This document provides a framework for analyzing written or spoken genres using the "Field Tenor Mode" model. It describes the contextual and linguistic analysis that can be done to understand different genres. The framework includes analyzing the genre name, social context, communicative purpose, roles, cultural values, text context, and formal text features. It then describes analyzing the experiential, interpersonal, and textual metafunctions of genres through their lexico-grammar, power relationships, and organization. An example analysis of a safety notice is also provided to demonstrate applying the framework.
This document provides a framework for analyzing written or spoken genres using the "Field Tenor Mode" model. It describes the contextual and linguistic analysis that can be done to understand different genres. The framework includes analyzing the genre name, social context, communicative purpose, roles, cultural values, text context, and formal text features. It then describes analyzing the experiential, interpersonal, and textual metafunctions of genres through their lexico-grammar, power relationships, and organization. An example analysis of a safety notice is also provided to demonstrate applying the framework.
Te"hni"al #riting and Te$t Anal%sis The Field Tenor Mode framework for analysis The framework for analysis given below can be used to contextualise a written or spoken genre and account for its linguistic realisation. In the class today you will have an opportunity to apply the framework to a set of example genres from EAP and other settings. Having done a more detailed analysis of the linguistic features of exemplars of genres in eek !" use this opportunity to focus on the context features of the genres in #uestion. ! $!% CONTEXTUAL Analysis G&'!& 1( 'a)e hat is the name of the genre of which this text is an exemplar& *I&LD 2( o"ial "onte$t In what social setting is this kind of text typically produced& hat constraints and obligations does this setting impose on speakers and listeners $ writers and readers& 3( Co))uni"ati+e purpose hat is the communicative purpose of this text 'this may involve explicit and implicit factors(& T&',! -( !oles hat roles may be re#uired of writers and readers in this genre& .( Cultural +alues hat shared cultural values may be re#uired of speakers and listeners $ writers and readers in this genre& M,D& /( Te$t "onte$t hat knowledge of other texts may be re#uired of speakers and listeners $ writers and readers in this genre& 0( *or)al te$t 1eatures hat shared knowledge of formal text features 'conventions( is re#uired to participate effectively into this genre& LINGUITIC ! FUNCTIONAL Analysis *I&LD 2( ID&ATI,'AL3 e$periential 4 logi"al )eta1un"tion )ocus on lexico*grammar+ what is the text about& How are the logical relationships in the text signalled T&',! 5( I'T&!P&!,'AL )eta1un"tion How is the relationship between the writer and reader constructed& How is the power relationship between writer and reader signalled& How does the writer signal evaluations 'approval $ disapproval" acceptance $ re,ection" certainty $ uncertainty etc.( M,D& 10( T&6T7AL )eta1un"tion How is the text organised at a micro level 'Theme $ -heme( and as a series of larger units of meaning 'e.g. discourse moves such as .P-E" -eason / -esult" 0eneral / Particular" Time se#uence(& 1 $!% Te"#$al me#af$n%#ion & a no#e on Coheren%e 's( Cohesion+ Example text+ Initial 2rder 3est 2rder 4iscourse function I had started the 8ar A I shot at hi) 3 I 8as on guard dut% 5 I sa8 an ene)% soldier 4 Coheren%e 6 'implicit( structure $ organisation of the text in terms of discourse functions. Cohesion 6 'explicit( grammatical and lexical links with which bind the text together. )is%o$rse f$n%#ion 6 'in 7arratives( .ituation" Problem" -esolution" Evaluation '.P-E( 8 $!% EXAM*LE ANAL+I ,Mis% $n-$.lished Lo#hian Co$n%il do%$men#s /NC ref(0*L11 An example analysis of a short text is provided below. This might help you see what9s going on: If you intend to continue storing petroleum spirit you must complete the enclosed renewal application form and return it to this address before the date of expiry of your existing licence. If you intend to discontinue storage you must notify your intention in writing to this office" in accordance with the conditions of your existing licence" in order that the necessary safety measures may be seen to. )AI;<-E T2 42 EITHE- 2) THE A32=E THI70. >A? >EA7 THAT ?2< I;; 3E 527T-A=E7I70 THE P-2=I.I27. 2) THE A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27. 72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- I;; 3E I..