Interview

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

Often published in weekend magazines, and now increasingly online, interviews are the write-up of a conversation between a journalist (the interviewer) and an interviewee, normally a celebrity, expert in a field, or person in the public eye.

Interviews are written to entertain or divert, but also fulfil the purpose of satisfying a reader’s curiosity for information: whether about how a famous writer works, how an individual became successful, or simply the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

When reading an interview, the focus is normally on the interviewee’s thoughts and opinions.

But look out forauthorial intrusion, something you may have come across in your literary studies, where either directly or indirectly the writer of the article makes their opinions known as well.

Could be the traditional question/answer format or more narrative in style.

Question 2

KEY FEATURES OF INTERVIEWS

Answer 2

Format

Register

Quotation

Structure

Perspective

Spoke discourse

Question 3

Format

Answer 3

most interviews are either presented inquestion and answerformat or as anarticlewith responses embedded inside narration. Check to see if thebalance of contentis evenly split or if the focus is on the interviewee. If the interviewer’s own thoughts and feelings are apparent this is calledauthorial intrusion.

Question 4

Register

Answer 4

as a record of a spoken conversation, a written interview is likely to contain examples of language that is more like speech. Look out forcolloquialisms, idioms, contractionsand evenjokes.

Question 5

Quotation

Answer 5

Almost all interviews will featuredirect quotation. Something the interviewee said might even provide thetitle. The writer may also usereported speech, either for brevity or as a stylistic device.

Question 6

Structure

Answer 6

it is not uncommon to see a question- answer interview sandwiched between anintroductionandconclusionwritten by the interviewer. The interview may be focused on one issue or may range across various topics.

Question 7

Perspective

Answer 7

the interview presents aone-sidedview on a topic or person, so is likely to be highlysubjective. The interviewee may useassertive statementswhich present opinions as if they are facts. Don’t forget to analyze the language used by the interviewer in the article or questions to see how the writer canlead your opinionor createbias.

Question 8

Spoke discourse

Answer 8

elliptical syntax, colloquial language, idioms, humour, contractions, dialectical language and taboo language.