EXPLORING TEXTS TO INVENT MEANING FROM EVIDENCE: A DISCOURSE-BASED APPROACH TO READING
Abstract
Understanding a text is not simply a matter of  interpreting words and grammar. Readers actively construct meaning by drawing on linguistic, contextual, and cultural evidence. This article explores how learners infer meaning from texts, even when they do not know the language or writing system. Drawing on principles of discourse analysis and classroom activities adapted from Thornbury (2005), the paper demonstrates how texts serve as rich sources of linguistic and cultural information. Practical activities are presented to help learners develop strategies for interpreting texts, identifying patterns, and making evidence-based inferences.
Keywords
text, discourse analysis, reading strategies, inference, context, hieroglyphs, meaning-making
References
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- Halliday, M. A. K., & Hasan, R. (1976). Cohesion in English. London: Longman.
- Sweet, H. (1899). The Practical Study of Languages. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Thornbury, S. (2005). Beyond the Sentence: Introducing Discourse Analysis. Oxford: Macmillan Education.