Characteristics of institutional discourse

Modern linguistics attributes analysis of discourse to a most actual scientific problem. The paper considers different approaches to study of discourse, gives its short characteristics, describes its linguistic and extra linguistic features, and provides definitions of discourse. The article also describes several models of institutional discourse, the main features of which are normativeness, conventionality, hierarchy, appellate character, integrity, consistency etc. The author of the article carries out comparative analysis of the terms “text” and “discourse”, taking into account various frames of reference of scholars dealing with this problem, considers some kinds of institutional discourse (e.g. electronic, pedagogical). Special attention is paid to academic discourse defined as a complex of all possible texts, which reflect scientific knowledge and have a high degree of inter-textuality.