Introduction to Language - PowerPoint Presentation

Introduction to LanguageAnalysis

END GAME The goal of this unit of work is to demonstrate your understanding of how an author attempts to persuade readers to agree with his or her contention

Prior knowledgeIn the past you may have read articles and discussed the persuasive devices used by authors You may have written your own persuasive pieces in the form of letters, essays or speeches

This time aroundYour assessment will be to read a news article and analyse the persuasive language used You will need to write this in the form of a language analysis essay

How Persuasive Language Works There are three basic steps to understanding how language works to persuade readers to agree with a particular viewpoint on an issue.

Step 1: Identify the contention: what is the author’s main point? You must be clear about what the writer is saying Recognise the author’s contention Do not simply summarise the newspaper article you are analysing Your focus is on how the language is used to influence and persuade

Understanding contention A contention is the central idea the author is trying to persuade the reader to accept This will be supported by a number of arguments and persuasive techniques You will always need to identify the writer’s contention when writing a language analysis

A strong contentionA strong contention should be logical, factual It should be difficult to disagree with the logic of the argument Basically, a good contention should make it clear the author knows what they are talking about

Audience The audience of a text can be simply defined as the people for whom the text is intended Also known as intended audience, target audience, readership or demographic It is important for you to identify the audience of a text as specifically as possible This will help you analyse more accurately how an author has made language choices that will appeal to members of their target audience

Your turn 1. Listed below are some common ‘demographic variables’. How many others can you think of? (Note: demographic: a particular portion of a population). Age Gender Ethic background Hobbies 2. Try to identify the intended audience of the following texts as specifically as possible. There may be more than one demographic for each. Editorial in The Age about illicit drug use Feature article on virginity in Dolly magazine Television advertisement for Lee jeans Finance update on ABC news Monthly school newsletter from Seahaven College

Recognising weak contentions Your turn: Read the following contentions and explain what is wrong with each one. Try to be specific. The first one has been done for you. Poor Contention Why it is ineffective Reality TV is just trash. If we keep watching this rubbish we’ll lose perspective and won’t know what’s real and what’s not. They should be offering better shows than this. This is a value judgement, not grounded in fact or logic. Not sophisticated. Exaggeration and unrealistic speculation not grounded in logic. Not specific. It doesn’t state whom the criticism is aimed at. The issue of climate change is a difficult and controversial one. Some say we must accept its existence and act now; others feel we should not make any rash decisions with respect to trading schemes or emissions targets. The only way to deal with these feral teenagers is to lock them up. They are all well overdue for some tough love. Greenies need to get a grip and just accept the fact that cars are here to stay.

Your turn Choose an issue that you feel strongly about. If you can’t think of one, choose from the following: euthanasia, whaling, police corruption, renewable energy, graffiti in Melbourne’s laneways- art or eyesore?, Year 12 ‘muck up’ days and ‘schoolies’, public vs. private education. Briefly research the issue online, then write a summary (about 100 words) on the issue. Be sure to outline: the background (how did the issue arise?) and what are people saying about it? O utline your own point of view by writing a contention. Make sure your contention is clear, logical, factual and hard to argue with

Step 2: Focus on language usedTake an overview of the language – is it formal? Informal? Sophisticated? Is it colloquial (like everyday speech)? Find persuasive techniques Work out how the author is trying to position the reader. What is the tone of the piece?

What does position the reader mean? Writers need to convince their audience agree with them To do this, they use persuasive devices to manipulate their readers You need to find these devices in an article and that you know how persuasive language makes readers feel

ToneA simple way of understanding tone is how a piece would sound if read aloud . A very strong tone and very emotive language usually go together e.g. letting evil terrorists roam the streets is a crime against humanity! Whereas a mild, more reasoned tone is created using controlled language and emotions or ideas – i.e. Authorities were made aware of terrorist activity at the event.

Your turn How would you describe the tone in the following excerpt from a letter to the editor? PROTESTERS MORE DANGEROUS THAN ENEMIES If it is good for the innocent Iraqi people to experience death and terror, it should be good for us to face the brutality of their experience on TV

Refer to the next three slides forALL THE TONES!

ApatheticBored Cold Dejected Depressed Despaired Disappointed Discontented Disinterested Dispirited Gloomy Hopeless Hurt Melancholy Miserable Regretful Sad Upset Apologetic Critical Doubtful Envious Foreboding Frustrated Gloomy Guilty Judgmental Pessimistic Regretful Remorseful Shameful Solemn Sombre Suspicious Agitated Alarmed AnxiousApprehensiveDefencelessDistressedDisturbedEmbarrassedFearfulHelplessHumiliatedMortifiedNervousPowerlessShockedStressedTensedTroubledUneasyVulnerableWorried NEGATIVE TONES

Admonitory Allusive Authoritative Balance Blunt Candid Colloquial Contemplative Controlled Conversational Discursive Distinct Emotive Evocative Expectant Factual Formal Frank Honest Informal Informative Knowledgeable Learned Lyrical Naïve Noble Nostalgic Patriotic Personal Picturesque Questioning Reflective Reminiscent Resigned Scholarly SeriousSublimeVirile NEUTRAL TONES

AmazedAstonished Attentive Curious Eager Interested Keen Polite Startled Stunned Surprised Calm Casual Collected Composed Content Peaceful Pleasant Relaxed Relieved Serene Appreciative Approving Assuring Confident Determined Encouraging Grateful Hopeful Inspiring Optimistic Pleased Promising Proud Respectful Reverent SanguineSatisfiedThankfulAffectionateBenevolentCompassionateConcernedConsiderateConsolingEmpatheticEmpatheticFriendlyLovingMercifulPassionateRomanticSoothingSupportiveSympatheticThoughtfulAmiableAmusedCheerfulDelighted Ecstatic Elated Energetic EnthusiasticExcitedExuberantHappyHumourousJovialJoyfulJubilantPlayfulVibrantVivacious POSITIVE TONES

Step 3: Working out how the language has positioned the reader In other words, how has the writer used tone and persuasive techniques to make audiences respond in particular ways? E.g. The rhetorical question ‘what if that were your child?’ makes the reader question if they really are safe from guns, and taps into their concern for their children. Figuring out how persuasive language has been utilised to position or manipulate a target audience is the key to success.

Putting it all together Example: “Warne deserves his suspension and the public deserves to know how the decision was made”. Sample analysis: The writer openly declares his point of view on the issue of Shane Warne’s suspension from cricket: he deserves his punishment- but the public also deserves something- knowledge about the grounds for the decision. The suspension is fair, but it is unfair if the public does not know why this decision was made. The clear, direct approach is persuasive and there is the added impression of the fairness of the writer, who sees that not everything has been revealed. The writer’s conviction is reflected in the authoritative tone which helps to position the reader to agree, while the alliterative use of ‘d’ in deserve and ‘decision’ reinforces the definite viewpoint.

Your turn Write an analysis for the following example: “Sex-sells advertising is sleazy, sexist and stereotypes women” Remember to identify the issue and the author’s contention . You should also identify the tone, any persuasive language techniques and discuss how this statement positions the reader.

Sample introduction to an analysis In his article “Marijuana legalisation is a risk not worth taking”, published by CNN on July 30 th 2014, Stuart Gitlow responds to recent proposals in the US to change the federal marijuana bill and make cannabis legal. He argues that marijuana should not be legalised due to the health risks it poses, especially for young people. He writes in a tone of outrage and disbelief and uses arguments and language that would appeal to a mature, well-educated audience.