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TRANSCRIPT
1
A Level English Language
Transition Booklet
2
Welcome to A Level English Language
Now that yoursquove decided to study English Language at A level yoursquoll need to do a bit of
preparation This pack contains a programme of information sheets activities and resources
to prepare you to start your A level in September It is aimed to be used during the summer
term and over the summer holidays to ensure you are ready to start your course in
September
The resources include
bull Key pre-knowledge topics that are required for you to be successful in your course
with activities associated with the topics which test your key knowledge and
understanding of the building blocks required to be successful in this subject
bull Suggested reading and associated websites where you can research the topics you
will be exploring in your A level course
bull Suggested activities to complete now and over the summer holidays that will
generate enthusiasm and engagement
bull Suggestions about how to make the most of the technology you use every day
How to use this booklet
bull You can complete the activities in any order Try to keep your notes and responses
in an organised folder either on paper or electronically by using the titles in the
booklet and dating your work
bull Use this booklet alongside the transition booklet specifically for paper 2 which is a
project exploring accents and dialects
bull This booklet is aimed at introducing you to some key terms and concepts that we will
go over again in September Do not worry if some of the new terms seem difficult-
this is normally how students feel and it is natural Just do your best to work
through the booklet look up terms and keep a note of anything you still feel unsure
of so you can ask about it in September
bull Good luck and have fun
3
1 Introducing the key ideas and skills
There are some important areas that will be the basis of your study of the language of texts taken from everyday sources You will have to become confident in using them There are a number of linguistic frameworks and related concepts to come to grips with
Linguistic Frameworks
Lexis
Semantics
Grammar
Phonetics Phonology
Pragmatics
Discourse
Graphology
Related Concepts
Register
Mode
Idiolect
Sociolect
Dialect
Accent
Representation
4
Linguistic Frameworks
Lexis - The words used in text or spoken data the words phrases and idioms of language
Think of lexis as just another word for vocabulary or more simply words
Key Features may include
bull Choice of lexis eg jargon (specialist terms) dialect slang colloquialisms swearing taboo terms clicheacutes euphemisms dysphemisms archaisms (deliberate use of old-fashioned terms)
bull Choices indicating factors such as levels of formality and education eg elevated literate sophisticated Latinate unusual and polysyllabic terms (largely a reading or writing vocabulary) as opposed to simple every-day vernacular and monosyllabic (largely a speaking vocabulary)
bull The concept of the lexeme
bull Types of word eg compound shortening abbreviation acronym neologism blend loan word
bull Use of recurring lexis from particular lexical (semantic) fields
bull Collocations whether common (predictable) or uncommon (deviant)
bull Use of figurative language eg metaphor simile pun hyperbole personification metonymy oxymoron
Phew Donrsquot panic just look up some of these words begin to compile a glossary and learn a few for now You
might start with jargon and see if it applies to the list of words you have been given so far Then go to the last bullet point and see how many you recognise from your GCSE studies
5
As you work through this booklet and complete activities you will come across many new terms that you have not studied before Just try and look them up and become familiar with them We will go over them in September when we begin the course
Formal Technical Informal
Colloquial Impolite Slang
Taboo Dialect Regional lsquoPoshrsquo Slang
Old Fashioned Older Peoplersquos Slang lsquoYouthrsquo Slang
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Exploring Lexis (words)
List as many words for a) an attractive person and b) an unattractive person as you
can trying to cover as many different registers (levels of formality and informality)
Try to think about what your parents and grandparents would say and also think
about different contexts eg what would you say to a police officer teacher and
what would you say to your friends
Next you need to get your words in rank order from most formal to least Once
thatrsquos done try applying some lexical labels to them Do you have examples for
each of the following terms If not can you add some for the categories you donrsquot
yet have
AC
TIV
ITY
2 Investigating jargon
Jargon is a term used to describe specialist vocabulary or lexis that people use in a
particular specialist field For example medical language used by doctors However
this can also be applied to the field of sports Think about terms like lsquoman-onrsquo
lsquotacklersquo lsquooff-sidersquo used in football If you didnrsquot know anything about football you
would not know what these terms refer to
1) List as many examples of jargon you can think of for a particular sport or
hobby You could choose rugby ballet karate hockey computing or another
area of interest
2) Why do you think jargon is often used in specialist areas
6
Semantics - The meaning of language The semantics of a word is the meaning of it as
given in a dictionary The semantic meaning of a text is not always straightforward though because we can add layers of meaning for example through euphemisms or dysphemisms and through imagery
Key Features may include
bull Denotation - factual and objective meanings
o The denotation of this image is that it represents the sun
bull Connotation - personal and subjective meanings Look at the image of the sun above What are the connotations of this image For example it suggests warmth What else does this image suggest make you think of
bull Contrasts in meaning - synonym antonym hypernym hyponym homonym homophone homograph
