Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Narrative Discourse

Definition: 

A narrative discourse is a discourse that is an account of events, usually in the past, that employs verbs of speech, motion, and action to describe a series of events that are contingent one on another, and that typically focuses on one or more performers of actions.

Examples: 

Folk stories

  • Stories about real or imagined ancestors, often containing supernatural elements

Historical events

  • Stories or accounts about the social and political history of the world and its contacts with the rest of the world

Mythology

  • Stories explaining origins, natural phenomena, or social and religious customs, often involving the supernatural

Personal experience

  • Accounts of significant events in the life of the narrator or the community
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