Generi letterari, generi testuali o modi di scrittura? Problemi metodologici e nuovi percorsi

This article aims at describing the recent developments of genre theory in the various fields of the Humanities. It focuses principally on modern German Studies, but its purpose is a broader one. Considering three basic concepts such as ‘genre’ (Gattung), ‘text type’ (Textsorte) and ‘mode of writing’ (Schreibweise), which correspond, respectively, to three different ways of classifying text forms, this study attempts to outline the current state of research in each of these areas. Moreover, it considers some possible uses of the ‘Schreibweise’ in literary studies.