<E4. CONTEXTUAL Analysis 2( Name .afety leaflet or letter addressed to a license holder 'storage of petroleum spirit( 3( so%ial %on#e"# 0overnment $ administration 'Health and .afety( 4( %omm$ni%a#i'e -$r-ose Advice and instruction 'with an element of warning( 5( roles -egulator / -egulated. There is an une#ual power relationship between the author and audience of the text 6( %$l#$ral 'al$es >utual acceptance of legal constraints on social behaviour. Assumed authority on the part of the author to issue imperatives and threats. illingness of audience to accept and respond to imperatives 7( #e"# %on#e"# Public notices and legal documents 8( formal #e"# fea#$res .ingle sentence paragraphs. <se of capital letters for emphasis @ $!% LINGUITIC ANAL+I I)EATIONAL 9e"-erien#ial ! lo:i%al; <( E"-erien#ial me#af$n%#ion !. If you intend to continue storing petroleum spirit you must complete the enclosed renewal application form and return it to this address before the date of expiry of your existing licence. 1. If you intend to discontinue storage you must notify your intention in writing to this office" in accordance with the conditions of your existing licence" in order that the necessary safety measures may be seen to. 8. )AI;<-E T2 42 EITHE- 2) THE A32=E THI70. >A? >EA7 THAT ?2< I;; 3E 527T-A=E7I70 THE P-2=I.I27. 2) THE A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27. @. 72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- I;; 3E I..<E4. word %lass word %lass word %lass A32=E THI70. administrative A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27 legal storing topic address administrative accordance legal petroleum spirit topic application form administrative conditions legal discontinue storage topic date administrative 527T-A=E7I70 legal enclosed administrative existing licence legal office administrative expiry legal return administrative )AI;<-E legal writing administrative intend legal intention legal I..<E4 legal necessary safety measures legal 72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- legal P-2=I.I27. legal renewal legal Lo:i%al me#af$n%#ion !. If you intend to continue storing petroleum spirit you must complete the enclosed renewal application form and return it to this address before the date of expiry of your existing licence. 1. If you intend to discontinue storage you must notify your intention in writing to this office" in accordance with the conditions of your existing licence" in order that the necessary safety measures may be seen to. 8. )AI;<-E T2 42 EITHE- 2) THE A32=E THI70. >A? >EA7 THAT ?2< I;; 3E 527T-A=E7I70 THE P-2=I.I27. 2) THE A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27. @. 72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- I;; 3E I..<E4. A $!% =. In#er-ersonal me#af$n%#ion !. If you intend to continue storing petroleum spirit you m$s# complete the enclosed renewal application form and return it to this address before the date of expiry of your existing licence. A. If you intend to discontinue storage you m$s# notify your intention in writing to this office" in accordance with the conditions of your existing licence" in order that the necessary safety measures may be seen to. B. )AI;<-E T2 42 EITHE- 2) THE A32=E THI70. MA+ >EA7 THAT ?2< >ILL 3E 527T-A=E7I70 THE P-2=I.I27. 2) THE A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27. C. 72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- >ILL 3E I..<E4. .econd person address Implied imperative indicated with modal of obligation Implied risk of committing an offence indicated with modal of possibility <se of 5AP. signals urgency Absence of agency in sentence 8 and @ increases the personal obligation of the reader to comply. ;exical density+ ?*2@ D5!E If you !FintendF. ! to 1Fcontinue 8Fstoring @Fpetroleum A F spiritF. 1 D51E you must BFcompleteF. 8 the CFenclosedF. @ GFrenewalF. A HFapplicationF. B !%FformF. C and D58E !!Freturn it to this !1Faddress before the !8Fdate of !@FexpiryF. G of your !AFexistingF. H !BFlicenceF. !% . ?*3@ D5@E If you !CFintendF. !! to !GFdiscontinueF. !1 !HFstorageF. !8 D5AE you must 1%FnotifyF. !@ your 1!FintentionF. !A in 11Fwriting to this 18Foffice" in 1@FaccordanceF. !B with the 1AFconditionsF. !C of your 1BFexistingF. !G 1CFlicenceF. !H " D5BE in 1GForder that the 1HFnecessary 8%Fsafety 8!FmeasuresF. 1% may be 81Fseen to. ?*4@ D5CE 88F)AI;<-E T2 42 EITHE- 2) THE A32=EF. 1! 8@FTHI70. >A? 8AF>EA7 D5GE THAT ?2< I;; 3E 8BF527T-A=E7I70F. 11 THE 8CFP-2=I.I27.F. 18 2) THE A32=E 8GF;E0I.;ATI27F. 1@ . ?*5@ D5HE 72 8HF)<-THE- @% F -E>I74E-F. 1A I;; 3E @!FI..<E4F. 1B . 