CHAPTER 4 LONG FUNCTIONAL TEXT
Dra. Malikatul Laila, M.Hum.
4.1. Introduction The term “long” functional text is rarely used in communication. This chapter uses
the term “long” functional text only to make the counterpart of the previous term, i.e. short functional text. In daily speech, there are many types of functional texts, not only in the
forms of short functional texts such as prohibition, invitation, greeting cards, short message, etc., but also in the forms of long functional texts or essays. Essay writings are
meant to help readers accomplish an everyday task and form culturally text-types or genres. A text forms a piece of language use or a record of a communicative act, or the so
called ‘language which is functional’ Halliday and Hasan, 1985. In general, texts which have the same sorts of meaning andor the same structural elements are said to be the
same text type.
Long functional texts are so called due not only to the length in the writing, but also the process of the interpreting which requires specific recognition of their structures and
situation. A text will be meaningless if it is taken apart from its structure and situation. Long functional texts are also classified on the basis of the intention of the communicator.
Based on its communicative purposes, text varies in the course of its function, generic structure, language feature, and vocabularies. To communicate purpose, ones may
construct texts in specific structures and use certain linguistic features in conjunction with particular vocabularies.
4.2. The Types of Long Functional Text This chapter presents 13 types of text including Narrative, Recount, Descriptive,
Procedure, Report, Anecdote, Hortatory, Spoof, Explanation, Discussion, News Item text, Review, and Analytical Exposition text. The discussion on each text covers the functional
structure of the text, examples, and exercises. The following is the elaboration of each text.
4.2.1. Narrative Text
a. Social Function
Narrative text is a kind of story or event narrated or retold in spoken or written of which social function is to entertain its readers. It may cover legends, fables,
stories of man vs. animal, love stories, or other folktales. Narrative text—often written based on life experience—will tell the story in a amusing way and provides an
esthetic literary experience to its readers. In the literary term, experience is what people do, feel, hear, read, even what they dream.
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b. Generic Structure of Narrative Text Text Elements
Content Orientation
An introduction to the characters and setting of the events story.
Complication events that lead to
climax The events which lead to the climax. It explores the
conflict in the story and will show the crisis, rising crisis and climax of the story. The sequences of events may
include: -A description of events as they occur:
First…, Next…, Later,.. After… -Sequences of events particular to each character:
While…, As…, Meanwhile…, When…, one day.
Resolution
It shows the situation in which the problems have been resolved: fail or succeed, and describes the ending
relating to the main characters, e.g. what they look like, sad or happy?
c. Language Features
The language features in Narrative text include the following indicators: 1. Certain nouns, pronouns, animals, and certain things in the story, such as
maid, stepsisters, housework, etc. 2. Adjectives extending noun phrases, such as long black hair, two red apples,
etc. 3. Time connectives and conjunctions to make events sequence, such as then,
before that, soon, next, etc. 4. Adverbs and adverbial phrases to show location and time of events, such as
here, in the mountain, happily ever after, etc. 5. Action verbs in past tense: stayed, climbed, jumped, etc.
6. Saying verbs indicating untterance such as said, told, promised, and thinking verbs identifying the thought, perception or feeling of the characters in the
story, such as thought, understood, felt, seemed, etc. 7. The use of Past Tense
d. Example of a Narrative Text The smartest Parrot
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