1. By Mode of Communication:
* Spoken Discourse: This includes conversations, lectures, speeches, etc. It's characterized by spontaneity, interruptions, and use of non-verbal cues.
* Written Discourse: This encompasses essays, articles, novels, emails, etc. It's typically more planned, formal, and uses grammatical structures that differ from spoken language.
2. By Purpose or Function:
* Narrative Discourse: This focuses on telling a story, often with a clear plot and characters. Examples include novels, short stories, and biographies.
* Expository Discourse: This aims to explain or inform the reader about a particular topic. Examples include textbooks, articles, and research papers.
* Persuasive Discourse: This aims to convince the reader or listener to adopt a particular viewpoint or take action. Examples include speeches, advertisements, and political campaigns.
* Descriptive Discourse: This focuses on providing a vivid and detailed account of a person, place, or event. Examples include travelogues, product descriptions, and poems.
3. By Genre:
* Academic Discourse: This includes writing and speaking within the context of academia, characterized by formal language, precise definitions, and citations.
* Professional Discourse: This encompasses communication within a specific profession, such as law, medicine, or business. It's characterized by specialized vocabulary and conventions.
* Public Discourse: This refers to communication that takes place in public spaces, such as political debates, media discussions, and social media.
* Literary Discourse: This includes the language of literature, often characterized by creative use of language, figurative language, and evocative imagery.
4. By Structure or Organization:
* Linear Discourse: This proceeds in a straightforward, sequential manner, with clear transitions between ideas.
* Non-linear Discourse: This features a more complex structure, with elements that may not be presented in a chronological order. Examples include hypertext and web pages.
It's important to remember that these are just some examples, and discourse can be categorized in many different ways depending on the context and purpose of the analysis.