanding Formal Texts, Lexicon, and Pronouns

Formal Texts: Definition and Examples

A formal text, such as a request, is written to a person in a managerial position of importance within an institution or government agency. A certificate is a document that officially recognizes a fact. The record (minutes) reflects what was discussed or agreed upon at a meeting. A report is a statement of facts or data on the status of an issue.

Elements of the Castilian Language Lexicon

The lexicon is the set of words in a language's vocabulary. Depending on their origin, the lexicon can be comprised of:

• Heritage: Words from Latin present in the language since its origins.
• Learned words: Words from Latin and Greek introduced into Castilian after the language's formation. Example: ocular (from oculus).
• Doublet: Two words derived from the same Latin/Greek term, introduced at different times. One part of our language from the origin and the other not.
• Loans: Terms from other languages incorporated into our language at different times:
  • Americanisms: potato, chocolate
  • Anglicisms: club, steak
  • Arabic: alcohol, cup
  • Gallic (French): delicacy, battle
  • Germanic: spy, war
  • Italian: shotgun, sonnet
  • Lusismos (Portuguese): candy, mussel
  • Catalan: sausage, paella
  • Vasquismos (Basque): left, slate
  • Galician: someone, homesickness
• Neologisms: New words or expressions, including self-creations.
• Acronyms: Formed by the initial letter or number of words (or their end): BAN-ES-TO.
• Initialisms: Formed by the initial letters of different words: NGO.

Pronoun Types and Usage

Pronouns replace nouns.

• Reflexive/Reciprocal: The difference lies in the number of agents performing the action.
• Dative of interest: Its appearance can be removed without altering the meaning; what follows the verb is carried out by the subject for their own benefit.
• Alternative combination of them/him.

Non-Pronominal Pronouns

• Medial: Pronominal verbs are proper and pseudominales.
  • Pronominal: Verbal inflection with us, you, ses (I, you are).
  • Pseudominales: Only occasionally inflect with preceding pronouns.
• Reflexive passive/Impersonal reflexive:
  • Reflexive passive: Syntactic subject - no agent of the action; can be changed to passive.
  • Impersonal reflexive: Syntactic subject - no official action; cannot be changed to passive.