Salience and Coherence in Texts: Visual, Linguistic, Gestural,
Audio and Spatial
Salience is the state or condition of being prominent. The Oxford English Dictionary defines salience
as "most noticeable or important." The concept is discussed in communication, semiotics, linguistics,
sociology, psychology, and political science. It has been studied with respect to interpersonal
communication, persuasion, politics, and its influence on mass media.
Coherence: The quality or state of cohering, especially a logical, orderly, and aesthetically consistent
relationship of parts.
A quality of sentences, paragraphs, and essays when all parts are clearly connected. Adjective:
coherent.
Examples of the use of codes to achieve salience or coherence in a text
Semiotic
system
Sample code
Example of how salience might be
achieved with this code
Linguistic
conjunctions
The use of a positive conjunction
like ‘and’ suggests an additional
point is to follow while the use of a
negative conjunction like ‘but’
indicates alternative or qualifying
information follows. This indicates
to the reader the relative
importance or type of information
to follow.
Visual
colour
A bright colour attracts attention
Repetitive use of colour leads the
eye to critical points in the
image.
Audio
pause
A pause (sudden silence) in an
oration indicates to the listener that
something important is to follow.
Regular pauses in an oration
allow phrasing and control of the
flow of information in order to
aid the listener’s understanding.
Gestural
Body
position
If the body position of one
participant is completely different to
all others, then attention is drawn to
that person, indicating they are
significant.
Repetitive use of a particular
body position at the key points in
a narrative reinforces aspects of
character.
Spatial
proximity
If objects or people are placed in
front of other objects or people, or
in the foreground, this indicates
importance.
Continued use of the same
placement of character or object
develops and reinforces
understandings of the role of this
object or character in the
performance.
Bull & Anstey 2010
Example of how coherence
might be achieved with this
code
Continued use of appropriate
conjunctions facilitates the
sequential development of
information supporting an
argument.
Salience and Coherence in Texts: Visual, Linguistic, Gestural,
Audio and Spatial
Bull & Anstey 2010
Salience and Coherence in Texts: Visual, Linguistic, Gestural,
Audio and Spatial
Gestural matrix: examples
Codes &
conventions
Bodily contact
Possible functions or
roles
Can indicate relationships
and the nature of those
relationships
How salience might be
achieved with this code
A sudden change in the
nature of bodily contact
draws attention to an
important aspect of plot
in a movie or play.
How cohesion might be
developed with this code
The way in which the
nature of bodily contact
unfolds during a film or
play indicates the
development of a
relationship and therefore
creates cohesion
throughout the narrative.
Proximity
Space between people
can indicate a relationship
and the nature of that
relationship, for example
the comfort of those
involved.
As the space between
people decreases the
relationship between the
people is seen to become
closer, indicating the
importance of the
relationship in the
development of the
narrative. This can occur
in a movie, play or a
picture book.
Continued use of the
same space between two
people in everyday life, a
play or movie indicates
cohesion in the nature of
a developing relationship.
Orientation or Body position can indicate
body position power, intimacy,
aggression, compliance or
respect in relationships.
During a conversation
between an employee
and employer (text
delivered live), the
employer may suddenly
change body position, eg
stand up and bend over
the seated employee, to
draw attention to what is
being said and assert
power and authority.
During a conversation
between two people (text
delivered live) one of
them may continually
change body positions,
but all changes may
indicate that they are
paying attention and have
empathy, eg leaning the
whole body forward,
leaning closer, tilting the
head closer, reaching out
with the arm or hand.
These continuous body
movements, all imparting
the same message,
provide the other person
in the conversation with a
cohesive and reassuring
message.
Appearance
A sudden change in
appearance can draw
attention to a change in
circumstances, health or
When a character
maintains the same
costume or clothing, this
maintains the character
Can indicate personality,
social status and culture.
Bull & Anstey 2010
Salience and Coherence in Texts: Visual, Linguistic, Gestural,
Audio and Spatial
Codes &
conventions
Possible functions or
roles
How salience might be
achieved with this code
social status.
How cohesion might be
developed with this code
throughout the play,
movie or picture book, ie
it provides cohesion.
Facial
expression
Aspects of facial
expression (eg eyes and
mouth) can be used singly
and in combination to
indicate relationships and
their nature and also
emotion, mood,
agreement, disagreement
or disinterest.
In a play or movie, a
sudden change in
expression indicates that
something important is
happening
Participants in an
interaction can use facial
expression as a cohesive
device to track the how
the interaction is
progressing, ie if it is
proceeding in a logical
and cohesive manner.
Kinesics
Movement of head, arms,
hands, legs, and feet can
indicate emotional
arousal or a particular
emotional state, or, when
directed toward someone
or something, the nature
of a relationship.
A sudden change in the
nature of a character’s
movement can draw
attention to an important
change in emotion or
circumstances.
By use of the same
movements, an actor can
construct a coherent
picture of a particular
character.
Gaze and eye
movement
The way in which a
person’s gaze is realised,
where and how it is
directed, can indicate
relationships, attitudes or
the relative importance of
something.
Sudden shift from
undirected to directed
gaze (toward something
in a scene) indicates that
the object is significant or
important to the
unfolding plot.
Repetition or
maintenance of gaze
indicates a continuous
relationship between
characters. It provides
continuity in plot or
relationships.
Bull & Anstey 2010