Text and Discourse in Linguistics: Concepts, Distinctions, And Theoretical Perspectives

Abstract

This article examines the interrelated concepts of text and discourse in linguistics, highlighting their distinctive features, theoretical foundations, and methodological approaches. Drawing on definitions from leading scholars—T. A. van Dijk, V. E. Chernyavskaya, A. A. Kibrik, V. Maas, and N. D. Arutyunova—it delineates discourse as a dynamic, context-bound communicative event encompassing extra-linguistic factors (intonation, gestures, cultural knowledge) that extend beyond the static product that is text. The discussion outlines key parameters of discourse—coherence, extra-linguistic context, and communicative purpose—and contrasts two principal research orientations: text analysis (structural units) and discourse analysis (participants, goals, context). It surveys major analytical frameworks including systemic-functional grammar, pragmatic macro- and micro-structures, conversation analysis, cognitive models, and critical discourse analysis. The article also reviews contributions from Uzbek linguistics, illustrating how scholars integrate these global theories within local research on dialogic interaction, corpus methods, and socio-pragmatic dimensions. By synthesizing diverse perspectives, the study underscores discourse as a multifaceted phenomenon essential for understanding language as both process and product, and for exploring how linguistic activity reflects and shapes cognition, society, and culture.