ATLAS OF LANGUAGE

AT-NAV-G01-044 · ATLAS 259

Characterisation

Characterisation creates an image of a person or fictional character through attributed properties and cues from which properties are inferred.

Part of the subject path Rhetoric and Style

Why is this entry in the Atlas?

A · Analytical concept R1 · Distinct contribution to understanding

Characterisation adds the construction of a figure through explicit attribution and inferred properties. Reconstructing a textual character must be distinguished from judging the real author.

Colours and admission grounds

The rectangular label identifies the entry function: F – linguistic figure or procedure; A – analytical concept; G – foundational concept; E – selected concrete case. The rounded badge indicates the admission ground: R1 – distinctive contribution; R2 – necessary foundation; R3 – justified illustrative case. This editorial rationale explains the current selection rather than claiming an undocumented original selection history.

Explanation

Characterisation creates an image of a person or fictional character through attributed properties and cues from which properties are inferred. A narrator may call someone generous while actions, speech and viewpoint support or undermine the claim. The procedure is more than a list of adjectives. Analysis asks who attributes a property, on what grounds and with what reliability within the text. For readers, character emerges as a revisable organisation of information and inference.

Movement of thought

1. Collect information about the character. 2. Separate direct attribution from indirect cues. 3. Identify the attributing voice and perspective. 4. Test discrepancies between judgement, action and speech. 5. Formulate a revisable reconstruction of the character.

Scientific use case

Narratology and computational literary analysis can annotate property attributions, information sources and changes in a character model over time.

Example

A narrator calls Tom helpful. When a colleague needs assistance, he hides his phone. The action destabilises the explicit description.

Counterexample

A shoe size alone need not characterise an attitude, though context can make it significant. Features do not work independently of their presentation.

Distinction

Distinguish identification, physical description and psychological diagnosis. Textual characterisation does not establish a diagnosis of a real person.

Effect on thought and perception

Readers form expectations about behaviour and may have to revise them.

Resonance

A character takes shape through the interplay of its own voice and voices speaking about it.

Provenance

Parallel source review reconciled 2026-10-07; human specialist review not claimed.

Cite this entry

Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Characterisation“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-NAV-G01-044. ATLAS 259, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G01-044

https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-NAV-G01-044

The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. Editorial reading state: 2026-10-15. Include your access date for precise references.