Informativity

Informativity is a criterion of textuality according to Beaugrande / Dressler .

A text is informative precisely when it brings new information for the recipient . The associated unexpectedness for the text recipient increases their attention , provided that the new knowledge can build on existing knowledge. Discontinuities (missing information) and discrepancies (contradicting information) interfere with the reception of information because the recipient of the text cannot correctly classify the information in the existing knowledge. Further parameters that determine the informativity of a text are:

• Facts (standard cases)
• Belief systems (beliefs / attitudes)
• negation
• Definiteness / indefiniteness in the use of articles (part of speech) .