2.5.4 Function of orientation Bhatia distinguishes between three forms of functional orientation, which the analyst can choose to employ when doing a genre analysis; and the choice which will ultimately depend upon the motivating purpose for conducting the analysis . The three forms are: Linguistics and genre analysis Sociology and analysis Psychology and genre analysis 2.5.4.1 Linguistics and analysis The linguistics and analysis is predominantly oriented towards emphasizing the linguistic features of a text which may be regarded as a register or stylistic analysis . Bhatia states that: “the analysts in most of these studies have generally been quite excited about an above-average incidence or even a lack of certain linguistic features, be they lexical, grammatical or even discoursal/rhetorical, in the texts under study” . Such an analysis can associate language features with specific types of writing or styles; however it does not distinguish a register from a genre and this can according to Bhatia contribute to misinterpret the communicative purpose of the text . 2.5.4.2 Sociology and genre analysis This approach is focusing on the sociological aspect of the text, and this makes it possible for the analyst to: understand how a particular genre defines, organizes and finally communicates “[…] social reality” . This type of analysis does not see the text as processing meaning on its own, the analyst has to connect it into the context of social roles, group purposes, professional and “[…] organizational preferences, and prerequisites, and even cultural constraints” . Furthermore, the sociological approach focuses on the typical conventional features which makes up a genre; and usually offers an answer to why members of a certain speech community write the way they do .
2.5.4 Function of orientation Bhatia distinguishes between three forms of functional orientation, which the analyst can choose to employ when doing a genre analysis; and the choice which will ultimately depend upon the motivating purpose for conducting the analysis . The three forms are: Linguistics and genre analysis Sociology and analysis Psychology and genre analysis 2.5.4.1 Linguistics and analysis The linguistics and analysis is predominantly oriented towards emphasizing the linguistic features of a text which may be regarded as a register or stylistic analysis . Bhatia states that: “the analysts in most of these studies have generally been quite excited about an above-average incidence or even a lack of certain linguistic features, be they lexical, grammatical or even discoursal/rhetorical, in the texts under study” . Such an analysis can associate language features with specific types of writing or styles; however it does not distinguish a register from a genre and this can according to Bhatia contribute to misinterpret the communicative purpose of the text . 2.5.4.2 Sociology and genre analysis This approach is focusing on the sociological aspect of the text, and this makes it possible for the analyst to: “[…] understand how a particular genre defines, organizes and finally communicates social reality” . This type of analysis does not see the text as processing meaning on its own, the analyst has to connect it into the context of “[…] social roles, group purposes, professional and organizational preferences, and prerequisites, and even cultural constraints” . Furthermore, the sociological approach focuses on the typical conventional features which makes up a genre; and usually offers an answer to why members of a certain speech community write the way they do .
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