In literary theory, a text is any object that can be "read", whether this object is a work of literature, a street sign, an arrangement of buildings on a city block, or styles of clothing.[citation needed] It is a set of signs that is available to be reconstructed by a reader (or observer) if sufficient interpretants are available.[citation needed] This set of signs is considered in terms of the informative message's content, rather than in terms of its physical form or the medium in which it is represented.[citation needed]
Within the field of literary criticism, "text" also refers to the original information content of a particular piece of writing; that is, the "text" of a work is that primal symbolic arrangement of letters as originally composed, apart from later alterations, deterioration, commentary, translations, paratext, etc. Therefore, when literary criticism is concerned with the determination of a "text", it is concerned with the distinguishing of the original information content from whatever has been added to or subtracted from that content as it appears in a given textual document (that is, a physical representation of text).
Since the history of writing predates the concept of the "text", most texts were not written with this concept in mind. Most written works fall within a narrow range of the types described by text theory. The concept of "text" becomes relevant if and when a "coherent written message is completed and needs to be referred to independently of the circumstances in which it was created."[citation needed]
Etymology
The word text has its origins in Quintilian's Institutio Oratoria, with the statement that "after you have chosen your words, they must be weaved together into a fine and delicate fabric", with the Latin for fabric being textum.
Uses of the term for analysis of work practice
Relying on literary theory, the notion of text has been used to analyse contemporary work practices. For example, Christensen (2016) rely on the concept of text for the analysis of work practice at a hospital.
See also
- Text linguistics
- Textual criticism
- Textual scholarship
- Theme (narrative)
References
- Christensen, L.R. (2016). On Intertext in Chemotherapy: an Ethnography of Text in Medical Practice. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW): The Journal of Collaborative Computing and Work Practices. Volume 25, Issue 1, pp 1-38
Further reading
- Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: an Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory, 4th edn. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2017. ISBN 0-7190-6268-3.
- Bakhtin, M. M. (1981) The Dialogic Imagination: Four Essays. Ed. Michael Holquist. Trans. Caryl Emerson and Michael Holquist. Austin and London: University of Texas Press.
- Culler, Jonathan; (1997) Literary Theory: a Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-285383-X.
- Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: an Introduction, 2nd edn. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. ISBN 0-8166-1251-X.
- Eagleton, Terry. After Theory. NY: Basic Books, 2003. ISBN 0-465-01773-8.
- Groden, Michael, Martin Kreiswirth, & Imre Szeman, eds. The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism, 2nd edn. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2005. ISBN 0-8018-4560-2.
- Lodge, David and Nigel Wood, eds. Modern Criticism and Theory: a Reader, 3rd edn. Harlow: Pearson Longman, 2008.
- Patai, Daphne and Wilfrido H. Corral, eds. Theory's Empire: an Anthology of Dissent. NY: Columbia University Press, 2005. ISBN 0-231-13417-7.
- Rabaté, Jean-Michel. The Future of Theory. Oxford: Blackwell, 2002. ISBN 0-631-23013-0.
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In literary theory a text is any object that can be read whether this object is a work of literature a street sign an arrangement of buildings on a city block or styles of clothing citation needed It is a set of signs that is available to be reconstructed by a reader or observer if sufficient interpretants are available citation needed This set of signs is considered in terms of the informative message s content rather than in terms of its physical form or the medium in which it is represented citation needed Various examples of texts in different languages Within the field of literary criticism text also refers to the original information content of a particular piece of writing that is the text of a work is that primal symbolic arrangement of letters as originally composed apart from later alterations deterioration commentary translations paratext etc Therefore when literary criticism is concerned with the determination of a text it is concerned with the distinguishing of the original information content from whatever has been added to or subtracted from that content as it appears in a given textual document that is a physical representation of text Since the history of writing predates the concept of the text most texts were not written with this concept in mind Most written works fall within a narrow range of the types described by text theory The concept of text becomes relevant if and when a coherent written message is completed and needs to be referred to independently of the circumstances in which it was created citation needed EtymologyThe word text has its origins in Quintilian s Institutio Oratoria with the statement that after you have chosen your words they must be weaved together into a fine and delicate fabric with the Latin for fabric being textum Uses of the term for analysis of work practiceRelying on literary theory the notion of text has been used to analyse contemporary work practices For example Christensen 2016 rely on the concept of text for the analysis of work practice at a hospital See alsoText linguistics Textual criticism Textual scholarship Theme narrative ReferencesChristensen L R 2016 On Intertext in Chemotherapy an Ethnography of Text in Medical Practice Computer Supported Cooperative Work CSCW The Journal of Collaborative Computing and Work Practices Volume 25 Issue 1 pp 1 38Further readingBarry Peter Beginning Theory an Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory 4th edn Manchester Manchester University Press 2017 ISBN 0 7190 6268 3 Bakhtin M M 1981 The Dialogic Imagination Four Essays Ed Michael Holquist Trans Caryl Emerson and Michael Holquist Austin and London University of Texas Press Culler Jonathan 1997 Literary Theory a Very Short Introduction Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 285383 X Eagleton Terry Literary Theory an Introduction 2nd edn Hoboken John Wiley amp Sons 2011 ISBN 0 8166 1251 X Eagleton Terry After Theory NY Basic Books 2003 ISBN 0 465 01773 8 Groden Michael Martin Kreiswirth amp Imre Szeman eds The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism 2nd edn Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press 2005 ISBN 0 8018 4560 2 Lodge David and Nigel Wood eds Modern Criticism and Theory a Reader 3rd edn Harlow Pearson Longman 2008 Patai Daphne and Wilfrido H Corral eds Theory s Empire an Anthology of Dissent NY Columbia University Press 2005 ISBN 0 231 13417 7 Rabate Jean Michel The Future of Theory Oxford Blackwell 2002 ISBN 0 631 23013 0 This literature related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte
