When discussing text in relation to digital rhetoric Eyman broadens the definition of text by using a criteria of textuality. This criteria is based off of Robert De Beaugrande and Wolfgang Dressler’s theory on text which includes 7 elements: cohesion, coherence, intentionality, acceptability, informativitiy, situationality, and intertextuality.
In this article I will provide some examples of these elements in action. These examples should to not only demonstrate how prevalent these traits are in digital text but to also help improve understanding of this criteria by giving it’s traits a more tangible real world reference that you can draw upon.
Examples
Cohesion in digital text can vary in digital spaces. In some spaces grammatical rules are looser and some are more strict. When you text you may be looser when it comes to using proper grammar. You might resort to shorthands (i.e ur or l8r), abbreviations, or even emojis in lieu of any words. My professional digital spaces, like professional networking sites, may call for the use of traditional grammatical structure in text.
Acceptability is when your text matches with your intentions. Let’s say for example you have two Twitter (X) accounts. You have a professional one, one that made to build your personal brand and it’s the one that you provide to employers and clients. There’s also a personal one where you often post memes and content about your favorite shows and games. You wouldn’t intentionally post a meme from your personal account on your professional one, would you? No, because it would defy the intentions of your of your professional account.
A popular example of intertextuality practiced in digital spaces is memes. Intertexuality is a text that references a preexisting discourse. Memes, which often combine text and image, are often used to reference a shared experiences. These are most effective those whose experiences mirror what’s referenced.
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