Language of Non-literary Texts

MODULE 1

LESSON 1: Foregrounding Understanding

on Non- Literary text
LESSON 2: Types, Styles and Functions of
Non-literary texts
LESSON 3: Grammar Role Non-literary
texts

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 Language of Non-literary Texts

GOALS
The goals of this Module are to:
 Understand what non-literary text is based on the existing literatures
 Identify the types, styles and function of Non-literary texts
 Explain how grammar takes place in writing non-literary texts

LESSON 1: Foregrounding Understanding on

Non-Literary text

Advertisements, brochures, newspaper or magazine articles, and editorials are examples

of non-literary writings. They're usually brief and to-the-point, with little figurative language like
imagery and metaphors. Furthermore, non-literary works, particularly articles and brochures,

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 Language of Non-literary Texts

frequently include facts and data. As you can see, this category has a vast range of text formats
that may cover a wide range of themes. They do, however, have a number of characteristics, such
as a central idea, a goal, and a target audience.

This style of writing does not employ rhetorical resources, which are commonly employed in
literary works to express the author's subjectivity. It's created for certain audiences and serves a
specific function. They provide information that isn't contained inside the text.

Characteristics of Non-literary texts

 They have a referential or informative function.

 Its content is not fictional.
 They depend on a context.
 They are written seeking objectivity.
 They have a specific audience.
 They have a particular purpose.
 The message takes precedence over any poetic sense.
 The language used is denotative, which makes them unambiguous.

Sender and Receiver relationship in Non-literary texts

The connection between sender and recipient changes depending on the type of text and its
purpose. The target audience is determined from the beginning of the production process.

The person who creates academic or scientific materials, for example, is a person with some
level of specialty in a field of study. To avoid ambiguity, the receiver or audience of this form of
communication is required to be able to grasp the technicalities of the language.

In other circumstances, if it's an expository book, the author's goal can be to enlighten the reader
about a certain topic or event. When it comes to normative writings, whomever creates them
wants the audience to not only be informed about a topic, but also to act in a specific way.

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 Language of Non-literary Texts

Purpose of the non-literary text

Non-literary writings provide a specific function. Depending on the information to which they
relate and the nature of the text, the purpose may change. They can be texts that aim to impart
scientific information, educate, or teach norms and standards, among other things.

The audience to which these messages are addressed also determines the conclusion. When
writing advertising copy, your target demographic is usually defined first, and then the language
is fleshed out. Similarly, if you're writing an academic paper, the technical content of your
terminology already accounts for your target readership.

WORKSHEET
Culminating Activity 1
General instruction: Answer the following questions in 500 words each. Do not plagiarize.
1. Explain how would your written or spoken message or literary work should be presented with the
following audiences:

a. Out of School Youth

b. Retired Public Servants
c. Indigenous People
d. Scholars

2. Based on your understanding, how should we define the language being used in Non-literary texts?

3. How do syntax and pragmatics play a role in drawing the line between literary and nonliterary texts?

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 Language of Non-literary Texts

LESSON 2: Types and Functions of Non-literary

texts

Types of Non-literary texts

The goal of non-literary works can be categorized. These can be for the purpose of revealing
information, explaining a problem, releasing the results of an inquiry, or revealing a person's
behavior. Despite the fact that these texts all have the same function of referential language, it's
likely that they have a different one depending on their goal.
Englopedia a website that is specifically designed for English learning emphasized the types and
the characteristics of Non-literary texts through a table. See table below…
EXPOSITORY OR NORMATIVE OR ACADEMIC OR
ARGUMENTATIVE
INFORMATIVE INSTRUCTIVE SCIENTIST
Expressing or
Inform and provide communicating a point
Communicate or
Inform and facilitate directions or orders about of view or opinion with
OBJECTIVE disseminate knowledge on
understanding of a topic. how someone should act the intention of
a specific matter.
in a specific context. persuading or convincing
someone.
MAIN
LANGUAGE Referential. Appellate. Referential. Appellate.
FUNCTION
CHARACTER  Impersonal, use  Produced  Usually  Present a
ISTICS of the third person. within an produced in hypothesis
 Simple and institutiona an that must
organized structure. l institutional be tested.

