Occupation And Power

Question 1

Analyse and evaluate the ways in which people in positions of authority use language to influence others

Answer 1

Intro- Thornborrow argues that the workplace is built with asymmetrical power. This means that different people have different amounts of power.

Question 2

Drew and Heritage On power

Answer 2

Drew and Heritage argue that special rules come into play in these hierarchal settings. They say that things work very differently in a workplace than in normal conversation.

• For example, a teacher is more likely to take orders and commands from the headteacher in a workplace environment than if the two were in conversation in a non-workplace environment (like the pub). In certain workplaces, the asymmetry is accentuated.
• For example, Atkinson notes that there is hyper-formal turn-taking order in parliament.

Question 3

Who argues that those in higher-power position can downplay or assert authority to alter their status.

Answer 3

Holmes and Stubbe argue that those in higher-power position can downplay or assert authority to alter their status.

Question 4

Blank

Answer 4

Blank argues that we change our language in an attempt to fit in with the social situation and to exert influence.

Question 5

French and Raven proposed a model of five ‘bases of power’. In this model, there are five distinct types of power used in the workplace. These are as follows:

Answer 5

Referent, coercive, reward, legitimate, expert

Question 6

French and Raven- referent

Answer 6

A power based on rapport with people – you may do something because you like that person.
* For example, a teacher may cover another teacher’s lesson because there is a sense of friendship/loyalty between them. To take that the other way, a teacher may agree to cover a lesson to gain referent power.

Question 7

French and Raven Coercive

Answer 7

A power with the ability to force (or coerce) someone into doing something.
* For example, a headteacher can coerce a teacher into marking in a certain way or to make a student behave.

Question 8

French and Raven Reward

Answer 8

A power with the ability to offer some form of reward in exchange for compliance (or to withhold the reward for a lack of compliance).
* For example, a teacher may give a student a sweet for correctly answering questions.

Question 9

French and Raven Legitimate

Answer 9

A genuine power that someone has.

* For example, a teacher has a legitimate power of a student because the student is a subordinate of the teacher.

Question 10

Expert French and Raven

Answer 10

A power formed from superior knowledge.

* For example, you listen to your teacher because they have the knowledge which you need.