What is a Text?

Analysing Language

In this course, Professor Rodney Jones (University of Reading) explores how we can analyse texts on a linguistic level, i.e. by looking at the language itself. In the first module, we think about what we mean by the word 'text', including the concepts of coherence, cohesion and texture. In the second module, we think about the importance of context to the meaning of a text, before turning in the third module to think about the importance of grammar and word choice. In the fourth module, we think about how some texts attempt to create a relationship with the reader or viewer, a concept known as 'synthetic personalisation', before turning in the fifth module to explore the concept of intertextuality, i.e. how texts interact with other texts. These five modules are followed by a short concluding module in which we outline some of the key questions that one can ask when analysing a text.

What is a Text?

In this module, we think about what we mean by the word 'text', focusing in particular on: (i) the fact that texts can be either written or non-written; (ii) the concept of the 'coherence' of a text; (iii) the concept of the 'cohesion' of a text; and (iv) the combination of 'coherence' and 'cohesion' to create 'texture'. As we move through the module, we explore three texts in more detail: a conversation, a news report and a press release.