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 Language of Non-literary Texts

setting.  You can

framework follow
.
 Intertextuali inductive,
ty and deductive,
 Formality reference to or
and other texts. emotional
technical
vocabulary
 Specific reasoning.
receptor.  Presence
.
 Objectivity.
  Formality of
 It proposes to Clear and discursive
and
disclose, expose or report succinct. elements to
specialized
any topic
 Objectivity and demonstrat
 May present e the
. technical
technical or specialized vocabulary. hypothesis.
vocabulary.  Focused on
 It can present the  Organized  Formal and
characteristics of literary receiver. structure. organized
texts. structure.
 Regulates  Communica
behavior in te results or  There is an
a certain a state of the emphasis
context. art. on the
issuer,
 Linear or  Comprehens their
step ive and opinions or
structure. methodologi perspective
cal. s.
Cooking recipes, Dissertations, theses,
Speeches, philosophical
Lectures, reports, news, instructions, manuals, academic articles,
texts, essays, opinion
EXAMPLES essays, biographies, and legislative and legal encyclopedic entries,
articles, advertising
others. documents, political monographs, scientific
messages, and others
constitution, and others. essays, and others.

Function of non-literary text

Because it is referential, the message in this type of writing is referring to something outside of
the text. The sender is attempting to achieve a goal with his work, whereas the receiver is
seeking particular information or expertise.

In the same manner, one of its most essential goals is to get the message out. It can be a
fact, a procedure, a set of rules, a description of an item or a person, and so on. The procedure of
fixing an automobile, for example, is referred to in an auto mechanic manual.

This means that the non-literary text must be objective, which means that it should not be
ambiguous, and it should not be as dense as the literary text in terms of polysemic density. That
is, it is a denotative text (what is written pertains to reality) and, in general, what is written in it is
not open to interpretation.

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 Language of Non-literary Texts

Anyone who creates a non-literary text, on the other hand, might employ features of
literary writings to convey a message or information. When reporting or recounting a news event
in a newspaper, for example, rhetorical methods can be utilized. In this situation, the reader may
come across a character in literature who makes him feel empathy for the characters or who
makes him respond negatively to what is being said.

WORKSHEET
Culminating Activity 2
General instruction: Answer the following questions in 300 words each. Do not plagiarize.
1. Identify whether the play “Breath” by Samuel Beckett is a Non-literary text or not. Justify your answer by
giving sufficient arguments based on the given definitions to the types of non-literary texts. You may
watch the video here : [Link] and refer here :
[Link]
for additional information about the play.

2. It has been noted in the discussion that Non-literary texts should be less dense and unambiguous. Given
that laws are examples of non-literary texts, why is it that some laws in the Philippines are lengthy, dense,
and are often interpreted differently or in other wise lacking and insufficient which somehow results to
indeterminate offenses of the accused?

3. Provide specific samples of non-literary texts which are written in literary form with figurative language.

MODULE SUMMARY

LESSON 3: Grammar Role in Non-literary texts

It's not only about avoiding grammatical blunders. In writing non-literary texts,
understanding how grammar works is essential. While it is possible to argue that having a solid
understanding of grammar would not necessarily make you a better writer, it is widely
acknowledged that it will help you write more effectively. As a writer, having a good

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 Language of Non-literary Texts

understanding of grammar allows you to comprehend what makes a piece of writing successful,
and how to keep the reader's attention and comprehension. It teaches you how to organize your
thoughts into meaningful phrases, and how to turn those statements into paragraphs that
effectively communicate your message. The importance of punctuation in grammar cannot be
overstated. I t can be used correctly to clarify meaning, but it can also be used incorrectly to
create ambiguity. Punctuation also serves as a guide for the reader, telling when to stop and what
to emphasize.

