The appellative texts they are the ones who try to persuade the reader. Its objective is to convince and achieve an action on the part of the receiver.
Appellate texts are often found in instructions, advertisements, classifieds, solicitations, slogans, readers’ letters, and speeches. Although in these texts the appellative function of language prevails, other functions such as referential or phatic can also be used.
To achieve their objective, appellative texts use various resources:
- Direct orders. Through the imperative mood or the infinitives you can tell the reader to do something. For instance: Beat three eggs and combine to mix. / Trust us.
- Suggestions. Through the potential mode and other language constructions, a certain action can be suggested. For instance: It may be better if you see your doctor.
- Argumentation. The reasons why an idea is valid are explained, with the aim of obtaining a reaction in the reader. For instance: Your brother is smaller and I can’t defend himself. Therefore, you should not hit him.
Appellate text examples
- Reduce belly fat by eliminating two key foods from your diet.
- It is time to have clear answers. It is a present issue in our society, and it seems to grow without any restraint.
- Let’s not lose hope in the future. Of course, let’s work every day, to try to make it the best possible.
- Officials, do not comment on this stupidity.
- Think different.
- Eliminating this practice because of the dangers it entails is like suspending skydiving because some parachutes do not open.
- Say yes to life, no to drugs.
- You can be the next queen. Encourage to participate.
- Vote for the party that represents you. Vote smart change.
- Choose lower-fat cuts of meat, as this preparation includes various fatty substances.
- This season you can try bolder colors.
- To optimize your study time, don’t try to memorize phrases literally. Look for logical relationships between the different data.
- In addition to the resume, the interviewer will observe different aspects of you. Maintaining a friendly but discreet treatment facilitates the approach.
- Your country needs you. Join the armed forces.
- With the onset of heat, choosing bars with terraces is the best option.
Text characteristics
The texts have a communicative intention. This intention acquires a specific meaning in the context in which it is written and read. Therefore, to understand the meaning of a text we must know its context.
The characteristics of a text are:
- Coherence. A text cannot be contradicted and must refer to a single topic, although the various aspects of it can be detailed.
- Cohesion. The parts of a text must be related to each other.
- Communicative intention. The texts are directed to a receiver and their strategies aim to convey something specific to that receiver.
- Meaning. The texts refer to something other than themselves. They can be objects, people or events, or other texts.