5lauses 6 H I5ontentI words 6 @! ;exical density 6 @.A ;2 lexical density Jimplies a conversational orientation 3ut there is a tension between this orientation and the legal $ directive oriention that is signalled in the experiential component. B $!% 2A( Te"#$al me#af$n%#ion !. If KKyou intend to continue storing petroleum spirit you must complete the enclosed renewal application form and return it to this address before the date of expiry of your existing licence. 1. If KKyou intend to discontinue storage you must notify your intention in writing to this office" in accordance with the conditions of your existing licence" in order that the necessary safety measures may be seen to. 8. FAILUBE TO )O EIT0EB OF T0E A/OCE T0ING KK >A? >EA7 THAT ?2< I;; 3E 527T-A=E7I70 THE P-2=I.I27. 2) THE ABOVE LEGISLATION. @. NO FUBT0EB BEMIN)EB I;; 3E I..<E4. ;exical repetition maintains cohesion 'you $ license( Anaphoric reference to maintain cohesion 'it $ above( 7ominalisations unmarked themes in emphasises impersonality FAILUBE TO )O EIT0EB OF T0E A/OCE T0ING ! NO FUBT0EB BEMIN)EB . C $!% *BEENTATION OF T0E ANAL+I Contextual analysis This text is a safety leaflet or letter addressed to a license holder 'storage of petroleum spirit(. It is written within a framework of shared responsibilities J that of the government agency which issues the license and the license holder who stores a dangerous fluid '-egulator / -egulated(. The text realises an un*e#ual power relationship and the author is allowed to use imperatives as a primary mode. Proper interpretation of this text re#uires an awareness of other administrative $ legal documents and could present significant challenges to readers with limited literacy. Linguistic analysis Ideational The legal $ administrative focus of the text is made clear by the three main lexical sets which can be identified+ word %lass word %lass word %lass A32=E THI70. administrative A32=E ;E0I.;ATI27 legal storing topic address administrative accordance legal petroleum spirit topic application form administrative conditions legal discontinue storage topic date administrative 527T-A=E7I70 legal enclosed administrative existing licence legal office administrative expiry legal return administrative )AI;<-E legal writing administrative intend legal intention legal I..<E4 legal necessary safety measures legal 72 )<-THE- -E>I74E- legal P-2=I.I27. legal renewal legal The logical structure of the text is established through a series of explicit I) / THE7 statements Interpersonal Although the text makes use of second person address" the power relationship between the author and audience is une#ual" with the author expressing some statements as imperatives 'through the use of modals of obligation(" as well as expressing threats 'through modals of possibility(. The absence of agency in sentence 8 and @ increases the sense of personal obligation to comply with legal re#uirements which are beyond the control of the author of the text. The use of capital letters in the last two statements signals a high level of urgency. ith its low lexical density '@.A( the text is close to conversational production" but" because of its use of imperatives and its dependence on a restricted set of lexis and collocations" it is closely aligned with legal texts. It would seem that there is a tension between a desire to present a low processing load on the reader 'low lexical density( and the need to use unambiguous legal terms which will be less accessible to the reader. Textual P! and P1 stress the repercussions of failure to comply by thematising the conditional con,unction I). P8 and P@ thematise two nominal structures in a way which distances the actors from the actions. The whole text is organised around a series conditional time se#uence statements using I) G $!% / THE7 logic... Beferen%es 3hatia =L '!HH8( Anal%sing Genre3 Language use in pro1essional settings ;ongman Harlow 0ledhill" 5. '1%%%(. Collo"ations in "ien"e #riting( 0unter 7arr+ TMbingen. )lowerdew N '!HH8( IAn educational or process approach to the teaching of professional genresI <9 @C$@8%A*8!B 2xford <niversity Press 2xford Nohns A> '!HHC( Te$t, role and "onte$t3 de+eloping a"ade)i" litera"ies 5ambridge <niversity Press 5ambridge .wales N '!HH%( Genre Anal%sis 5ambridge <niversity Press 5ambridge Tribble 5 '1%%1( I5orpora and corpus analysis+ new windows on academic writingI in )lowerdew N 'ed.( A"ade)i" Dis"ourse Addison esley ;ongman Harlow H $!% Be-or#in: forma# E"am-le D EEEEEEE CONTEXTUAL Analysis na)e so"ial "onte$t "o))uni"ati+e purpose roles "ultural +alues te$t "onte$t 1or)al te$t 1eatures LINGUITIC Analysis ID&ATI,'AL3 e$periential 4 logi"al I'T&!P&!,'AL T&6T7AL COMMENTAB+ Contextual analysis Linguistic analysis !% $!%