Textpassagen

Textpassagen are substantial portions of a text that function as distinct units of meaning within a larger work. They can vary in length from a single sentence to several pages, depending on context and purpose. In literary analysis, passages are cited to illustrate themes, stylistic features, or rhetorical devices. In teaching, selecting representative passages helps readers study structure, language, and narrative technique. In publishing and journalism, a passage may be quoted as an excerpt or quotation, typically enclosed in quotation marks and attributed to the source.

In digital editing and information retrieval, the term refers to a contiguous block of text that can be indexed, searched, highlighted, or annotated. Text segmentation often relies on boundaries such as paragraphs, sections, or predefined retrieval units to define passages. In copyediting, identifying key passages aids in assessing flow, coherence, and emphasis, and to ensure consistency with style guides.

Legal and ethical considerations also apply. Quoting passages is governed by copyright law, with exemptions in many jurisdictions for purposes such as criticism, commentary, or education. Even when permissible, proper attribution and limits on length are typically required to respect the rights of the original author.

In multilingual and translation contexts, passages are treated as units for translation or localization, with attention to preserving context and meaning. The term is common in German-language discourse and is also used in English-language publishing as “text passage” or “passage.”