RELATIONSHIP OF METATEXT AND PROTOTEXT

Sun Xin

This article examines the relationship between metatext and prototext, the study of metatext is a new area of discourse analysis in recent times. Metatext refers to the linguistic means used to organize the text, interpret the information conveyed by the text, and express the attitude of the author; metatext and prototext are separated within the structural hierarchy of the text. The main conclusions are that metatext and prototext are closely related and interact, both play an important role in successful communication. However, there are also differences, which are reflected mainly in three aspects: the content of expression, the purpose of use, and the mode of action. The prototext expresses the propositional content of the discourse and can directly convey objective information, while the metatext, being an auxiliary medium, does not include the propositional content, but only helps to organize and organize the text and expresses the part of the discourse where the author-reader interaction occurs. Moreover, metatextual regulation is directed at the prototext itself in the same communicative communication.

Keywords:text, metatext, prototext, communication