The Problem of Speech Genres

“[…] Bakhtin begins by noting that human activity is inextricably related to the use of language, the nature and forms of this use being just as diverse as are the areas of human activity. Bakhtin’s point is that each sphere in which language is used develops its own relatively stable utterance types, which he terms them speech genres. Bakhtin distinguishes between primary and secondary speech genres; the latter includes novels, poetry, drama, scientific treatises, etc. In the process of their formation, they absorb and digest various primary genres. According to Bakhtin it is impossible to speak or write outside of such genres. We acquire them in the process of acquiring our native language, mastering them before we master the elements of grammar. The forms of language and the typical forms of utterances—speech genres— enter our experience and our consciousness together. The speaker’s evaluative attitude towards his subject determines his lexical, grammatical, and compositional choices. This expressiveness is not a property of the linguistic units themselves but is imparted to them by the person using them through the use of a particular speech genre. Bakhtin stresses that one of the essential characteristics of the utterance is its addressivity, or its quality of being directed to someone.”