Text Linguistics

Teacher(s)

Simon Anne-Catherine;

Language

French

Main themes

Text linguistics analyses the ways in which texts are structured and the interpretative effects produced by the choices made during the writing process. The course covers the fundamental concepts needed to understand how a text functions: models of production and interpretation; cohesion and coherence; chains of reference; connectors and paragraph markers; type, genre and style; and so on. It pays particular attention to the relationship between writing and speaking.   

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Define what a text is and the contribution made by the linguistics of the text to its interpretation;
2	Clarify the distinction between written and spoken language and explain the impact of the method of production on the formal aspects of a text ;
3	Identify within a text the relevant elements for its structure and interpretation;
4	Analyse a short text or an extract by highlighting the cohesion and coherence devices ;
5	Read, understand and compare different academic articles on the same issue (transversal competence).

Content

A text forms an autonomous linguistic sequence (oral or written) produced within the framework of an attested social practice. Based on this definition, the course presents key concepts for analyzing texts at different levels of organization.
For any text, we will be able to answer the following questions:

• Which dimensions of the production situation influence formal characteristics of a text? A reflection on the difference between the language of distance (written style) and the language of proximity (oral style) and on the formal marks of this difference (syntax, lexicon, pragmatics, etc.).
• How to segment a text? The role of syntax, material (e.g. punctuation, rhymes, oral pauses) and discursive dimensions in identifying relevant units for interpreting a text (sentences, verses, paragraphs, sequences, periods, etc.).
• How are cohesion and continuity ensured in a text? The role of anaphoric marks and co-reference chains.
• How can a text be interpreted coherently, as a whole? The role of discourse markers and information structure.
• How are texts classified or categorized? The notions of register, type and genre of texts.

Teaching methods

Lectures (including exercises), homework assignments (individually and in groups), reading of scientific articles.

Evaluation methods

In the June session, the final grade is based on continuous assessment (20%), group work (60%) and an individual question or production (20%). In the September session, the final mark is based solely on individual work (same instructions as the group work, reduced scope).
The personal work is based on text analysis which does not require the use of generative AI. However, generative artificial intelligence (AI), if used, must be used responsibly and in accordance with academic and scientific integrity practices. As scientific integrity requires that sources be cited, the use of AI must always be reported.

Online resources

Moodle: https://moodle.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=2273

Bibliography

Niveau C1-C2 en français requis.

Teaching materials

• Voir Moodle

Faculty or entity

> ELAL