Textsortenspezifik im Netz

The purpose of this papers to show the specific features of communications forms and text types on the Net, starting from the conceptual delimitation of the terminology used in research literature. Definitions such a text, text types, communication forms and communicative genres form the basis to establish the criteria for determination of analogue as well as digital texts. Text types are shaped by internal and external features, therefore the media related characteristics have to be taken into particular consideration. Besides the description model by Brinker, the article refers also to an approach based on a semasiologic analysis with the aim to record the digital characteristics. The hypertext is indicated as an example for a new form of communication which produces specific text types on the Net. The new conditions of communication have indeed produced particular means of expression but they shouldn't entitle to the assumption of a specific “Net language” . In the future the attention should rather be turned to the analysis of single texts and discourses on the Net. An expansion and reorientation in the selection of textlinguistical perspectives, based on existing textlinguistical approaches is suggested.