Definition of Description Text and Characteristics - Structure, Complete with Examples

Kapanlagi.com - When we were still in school, we learned about several types of texts, one of which is description text. This type of text is quite often found in various books. Description text is a type of text that contains a depiction of an object. It can describe not only objects, but also places, events, atmospheres, and even people.

Description text aims to provide readers with a description of the object being discussed. The content of description text is generally written with concrete depictions of objects. This allows readers to imagine and experience the object in terms of its physical form, attitude, time, and other aspects.

To better understand, here is a review of description text, complete with characteristics and its structure, summarized from various sources.

1. Understanding Description Text

(credit: freepik)

As mentioned earlier, description text is a type of text written to describe a specific object. Therefore, description text is written based on observations or sensory experiences, such as seeing, touching, and feeling. As a result, description text feels so real and can make readers imagine the described object.

Gorys Keraf, a language expert, describes description text as one form of discourse that specifically attempts to present an object being discussed in a clear manner, making the object seem as if it can be seen directly by the reader. In other words, it is as if the object being discussed is truly in front of the reader's eyes.

2. Characteristics of Description Text

(credit: freepik)

It is not difficult to identify description text. This is because description text has distinctive characteristics that differentiate it from other types of texts. The following are the characteristics of description text.

1) Description text aims to describe an object such as an object, place, feeling, or specific atmosphere.

2) To support the description, description text often involves sensory experiences such as sight, hearing, smell, and touch.

3) Description text describes the physical characteristics or qualities of the object being described. For example, size, shape, color, texture, and so on.

4) Description text provides clear and detailed explanations of the object.

5) Description text uses words that convey qualities or conditions.

6) Description text uses synonymous words with strong emotional connotations.

7) Description text often uses figures of speech. This is used to depict things more concretely.

8) Description text describes objects in detail based on color, shape, size, physical, and psychological characteristics.

9) Description text often includes personal pronouns, especially when a person or human is the object being described.

3. The Use of Language in Descriptive Texts

The difference between descriptive texts and other types of texts can also be seen in terms of language usage. Descriptive texts have a distinctive style of language. Here are some characteristics of language usage in descriptive texts.

1) Descriptive texts use words that directly refer to the name of the object with personal pronouns.

2) Descriptive texts use definitive verbs. For example, adalah (is), ialah (is), merupakan (is), and yaitu (is).

3) Descriptive texts use material verbs to indicate physical actions. For example, menjulang (towering), melompat (jumping), and berlari (running).

4) Descriptive texts use adjectives to describe objects. For example, berwarna putih (white-colored), bening (clear), bersih (clean), lebar (wide), and indah (beautiful).

4. Structure of Descriptive Texts

In addition to the above characteristics, the characteristics of descriptive texts can also be seen from their distinctive structure. Descriptive texts consist of three structural parts. These three structural parts are as follows.

1) Identification

Identification is a part of the structure of descriptive texts that contains the determination of the identity of the object being described.

2) Classification

The classification part in descriptive texts becomes the constituent elements that are systematized into a group, according to the rules or standards that have been previously established.

3) Core Part

The core part in descriptive texts is the part that contains the description or exposition of the object being discussed.

5. Types of Descriptive Texts

(credit: freepik)

Descriptive text is one of the most popular and commonly encountered types of texts. Although its purpose is to describe an object, descriptive text can still be differentiated into several types. Here are the types of descriptive texts along with their explanations.

1) Objective Description

This type of descriptive text explains an object through objective explanations. It means that it is based solely on the object's condition, without the addition of the author's opinion or judgment.

2) Spatial Description

This type of descriptive text describes objects in the form of space, places, and things. This type of descriptive text only explains the object physically.

3) Subjective Description

Subjective descriptive text is a text that describes an object based on the author's impression or judgment.

6. Example of Descriptive Text

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To better understand, you can read the example description text below, which describes the beauty of Ngobaran Beach. While reading it, try to imagine the scenery and situation described in the text.

Ngobaran Beach

Yesterday, I went on vacation to Ngobaran Beach. Ngobaran Beach is located in Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta Province. This beach is very beautiful. Ngobaran Beach is not very wide, but it has a very distinctive atmosphere.

Ngobaran Beach has a short coastline. To reach the coastline of Ngobaran Beach, we need to descend some not too high rocks. Usually, people prefer to relax in the upper part of the beach area.

The upper part of the beach is what looks distinctive and beautiful. There are beautiful structures like a temple. In the temple, there are statues made of black stone. Besides the temple, there is also a small mosque. Interestingly, the mosque has a sandy beach floor.

Ngobaran Beach is indeed very distinctive and beautiful. The weather there is very cool. In addition, the environment is still very clean. The beach water is also clean and clear. Many people enjoy taking photos there.

(text source: https://portal-ilmu.com/)

Those are some reviews about description texts along with their characteristics, structure, and examples. Hopefully, they are easy to understand and useful.

(kpl/psp)