Key Terms

Question 1

Explain what semiotic systems are + what they consist of.

Answer 1

How non-linguistic features of a text create meaning
consists of:
• spatial (elements of layout)
• orthographical (words, e.g. written lang)
• visual (image, e.g. diagrams/photos/cartoons)
• gestural (gesture, e.g. body lang/dance)
• audio (sound, e.g. music/sound effects)

Question 2

Define semiotics.

Answer 2

Study of signs + symbols; considering not only the ways in which words work + how they are used, but also images, sounds, music, + patterns.

Question 3

Define orthographical.

Answer 3

Methodology for writing a language including features such as spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, e.t.c.

Question 4

Define gestural.

Answer 4

Way of communicating that relates to movement +/or body language, either instead of words or (as would likely be in a multimodal text) in addition to them.

Question 5

Define linear.

Answer 5

• Text in which the discourse is organised into some sort of sequence (e.g. narrative with beginning, middle, + end).
• There may be an implied expectation reader will read text in order it appears.
• Typically the way old-fashioned, paper articles were structured.

Question 6

Define non-linear.

Answer 6

• Text with no expected sequence for reading- cohesion may be less obvious + this may be reflected in layout (e.g. may be made of features such as text boxes + hyperlinks than if text was linear).
• Typically more modern, contemporary, multimodal media text.

Question 7

Define number homophones.

Answer 7

• Where numbers are used to replace all/part of a word whose sound they resemble.
• Usually within context of an electronic text
• Example: ‘2’ for ‘to’ or ‘gr8’ for ‘great’)

Question 8

Define hyperlinks.

Answer 8

Electronic link embedded in text that takes reader to another website.

Question 9

Define asynchronous.

Answer 9

• Unlike synchronous, there’s a delay between utterance + response
• Non-live communication
• Example: Responses posted on a forum, which may occur months or even years after original post.

Question 10

Define synchronous.

Answer 10

• At the same time
• Live communication
• Example: a face-to-face conversation

Question 11

Define bias.

Answer 11

• Form of prejudice in favour of or against an idea, person or group, expressed through language/images e.t.c.
• It can take obvious or implicit forms, or a mixture of the two.
• Can arise from what is omitted as well as from what is stated or shown.

Question 12

Define representation.

Answer 12

• Language used to present an impression of ourselves, or of an event, company or institution to the wider world.