isotopy
- noun
- /ˈaɪsəˌtoʊpi/
- Literature
- In fact, modern text theory began with the idea that the text is a global entity, and this totality has been conceptualized in terms such as Greimas's isotopy, Dijk's macrostructure, Halliday's cohesion, and so on.
Examples
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The author's use of isotopy throughout the novel helps unify the central themes.
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She explained how isotopy contributes to the coherence of the narrative by linking similar ideas across different chapters.
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In his analysis, he noted the isotopy present in the repeated imagery, which strengthened the text's overall message.
How Repetitive
Surface Forms
Morphology
isotopy = iso + topy
The same bound combining elements underlie the semiotic sense; the components are specialized and not transparent to average learners, so the meaning cannot be derived from the parts.
Etymology
Isotopy comes from the Greek parts iso- ('equal') and topos ('place'), which you can remember as 'the same place'. In literature, an isotopy is a repeated idea or meaning that appears across a text, so the root helps remind you that these themes stay in the 'same place' of meaning and make the work feel connected.