Text, Context and Intertextuality
Laras Sekarwulan/126332047
Foundation of English Literature
Text, Context and Intertextuality
The term text, context and intertextuality are closely related. The word text is embedded with word context and intertextuality. The meaning of the term text is any kinds of written words that will be used in a certain context—cultural or social economy context—and the relation of each text to the texts surrounding it called intertextuality. Thus, when we read a text, we have to think about the interrelatedness’ between in what context it is written and how it is rely on other text as well. According to Pope (2002:245) a text can be distinguished into two basic senses of the text, one narrow, the other broad. In the narrow sense the text is a verbal massage, such as a printed magazine, or newspaper, a written or printed novel, tape recording or transcript of a conversation, etc. It can be discriminate from unrecorded languages in the form of spontaneous speech and conversation, and from messages in non-verbal code such as painting, photography, architecture and music. Thus, we can say that a text must be a written language. On the other hand, in broad sense, the text includes everything from poems, adverts and film to painting, photos, shopping malls and the whole cityscapes. . Here, the definition of text is to general since it defines text as a cultural object produced by people rather than a natural object untouched by human hand or mind. Therefore, in this sense, text is not limited to written language only. To get a further significance from a text we have to know the context. As mentioned by Pope, context refers to all those physical and cultural conditions that influence us to comprehend a text. Thus, the text will be more meaningful when understand the context. Furthermore, to get a better point of view, we need intertextuality. Intertextuality is not just a matter of which other texts we refer to, but how we use them, what we use them for.
Foundation of English Literature
Text, Context and Intertextuality
The term text, context and intertextuality are closely related. The word text is embedded with word context and intertextuality. The meaning of the term text is any kinds of written words that will be used in a certain context—cultural or social economy context—and the relation of each text to the texts surrounding it called intertextuality. Thus, when we read a text, we have to think about the interrelatedness’ between in what context it is written and how it is rely on other text as well. According to Pope (2002:245) a text can be distinguished into two basic senses of the text, one narrow, the other broad. In the narrow sense the text is a verbal massage, such as a printed magazine, or newspaper, a written or printed novel, tape recording or transcript of a conversation, etc. It can be discriminate from unrecorded languages in the form of spontaneous speech and conversation, and from messages in non-verbal code such as painting, photography, architecture and music. Thus, we can say that a text must be a written language. On the other hand, in broad sense, the text includes everything from poems, adverts and film to painting, photos, shopping malls and the whole cityscapes. . Here, the definition of text is to general since it defines text as a cultural object produced by people rather than a natural object untouched by human hand or mind. Therefore, in this sense, text is not limited to written language only. To get a further significance from a text we have to know the context. As mentioned by Pope, context refers to all those physical and cultural conditions that influence us to comprehend a text. Thus, the text will be more meaningful when understand the context. Furthermore, to get a better point of view, we need intertextuality. Intertextuality is not just a matter of which other texts we refer to, but how we use them, what we use them for.
References: Pope, R. (2002) The English Studies Book: An introduction to language, literature and culture, London and New York: Routledge.