Week 6-9, Lesson 3-2 - Evaluating Messages and or Images of Different Types of Texts Reflecting Different Cultures PDF
Week 6-9, Lesson 3-2 - Evaluating Messages and or Images of Different Types of Texts Reflecting Different Cultures PDF
Week 6-9, Lesson 3-2 - Evaluating Messages and or Images of Different Types of Texts Reflecting Different Cultures PDF
Introduction
A "text" isn't limited to something written down. A text can be a film, an artifact, anything in a
language and culture that conveys meaning. Think about the texts that you use in your language
classroom: What's in the textbook? What do you read in class or even at home? How do you
describe the classroom, its design? Why do you think the chairs are placed facing the tables? Those
questions, with its finite answer would tell you that there are texts that are reflection of one’s own
culture.
Cultural Text
Cultural texts are those objects, actions, and behaviors that reveals cultural meaning. A
photo is an image, but is also a cultural text, a picture with cultural information beyond just the
picture itself. Food, house and clothing also suggest information regarding culture and it does not
stop there. The entire space and place, including the people and their interaction, all the rituals
and rules and its various forms in which they manifest themselves, are “readable” texts. Although,
not every text has a particular cultural relevance.
Identification of cultural text is somewhat easy. When you look around the classroom or
the place you are right now and see the people or things around you, those you see are cultural
text. Even the spaces that may or may not void to people are considered to be cultural text, the
arrangement and demographic shows how space is used. What is in the space and what happens
to the space is all cultural text or an image that are available for analysis. In other words, the space
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and objects within it are “readable” cultural texts. The purpose, needs, values and even the beliefs
of the people who occupy it had something to say about it.
Why do you know where to sit and what it means to sit in front, middle or back of the
classroom?
How was the room decorated? Can you give conclusion why?
As you consider the questions, you would know that those images, designs, reasons and beliefs
are there, and they are arranged that way because its cultural background says otherwise.
As mentioned a while ago, a text can come from any form and be any kind of writing. It can
be letters, adverts, user-guides, emails, post cards, notes and magazine articles. But then, a text is
not limited to something written down. It can be a film, artifact, or anything in a language and
culture that conveys meaning.
Understanding what kind of text helps to understand the purpose why it was written.
For example:
A user-guide consists of instruction of how to make things run, or how to cook food for
instance. It is write to give instructions.
Persuasive texts
A persuasive text encourages you to do or want something. In writing such, take note that you
may use of proper capitalization, proper punctuation marks and may also use repeated words or
questions to catch attention. Adjectives must be used as often as possible so that it may sound
attractive. One sided arguments help to make the text credible.
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
Evaluating Messages and or/ Images of Different
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Types of Texts Reflecting Different Cultures
Instructive texts
Informative texts
An informative text informs using words of fact and step by step procedures. Common
example of it is the announcement posted in the bulletin board, or news broadcast in the
television.
Descriptive texts
The role of descriptive text is to describe a person, things or an event by using adjectives or
adverbs to clearly emphasize the description process. The writer, upon writing the text clearly
wanted the reader to imagine what is like and how is like by using describing words that appeals
to the five senses of humans.
We all know the sign posted above, it is a clear picture or an image of a man. If we saw this
kind of signage, we understand that the image pertaining to is a “boys only” or “boys are allowed”.
We often see this picture in the restroom. We can analyze this by asking what is the message of the
image? What is the purpose of the message? How is the message conveyed by the text/image?
Who is the target audience? And what are the other ways of presenting the message?
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1. What is the message of the text/message? Men are allowed inside.
2. What is the purpose of the message? To inform that only men are allowed.
3. How is the message conveyed by the text/image? By putting the image of a man and writing the
word male to signify what gender is asked or emphasized.
5. And what are the other ways of presenting the message? Writing the words/sentences completely
that the males are allowed inside or the restroom is for males only.
Activity
5. And what are the other ways of presenting the message? _______________________
PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
Evaluating Messages and or/ Images of Different
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Types of Texts Reflecting Different Cultures
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