DONE BY: OLA RADWAN
The assignment of discourse analysis
An Italian stray cat named Tommasino inherited £10 million after its owner,
Maria Assunta, passed away at the age of 94. The fortune, consisting of a
significant property portfolio, bank accounts, and shares, was left to the cat
through a will written in 2009 and deposited with lawyers in Rome. While
Italian law prohibits direct inheritance by animals, Assunta’s will stipulated
that if a suitable animal welfare organization could not be found, the funds
would support Tommasino indirectly. Despite inquiries, the lawyers did not
find an appropriate organization to fulfill this role.
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The analysis text as the following:
Type and Genre Analysis of the Text
1. Type:
Expository Text: The text provides factual information about an event,
explaining how a cat inherited a fortune. It follows a logical structure and
focuses on details like the amount inherited, the owner’s background, and
legal considerations.
2. Genre:
News Report: The text belongs to the journalistic genre, specifically a human-
interest news story. Its purpose is to inform readers about an unusual and
engaging event. The presence of quotes, legal context, and references to
reliable sources (e.g., the ‘Daily Mail’) supports its classification as a news
article.
Topic and Theme Analysis of the Text
1. Topic:
The primary topic of the text is the inheritance of a £10 million fortune by a
stray cat, Tommasino, following the death of its wealthy owner, Maria
Assunta. It focuses on the legal, personal, and financial aspects of the
unusual inheritance case.
2. Theme:
Wealth and Ownership: The story explores how substantial wealth is
managed when conventional heirs are absent.
Love for Animals: A broader theme is the owner’s affection for animals, which
led her to leave her fortune to a cat.
Unusual Inheritances: The text highlights the quirky and unexpected nature
of legal cases involving non-human beneficiaries.
Legal and Ethical Considerations: It briefly touches on the complexities of
Italian inheritance law and the ethical questions surrounding the choice of
beneficiaries.
Tone Analysis of the Text
1. Informative:
The text presents factual information about the event in a straightforward
manner, providing details about the inheritance, the owner’s background,
and the legal aspects.
2. Curious and Intriguing:
The unusual nature of the story—a cat inheriting a £10 million fortune—
creates a sense of fascination. The choice of words like ”believe it or not”
reflects an effort to engage readers with the eccentricity of the event.
3. Neutral and Objective:
Despite the peculiar subject matter, the tone remains balanced, avoiding
sensationalism. It uses quotes from lawyers and references legal facts to
maintain credibility and objectivity.
4. Subtlely Humorous:
The story’s inherent absurdity lends it a lighthearted undertone, though the
text itself refrains from overtly humorous language, allowing readers to draw
amusement from the situation independently.
Word Analysis of the Text:
1. Vocabulary:
Formal and Professional: Words such as “fortune,” “estate,” “lawyers,”
“inherit,” and “portfolio” reflect the legal and financial nature of the story,
providing a formal tone.
Descriptive and Specific: Terms like “stray cat,” “£10 million,” “property
portfolio,” and “worthy animal association” provide specific details to
enhance the reader’s understanding.
2. Simplicity and Clarity:
The text avoids overly complex language, making it accessible to a broad
audience. For example, phrases like “stray cat she had found and looked
after” are straightforward and clear.
3. Neutral and Objective:
The word choice remains neutral, avoiding emotionally charged or
opinionated terms. This maintains an objective presentation of the facts.
4. Engaging Phrases:
Expressions such as “Believe it or not” are included to spark curiosity and
draw readers into the unusual nature of the story.
5. Legal and Contextual Terminology:
Words like “will,” “inheritance,” and “Italian law" provide context about the
legal framework and ensure the story is grounded in its factual basis.