Language Analysis Exam Flashcards
Emotive Language [1]
Language that has a strong emotional impact. Uses the positive and negative connotations of words to influence the reader’s response
“Helpless animals are suffering needlessly cruel and painful deaths.”
Encourages the reader to respond on an emotional level.
The readers’ emotional response positions them to share the writer’s viewpoint.
Exaggeration (overstatement and hyperbole) [1]
Exaggerates the true situation for dramatic impact.
“The reigning soccer champions were completely destroyed in last night’s epic battle”
Attracts the reader’s attention through a surprising or extreme claim, especially in headlines
Often combined with an emotional appeal
Can generate humour to make the reader view the writer’s viewpoint positively
Creates the dramatic impact and highlights a point
Inclusive language [1]
Uses ‘we’, ‘our’, ‘us’, etc. to include the readers in the same group as the writer.
“Aussie homes are now the world’s biggest. But though we’re gaining space, we’re losing intimacy, and the sense that there should be limits to our consumption”
The sense of belonging to the same group positions the reader to share the same ideas as others within that group
Invokes our desire not to be ‘left out’ or regarded as an outsider
Generalisation
A sweeping statement that suggests that is true for some is true for most or all.
“Generation Y are spoilt, fickle and lazy.”
Appeals to a widely held belief or prejudice
Can be combined witha n emotional appeal since the use of reason will reveal the flaws in the generalisation
Rhetorical questions [1]
A question with an implied but unstated answer.
“Do members really want a lying, incompetent businessman as the club president?”
Forces the reader to supply the answer and see things from the writer’s perspective
Implies the answer is self-evident and therefore correct
Often contains an emotional appeal
Contention
Usually written in a single sentence with writer’s point of view. It is persuasive by trying to convince the readers’ point of views.
Point of View
Someone’s opinion of an issue, shows personal thoughts.
“Dogs are better than cats.”
Letter to the editor
Persuasive medium Provide a voice for the general public opinion on an issue; short, highly emotional and persuasive Covers one area of an issue Written by general public Usually informal language "No More anti-smoking rubbish"
Editorial
Persuasive medium
Written by editor
Expresses newspaper’s official view
Shows both sides persuasive by one point of view
Usually long professional formal language
“Smoking ban near playgrounds to proposed by Moreland Council” (from Herald Sun)
Opinion Piece
Persuasive medium
Gives point of view of an expert or someone with a standing in a community on an issue
Found in opinion section
“Liberal Party needs a strong local leader” (from Herald Sun)
Rebuttal
Offering evidence or argument against an opponent’s point of view
Undermines the opponent’s argument and it makes the speaker or writer looks more knowledgeable
Feature article
Informative medium
Feature articles cover issues in more general terms than news articles
They are usually public interest stories; they provide background information, and are not necessarily on topics that are int he current news
“I am not weak, I am unlucky” [from The Age]
Attacks
Denigrates on opponent
Undermines, belittles; insults, dismisses person or party
“The CEO of this bank is both immoral and unethical”
Undermine or dismisses points based on personal mistrust
Evidence [2]
The use of facts and figures to suggest a rational or scientific basis for a point of view
“According to food industry statistics, Victorians spend $3.8 billion a year on takeaways.”
Statistics appear factual and writer’s point of view seem objective rather than personal
