Les Textes: Types et Prototypes (1992), Jean-Michel Adam proposes analyzing complex texts through five fundamental "prototypical sequences"—narrative, descriptive, argumentative, explanatory, and dialogic—rather than rigid categorization. This framework, often applied in French linguistics, emphasizes text heterogeneity, where texts approximate these prototypes rather than conforming to them perfectly. For an overview of this textual classification, see the summary on Moodle@Units
: Most texts are composed of several different types of sequences. For example, a narrative text often includes descriptive sequences. The Five Prototypical Sequences Jean Michel Adam Les Textes Types Et Prototypes.pdf
Adam’s work remains a . Its prototype-based, sequence-oriented view avoids naive typologizing while offering real tools for analysis. However, readers should complement it with more recent work on genre, multimodality, and digital texts. Les Textes: Types et Prototypes (1992), Jean-Michel Adam
Prototypes are exemplary representations of each text type. They serve as models or templates that illustrate the typical characteristics of a text type. Prototypes can help writers, communicators, and analysts understand the structural and linguistic features of a particular text type. Le Type Dialogal (Dialogic) Heterogeneity : Most texts
Understanding Text Types and Prototypes: A Key Resource by Jean-Michel Adam