Paper 1 Section A Language Analysis

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

Who is speaking/writing? Consider the authors or speakers background (age, gender, occupation, ethnicity, etc.).
Who is the audience? Identify who the text is aimed at, as this influences language choices.
Purpose of the text: is it to inform, persuade, entertain, or something else?

Question 2

Lexis and semantics

Answer 2

Word choice: look for vocabulary that reflects identity (e.g., slang, jargon, regional terms).
Semantic fields: identify any recurring themes in language (e.g. professional, cultural, or hobby-related terms).
Register: determine whether the text is formal, informal, or somewhere in between, and how this reflects identity.

Question 3

Grammar and Syntax

Answer 3

Sentence structures: are they complex, simple, fragmented? What does this reveal about the speaker/writer?
Pronouns: look at the use of pronouns (e.g., “we” for inclusivity, “I” for individualism).
Verb choices: consider modality (e.g., “should,” “must,” “could”) and how it reflects authority or persuasion.

Question 4

Discourse features

Answer 4

Turn-taking: if it’s a conversation, how do speakers assert identity through interruptions, overlaps, or hesitations?
Text structure: look at how the text is organised and what this reveals about its purpose and audience.
Mode: is the text spoken, written, or multimodal? How does the mode affect identity construction?

Question 5

Phonology (if applicable)

Answer 5

Accent and dialect: are there any markers of regional identity?
Pronunciation features: consider whether the speaker is emphasising certain sounds to convey identity.