Angelita  Quevedo  Língua  Inglesa:  Língua  e  Documentos  –  1/2010  

Unit  2:  Describing  –  Step  1  

 

P O N T I F Í C I A   U N I V E R S I D A D E   C A T Ó L I C A   D E   S Ã O   P A U L O  F A C U L D A D E   D E   F I L O S O F I A ,   C O M U N I C A Ç Ã O ,   L E T R A S   E   A R T E S  

escriptions   relate   to   the  

nature  of  people,  places  or  things,  

especially.   They   are   usually  

interspersed   in   other   types   of   texts,   whether  

fiction  or  non-­‐fiction.

Formally,  describing  orders  things  into  various  

ways   of   knowing   them.   The   ordering   process  

works   in   several   ways;   first,   it   generally   names  

the   thing,   then   it   classifies   it,   and   then   it   deals  

with   its   attributes,   behaviors,   functions   and   so  

on.

 

C LA S S I F I CAT ION

Language   enables   classification   of   the  

concrete   world   of   experience   through   its   ability  

to   apply   names   to   things.   Thus   the   naming  

process   is   a   way   of   taxonomising   and   ordering  

things   into   commonsense   (everyday)   or  

technically  determined  categories.  Classifications  

can  be  technical  or  commonsense,  depending  on  

the   context   within   which   the   topic   or  

phenomenon  is  being  described.  

Classification  and  description  go  hand  in  hand;  

we   cannot   describe   anything   unless  

we   classify   it   into   some   sort   of   cultural   taxonomy   or   framework,   whether   scientific/technical   or  

commonsense/everyday.  

Let’s  know  a  bit  more  about  descriptions?  

 

D  

 

 

Descriptions  in  Non-­‐Fiction  

When   we   write   reports,   articles,   essays,   when   we   analyze   something,   a   description   can   help   us  

highlight  the  essential  differences  between  two  items  we  are  discussing.    Let’s  consider  a  little  bit  about  

descriptions  in  non-­‐fiction  texts  first.  Read  the  extract  below:    

     G      U      A      R      U      J      Á  

 

Founded  on  September  02,  1893,  Guarujá  became  a  traditional  summer  vacation  destination  for  

the  Brazilians,  especially  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  State  of  São  Paulo.  The  city  is  only  89  Km  (55.3  

mi.)  away  from  the  capital  of  the  state  of  São  Paulo.  With  both  busy  and  almost  desert  beaches,  

the  city  has  something  to  offer  both  for  those  looking  for  fun  and  for  those  who  want  to  rest.  But  

the   coast   is   not   Guarujá’s   only   attraction.   The   island   also   has   one   of   the   oldest   golf   courses   in  

Brazil,   inaugurated   in   December   of   1960.   The   course   covers   an   area   of   200   thousand   square  

meters   (239.2   square   yards),   with   11   holes.   Guarujá’s   golf   course   is   considered   a   difficult   one,  

demanding  both  expertise  and  precision  from  the  players.  The  six  artificial  ponds  are  themselves  

quite  a  big   challenge.  They  are  near  practically  every  hole.  The  practice  of  other   sports,   such  as  

tennis  and  surfing,  also  has  room  in  the   Island.  Every  year   the   island  hosts  competitions  of  both  

sports.  Besides,  there  is  a  bike  lane  stretching  over  the  whole  border  of  the  Bay,  thus  perfect  for  a  

bicycle  ride.  Guarujá  offers  practically  all  services  found  in  big  cities:  shopping  mall,  supermarkets,  

hotels,  and  restaurants.  Its  nightlife  is  very  intense,  with  many  bars  and  nightclubs.      

Fonte:    

http://www.braziltour.com/site/en/cidades/materia.php?produtos=0&id_cidade=8540&regioes=206&estados=353  

Now,  let’s  take  the  chance  to  study  the  

text   above.   As   far   as   vocabulary,     you   can  

list   all  adjectives,   adverbs   and   descriptive  

terms  used  in  the  text  and  register  them  in  

you  Vocabulary  Log.  

It  is  common  to  find  this  type  of  text  

in  touristic  brochures,  so  a  good   idea   is  

to   research  on   this   type  of   genre.   Let’s  

focus  on  the  touristic  brochures  we  find  

in  Internet.  

Read   pages   2-­‐3   from   Kuala   Lumpur   e-­‐

brochure:  

http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/ebroch

ure/index.asp?id=b520b939  

 

Read  p.  6  from  Queensland  e-­‐brochure:  

http://www.eyemag.se/core/main.php?

&SITEID=7b843&PROJECTNR=3004&PH

PSESSID=7b269234303aa9de0c3be85b6

0868fda  

 

 

 

 

 

a. How  do  the  e-­‐brochures  display  the  cities  for  tourists?  

• Kuala  Lumpur:  

• Queensland:  

b. Do  you  think  their  description  is:  

•  realistic?  

•  stereotypical?    

• romantic?      

c.  What  are  the  characteristics  of  the  language  they  use?  

d.  Do  the  descriptions  depict  values  through  word  choice?  Give  examples.  

Submit  your  work  in:  Unit  2:  E-­‐brochures  analysis.