Concept of Grammar

 Systematic learning of a language and its explanation.

 A collection of norms and examples that are dealing with a language’s syntax and word-
formation usually designed to help in the learning of the language.

David Crystal (2004) stated that “Grammar is the structural foundation of our ability to express
ourselves. The more we are aware of how it works, the more we can monitor the meaning and
effectiveness of the way we and others use language. It can help foster precision, detect
vagueness, and exploit the richness of expression available in English.”

Common errors of ESL learners

 Incorrect use of articles (A, An, The)

 Confusion in the use of ‘to’ as a preposition or as an infinitive.
 Contraction errors (You and Your/ You’re)
 No understanding between the subject and the verb
 Use of were, we’re, where

Grammar in Reading and in Writing

It's crucial to understand fundamental grammar so that you can analyze and enhance your
language output. You can write English more easily if you know how to employ verbs, nouns,
adjectives, adverbs, phrases, and clauses.

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 Language of Non-literary Texts

To compose a text, for example, you must know the laws of sentence construction. This also
suggest that there is a need of mental energy and experience on the context of the language
through reading or even listening in order to write.

Meaning of Grammar in writing Non-Literary texts

(The succeeding text was lifted from a blogsite called College Essay)

 Although we discuss the importance of grammar in writing, grammar skills are

beneficial in all facets of life, which starts from education to leadership quality and
social life to opportunities for jobs. It is also particularly important at home, where
children learn from their parents and relatives about their grammatical habits.
 Grammar skills to be an effective leader are essential. Communication skills are
essential for efficiently providing guidance and assuring leadership capacity.
Additionally, if further education is needed, college professors should expect
grammatically correct papers from students.
 Proper grammar is also important for both learning English as a second language and
understanding a new language, as all languages use grammatical patterns or rules.
Hearing proper, clear English is immensely useful, with the United States being a
melting pot of nationalities and foreign-language speakers to inspire any immigrants to
become fluent. It also helps with native English speakers understanding other languages.
 Grammatical errors instantly expected strength necessary for persuasive papers to
resume. Grammatical contradictions, in both cases, make powerful words less acute.
 Although appropriate grammar in many areas of life is a valuable resource for success,
it is not developing to create a void within the social environment. It is not an instrument
for discrimination, but a method for opening doors for more clear understanding while
correct grammar will give an advantage in an interview.
 At last, just as rules are essential in daily circumstances, the rules of grammar are
equally essential for clarification of meaning and purpose in everyday life.

WORKSHEET
Culminating Activity 3
General instruction: Answer the following questions in 300 words each. Do not plagiarize.
1. Go back to our (your) discussions (in the module) on syntax and understanding in-depth meaning of grammatical
constructions. How does it help you to improve your writing or speaking in furtherance?
2. Enumerate some more grammatical errors being committed by ESL learners in speaking or in writing.9 Identify the
reasons why they commit such mistakes.

3. Identify all ENGLISH SVA rules and all the PAA rules then provide specific examples in addressing these rules.
 Language of Non-literary Texts

Summative Test
1. Create your introductory understanding of what non-literary texts is based in our discussions
through a video presentation in any format (tiktok video format, facebook meme format, or
youtube content format) . Limit your video into 1 minute only. Make it sure that you are seen in
the video and that you speak in straight English in the whole duration of the video.

2. Create a Log of Key terms that are presented in the Module. Upload it to the bin which is to be
provided in the GClass.

Reading/ References of the Author

Khatib, M., & Alizadeh, I. (2012). Critical thinking skills through literary and non-
literary texts in English classes. International Journal of Linguistics, 4(4), 563.

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 Language of Non-literary Texts

Louwerse, M., Benesh, N., & Zhang, B. (2008). Computationally discriminating

literary from non-literary texts. Directions in empirical literary studies: In
honor of Willie Van Peer, 5, 175-191.

Culpeper, J. (2014). Language and characterisation: People in plays and other

texts. Routledge.

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