tekst

Tekst is a term used in several languages to denote written or printed words that convey information, ideas, or artistic expression. In a broad sense, a text is a coherent sequence of signs designed to communicate to a reader or observer.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin textus, meaning “weave, fabric,” via French texte and related cognates. In Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and other languages, the form tekst marks the same concept.

Texts take many forms, including prose, poetry, dialogue, scripts, transcripts, captions, and lyrics. They may be fictional or factual, persuasive or descriptive, and they are often organized by structure: titles, sections, paragraphs, and sometimes headings, footnotes, and references.

Textual study looks at how texts convey meaning through language, style, tone, and arrangement, and how context, audience, and genre influence interpretation. Techniques include close reading, discourse analysis, and genre analysis.

In the digital era, text is processed and stored as data. It is encoded with character sets such as Unicode, and can be marked up with languages like HTML or XML. Digital texts are searchable, quotable, and linkable, but they are also subject to copyright, licensing, and accessibility considerations.