Untersuchungen zur Textsortengeschichte im 19. Jahrhundert: Am Beispiel der ersten deutschen Eisenbahnen

The study exemplifies the history of text varieties in the 19th century with reference to the subject of railways. The analysis proceeds in three stages: determining the repertory of text varieties; examining the connections between them (describing text functions in a communicative context); and describing selected text varieties. In this, three lines of development in the handling of text varieties may be identified (sequestration, re-inclusion, change). The tendencies to be observed within this development may be broadly summarized under the headings: acceptance and establishment, norming and standardization, differentiation and specialization, and memorization and control.