Text, context, intertext

Abstract

The etymology of the terms text, context and intertext is traced as an introduction to an exposition of their linguistic and poetic post-structural usage. In this respect some problems are indicated. Finally the possible application of deconstruction criticism in teach­ing pre-graduate students is shown.
The post-structuralist view of the text as process or productive activity is found to be compatible with historical criticism. Since historical contexts are inexhaustible and of necessity textualised, the methodological field of the intertext is advanced as the site of interaction between text, context (genetic and citational), and the critic's strategic re-citing of the text.

Opsomming
Die etimologie van die terme teks, konteks en interteks word nagegaan as 'n inleiding tot 'n eksposisie van hulle linguistiese en poetiese post-strukturele gebruik. Sommige probleme in hierdie verband word aangedui. Ten slotte word die moontlike toepassing van dekon­struksiekritiek in die onderrig van voorgraadse studente aangetoon.
Daar word bevind dat die post-strukturalistiese beskouing van die teks as 'n proses of produktiewe aktiwiteit verenigbaar is met historiese kritiek. Aangesien historiese kontekste onuitputlik is en noodwendig getekstualiseerd is, word die metodologiese gebied van die interteks voorgestel as die terrein van interaksie tussen die teks, die konteks (geneties en siterend) en die kritikus se strategiese hersitering van die teks.