Understanding Functions of Typography in Teenage Novels

Abstract

This study explores the functions of typography in teenage novels. Typography is a form of multimodality that rarely gains attention. It is considered multimodal because it facilitates the construction of meaning of two modes i.e. written language and its visual presentation. The preliminary stage of this study is an observation on teenage novels, which revealed the use of a combination of standard computer-produced fonts and ornamental hand-writing like fonts in their pages. Therefore, the study aims to elaborate the functions of typography found in these teenage novels. The data analyses were conducted using Stöckl’s framework in typography analysis, which posit that based on its position in the text, typography can occupy different domains of microtypography, mesotypography, and macrotypography. Further, the different forms of typography found in these levels will be elaborated based on the functions relative to the main plot of the story in the novels. The result of the study will provide insights on the functions of the typography for the possible reading mechanism of teenage novels.  Keywords: typography, font, hand-writing, microtypography, teenage novels