Metalanguage

Question 1

What is an Allusion?

Answer 1

References made to persons or events from history, current affairs, literature or the arts are aimed at encouraging readers to transfer their feelings about the person or event alluded to, to the person or event being discussed, eg. “He is a modern day Hitler”

Question 2

What is an Anecdote?

Answer 2

A brief story, incident or example used to illustrate an argument or put a human face on an issue. It can be used to demonstrate the point a writer is making or give it greater conviction.

Question 3

What are Appeals to Emotion?

Answer 3

These are used to conjure up images with which the audience may identify and sympathise.

Question 4

What are the types of Appeals to Emotion?

Answer 4

Appeal to fear
Appeal to sympathy
Appeal to family values
Appeal to logic
Appeal to hip pocket
Appeal to patriotism
Appeal to guilt
Appeal to safety

Question 5

What is an Assumption?

Answer 5

To presume something. In language analysis, authors will make arguments that have been built on an underlying assumption. Eg. ‘We all hold life to be sacred…’

Question 6

What is an Attack?

Answer 6

An attack attempts to convince the reader by undermining the authority or validity of an opponent and their arguments.

Question 7

What is Authority?

Answer 7

Weight may be added to an argument through reference to a credible person with expertise on a certain issue. If an expert is shown to support a certain viewpoint, the audience is more likely to accept this stance as the truth.

Question 8

What is Colloquial Speech?

Answer 8

Colloquial speech (or slang) is informal, everyday or conversational language. It invites the audience to share the viewpoint because the writer seems to be on their wavelength. It is effective because it is friendly and non threatening.

Question 9

What is Connotation?

Answer 9

What the language used conjures up in the minds of the readers, colouring the way in which the may perceive the issue.

Question 10

What is the Contention?

Answer 10

The contention is the main argument or point of view about an issue being presented in a piece. An easy way to work out the main contention of any opinion piece/editorial/letter to the editor is to read the last sentence. Most writers will end their piece by restating their main contention.

Question 11

What is a Euphemism?

Answer 11

A polite way of referring to something considered taboo or impolite in general society. Eg. Toilet - Water Closet

Question 12

What is an Exaggeration and Understatement?

Answer 12

Hyperbole (extreme exaggeration) is often associated with mockery or denigration of opposing points of view. An idea might deliberately be exaggerated in order make it look ridiculous. Understatement may be used for a similar purpose - to make the opposing viewpoint seem ludicrous.

Question 13

What is the purpose of Headlines?

Answer 13

The purpose of headlines is to capture the attention of the potential audience and make a comment on which side of the issue the journalist/newspaper may be arguing.

Question 14

How does Humour persuade the audience?

Answer 14

By entertaining readers, the writer can make them rethink the issue. The tone created may be lighthearted or scathing, depending on the point the author wishes to make.

Question 15

What is a Hyperbole?

Answer 15

Over the top language the over emphasises how good or important something or someone is.

Question 16

What is Irony?

Answer 16

A statement or situation where the meaning is directly contradicted by the appearance/presentation of the idea. The opposite of what is intended happening or being presented. Eg. A 4WD with a bumper sticker that says “keep the earth green”.

Question 17

What is Jargon?

Answer 17

Language specific to a particular trade or profession. Eg. The use of legal terms by a lawyer.

Question 18

What is Metaphoric Language?

Answer 18

Describes something as being something else. It equates two, seemingly unequatable objects/people. Eg. She was a fox

Question 19

What is a Parody?

Answer 19

A parody takes an original film, novel, television show, speech etc. and creates a humorous version.

Question 20

What is a Polemic?

Answer 20

A controversial argument

Question 21

What is a Pun?

Answer 21

A play on words whereby a word is given two meanings. Used often in headlines. Eg. ‘Loggers swing the axe’.

Question 22

What is Repetition?

Answer 22

The repeated use of a word, phrase or structure makes a viewpoint more emphatic; it instils an idea more firmly in a readers mind.

Question 23

What is a Rhetorical Question?

Answer 23

A rhetorical question is one where no answer is expected - the answer is obvious. The question is merely asked to emphasise this point to the audience. The answer confirms the point of view of the writer. Eg. “Do we really want our children roaming the streets at night?”

Question 24

What is a Simile?

Answer 24

A simile describes something as being like or similar to something else. Eg. He moves like a cat.

Question 25

What are the point of Statistics?

Answer 25

Statistics will convince a reader as they provide a factual point of reference.

Question 26

What is Tone?

Answer 26

How a piece sounds, literally. The feeling the author is trying to communicate with their reader. Eg. Angry, sarcastic, critical etc.

Question 27

How does Inclusive Language persuade the audience?

Answer 27

Inclusive language can make a reader feel personally included in an issue, and therefore more likely to take on the point of view being issued by the writer.

Question 28

How does Use of 1st Person persuade the audience?

Answer 28

By using the first person, a writer gives authenticity to their account; an air of authority as the result of personal experience.

Question 29

How does the use of Visual Devices persuade the audience?

Answer 29

The contents of a photo or cartoon can be incredibly persuasive to an audience. Composition of a visual device is the most important aspect - we live in a visual world, after all. Cartoons which take a stance on a particular issue are particularly effective as audiences find them non threatening - most people associate cartoons with entertainment and are therefore more likely to study the picture rather than read the accompanying copy.

Question 30

What is an Alliteration?

Answer 30

A device of language that uses the same or similar sound to begin a word twice or more in a row. ‘She sells sea shells…’