Home Linguistics & Semiotics 17. Instructional Texts – Learn How To Get Things Done
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17. Instructional Texts – Learn How To Get Things Done

  • Markus Nickl
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Languages for Special Purposes
This chapter is in the book Languages for Special Purposes

Abstract

Instructional texts are often equated with school textbooks and academic teaching material. This chapter argues that a) not all texts for teaching purposes are instructional and b) instructional text has a scope far beyond a mere educational context. It shows that instructional texts are an important segment of text production in everyday life as well as in professional settings. Instructional texts are characterized as a genre of texts dominated by directive speech acts and by a textual aim that tries to achieve knowledge transfer on a practical level (as opposed to theoretical knowledge). The predominance of directive speech acts and their textual aim lead to common traits governing instructional texts regardless of their overall topic. This chapter also demonstrates the importance of comprehensibility as a factor for evaluating instructional texts as well as how such comprehensibility may be assessed. Finally, it attempts to take a look into the future of instructional text by considering current trends and extrapolating from them the potential consequences for professional writing. Modern times are complex. We live in a world where each expert remains by necessity a layperson in many fields. Consequently everyone requires instruction at some point in order to get things done. Instruction might appear to be a big word implying a convoluted process, a formal setting or even an educational setting. But if we consider the concept of instruction more carefully, we will discover that instructional texts are everywhere. A few examples: - How do you bake a cake? Find a recipe! - How do you repair a broken pdf file? Search the internet for a relevant faq! - How do you fill in this application form? Turn the page and refer to the guideline.

Abstract

Instructional texts are often equated with school textbooks and academic teaching material. This chapter argues that a) not all texts for teaching purposes are instructional and b) instructional text has a scope far beyond a mere educational context. It shows that instructional texts are an important segment of text production in everyday life as well as in professional settings. Instructional texts are characterized as a genre of texts dominated by directive speech acts and by a textual aim that tries to achieve knowledge transfer on a practical level (as opposed to theoretical knowledge). The predominance of directive speech acts and their textual aim lead to common traits governing instructional texts regardless of their overall topic. This chapter also demonstrates the importance of comprehensibility as a factor for evaluating instructional texts as well as how such comprehensibility may be assessed. Finally, it attempts to take a look into the future of instructional text by considering current trends and extrapolating from them the potential consequences for professional writing. Modern times are complex. We live in a world where each expert remains by necessity a layperson in many fields. Consequently everyone requires instruction at some point in order to get things done. Instruction might appear to be a big word implying a convoluted process, a formal setting or even an educational setting. But if we consider the concept of instruction more carefully, we will discover that instructional texts are everywhere. A few examples: - How do you bake a cake? Find a recipe! - How do you repair a broken pdf file? Search the internet for a relevant faq! - How do you fill in this application form? Turn the page and refer to the guideline.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents IX
  4. Part I: Fundamental Aspects
  5. 1.Lsp As Specialised Genres 3
  6. 2.Languages For Special Purposes As Instruments For Communicating Knowledge 26
  7. 3.Lsps As Instruments For Intercultural Communication 45
  8. 4.Lsp Lexicography And Typology Of Specialized Dictionaries 71
  9. 5.Teaching Lsp To Technical Communicators 96
  10. Part II: Lsps In Different Domains And Language Communities
  11. 6.Legal Language 113
  12. 7.Economic Language 151
  13. 9. Lsps In French 209
  14. 10. Finnish For Special Purposes: Terminology Work In Finland 225
  15. 11. Norwegian Lsps 234
  16. 12. Dominance Of Esp In Various Domains In The Context Of Gobal English 255
  17. 13. Gender And Lsp 267
  18. Part III: Corporate And Controlled Communication
  19. 14. Company-Speak, Organisation-Speak 279
  20. 15. Controlled Language 289
  21. 16. Technical Communication And Technical Documentation 307
  22. 17. Instructional Texts – Learn How To Get Things Done 321
  23. Part IV: Science Communication
  24. 18. The Language Of Science – A Systemicfunctional Perspective 345
  25. 19. Oral Discourse In Scientific Research 364
  26. 20. Legal Discourse As An Example Of Domain-Specific Science Communication 381
  27. 21. Lsps As Instruments For Science Communication 406
  28. Part V: Terminology And Multilingual Domain Communication
  29. 22. Term Formation And Neology 437
  30. 23. Terminological Concept Systems 453
  31. 24. Socioterminology 469
  32. 25.Technical Terminology 489
  33. 26. Terminology Work In Different Domains: Legal Terminology 509
  34. 27. Terminology Work In Different Domains: Medical Terminology 522
  35. 28. Terminology Work For Specific Problem Areas And Issues: The Case Of Oil Terminology 535
  36. 29.Legal translation 548
  37. Index 563
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110228014-017

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface V
  3. Contents IX
  4. Part I: Fundamental Aspects
  5. 1.Lsp As Specialised Genres 3
  6. 2.Languages For Special Purposes As Instruments For Communicating Knowledge 26
  7. 3.Lsps As Instruments For Intercultural Communication 45
  8. 4.Lsp Lexicography And Typology Of Specialized Dictionaries 71
  9. 5.Teaching Lsp To Technical Communicators 96
  10. Part II: Lsps In Different Domains And Language Communities
  11. 6.Legal Language 113
  12. 7.Economic Language 151
  13. 9. Lsps In French 209
  14. 10. Finnish For Special Purposes: Terminology Work In Finland 225
  15. 11. Norwegian Lsps 234
  16. 12. Dominance Of Esp In Various Domains In The Context Of Gobal English 255
  17. 13. Gender And Lsp 267
  18. Part III: Corporate And Controlled Communication
  19. 14. Company-Speak, Organisation-Speak 279
  20. 15. Controlled Language 289
  21. 16. Technical Communication And Technical Documentation 307
  22. 17. Instructional Texts – Learn How To Get Things Done 321
  23. Part IV: Science Communication
  24. 18. The Language Of Science – A Systemicfunctional Perspective 345
  25. 19. Oral Discourse In Scientific Research 364
  26. 20. Legal Discourse As An Example Of Domain-Specific Science Communication 381
  27. 21. Lsps As Instruments For Science Communication 406
  28. Part V: Terminology And Multilingual Domain Communication
  29. 22. Term Formation And Neology 437
  30. 23. Terminological Concept Systems 453
  31. 24. Socioterminology 469
  32. 25.Technical Terminology 489
  33. 26. Terminology Work In Different Domains: Legal Terminology 509
  34. 27. Terminology Work In Different Domains: Medical Terminology 522
  35. 28. Terminology Work For Specific Problem Areas And Issues: The Case Of Oil Terminology 535
  36. 29.Legal translation 548
  37. Index 563
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