Key Terms Flashcards
Explain what semiotic systems are + what they consist of.
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)
Define semiotics.
Study of signs + symbols; considering not only the ways in which words work + how they are used, but also images, sounds, music, + patterns.
Define orthographical.
Methodology for writing a language including features such as spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, e.t.c.
Define gestural.
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.
Define linear.
- 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.
Define non-linear.
- 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.
Define number homophones.
- 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’)
Define hyperlinks.
Electronic link embedded in text that takes reader to another website.
* Often used in conjunction with imperatives.
* Underlined to suggest hyperlink.
* Deictic lexeme ‘here’ encourages to find out more; writer appeals to diverse audience by acknowledging that some may wish to inform themselves further.
* Supports Elizabeth Eisenstein (1979) - personal + social change are afforded possibilities by technology, since text producer + text receiver have opportunity to share this article if they wish to continue addressing the discourse topic.
Define asynchronous.
- 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.
Define synchronous.
- At the same time
- Live communication
- Example: a face-to-face conversation
Define bias.
- 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.
Define representation.
- Language used to present an impression of ourselves, or of an event, company or institution to the wider world.
- Media not as a reflection but as a construction
- Subjective
- Relationship between reader, writer and topic
Analyse almost as a continuum. Different representations in the text.
Overall positive or negative? (Consider bias)
Define graphology.
Study of written or printed symbols and of writing systems
Define infographic.
A graphical format which can also be animated to display information
* Example: in mini blogs
Define facticity.
- Ways in which the media represents people/ events truthfully.
- The quality of being fact.
Define assemblage.
- Overall effect of signs.
Define anchorage.
- Media use another piece of media to reduce polysemy of accompanying text.
- Example: captions with pictures
Define tenor of discourse.
- Linguistic ways in which the writer shows their position in relation to the reader.
Define affordance.
- Linguistic + behavioural choices provided by technology.
- Consider constraints too.
Define represented participants.
Representational metafunction.
* How visuals communicate messages.
* RPs = people that the image presents.
Define exophoric references.
(Linguistic pragmatics)
* Reference to something extralinguistic, i.e. not in the same text.
* Can be deictic
