Digital Requests for Academic Help: the Context of Situation

Abstract

Digital genres usually present features which have not been crystallized. Nevertheless, by means of principles of Genre Analysis (Swales, 1990, 1992; Bhatia, 1993, 2004) and concepts from Systemic-Functional Grammar (Halliday, 1970, 1989; Halliday & Hasan, 1985; Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004), some recurring features can be identifi ed. This research aims at investigating a set of emails whose main communicative purpose is to request academic help in a discussion list in Portuguese where those interested in Languages interact and exchange information. The study of Context of Situation (Halliday, 1970, 1989; Halliday & Hasan, 1985; Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004) shows the social relevance of this digital genre.