bull Changes in meaning - amelioration pejoration broadening narrowing
Euphemisms and Dysphemisms
A euphemism is the substitution of a polite expression for one thought to be offensive harsh or blunt (eg ldquospending a pennyrdquo)
A dysphemism is when we use a harsh expression instead of a more neutral one (eg animal names when they are applied to people such as coot old bat pig chicken snake and bitch) We might call someone a pig when we actually mean that his table manners are not very delicate
AC
TIV
ITY
Look up any of these key words from the bullet points above that you do not know and
add them to your glossary Try to find some examples that you can include and make
some flash-cards so you can learn them For example start with finding a synonym and
antonym for happy Then explore the hypernyms of fruit computer and sport and list
as many hyponyms as you can for each one
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Pick an area where euphemisms are often used (sex death and bodily functions are
the most common) Try to list five euphemisms and five dysphemisms
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Write a school report for an imaginary student who is lazy rude and disinterested
in which you the teacher wish to communicate a true picture without giving
offence
7
Grammar - The way individual words are structured and arranged together in sentences
Key Features may include
bull Word classes nouns verbs adjectives adverbs pronouns conjunctions prepositions and determiners
bull Features of the verb main and auxiliary tense modal auxiliaries active and passive voice
bull Sentence types declarative interrogative imperative exclamatory
bull Sentence complexity minor simple compound complex relative length
bull Unusual word order
bull Standard or non-standard forms
bull Other aspects ellipsis pre - and post - modification subject object pronoun use person agreement content and function words noun phrase complexity
bull Word structure prefix suffix
We will study these terms as part of our course It will be very helpful to learn the key word classes before September Some of the key features are explored below Add these too your glossary and make flash-cards You may also find the power-point with Captain Grammar useful to learn these terms too
Word Classes
You need to know the different word classes so that you can analyse how they are used They are
the basic types of words that English has There are eight of them
Nouns
A noun is a naming word It names a person place thing idea living creature quality or action
There are two main types of noun proper and common Most nouns are common nouns and they
can be divided up into three categories concrete abstract and collective
Adjectives
An adjective is a word that describes a noun It tells you something about the noun Examples big
yellow thin amazing beautiful quick important
Verbs
A verb is a word which describes an action (doing something) or a state (being something) You will
need to find out about main verbs auxiliary verbs primary verbs modal auxiliaries active and
passive verbs Some information is provided on pages 8-10
Adverbs
An adverb is a word which usually describes a verb It tells you how something is done It may also
tell you when or where something happened Many adverbs end in ndashly
Examples slowly intelligently well yesterday tomorrow here everywhere
8
Pronouns A pronoun is used instead of a noun to avoid repeating the noun Examples I you he
she it we they
Prepositions
A preposition usually comes before a noun pronoun or noun phrase Prepositions can relate to
position They join the noun to some other part of the sentence
Examples on in by with under through at
Conjunctions (connectives)
A conjunction joins two words phrases or sentences together Examples but so and because or
Determiners
These words come before nouns and refer to them directly The most common determiner the is
called the definite article The indefinite article is aan
Peter Boy Cheese England
Country Dumbo The Lion King Rover
Table Elephant Yorkshire Film
Pencil Doctor Fire Engine Brick
Happiness Armchair Light Bulb Hate
Sky Heart Tree Charity
Christianity Flag Woman Time
Wheelbarrow Loneliness Jug Mystery
AC
TIV
ITY
N
OU
NS
Sort these nouns into two categories You decide what the two categories should
be (this is more easily done as a cut and sort activity) Note that the two groups
are not necessarily even in number
Once you have reached an agreement over what goes where define the difference
between the two groups as clearly as you can
Next repeat the exercise with these nouns
9
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Will Shall MayMight Would CanCould Must Should Ought to
Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility intention obligation and necessity eg
bull I would have told you if you had wanted me to
bull Yes I can do that
Consider which of the following versions suggest more certainty I could do my homework before
lunch I might do my homework before lunch I will do my homework before lunch
They are not used to talk about things that definitely exist or events that definitely happened These
meanings are sometimes divided into two groups
Modal verbs are verbs that help other verbs to express a meaning it is important
to realise that modal verbs have no meaning by themselves Look at the list of
modal verbs again Write them out in order of certainty starting from least certain
to most certain
Sentence Types
There are four sentence types in English The first sentence type is the most common
Declarative A declarative sentence declares or states a fact arrangement or opinion Declarative sentences can be either positive or negative A declarative sentence ends with a full stop
Examples lsquoIll meet you at the train stationrsquo lsquoThe sun rises in the Eastrsquo lsquoHe doesnt get up earlyrsquo
Imperative The imperative commands (or sometimes requests) The imperative has no subject as you is the implied subject The imperative form ends with either a full stop or an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoOpen the doorrsquo lsquoFinish your homeworkrsquo lsquoPick up that messrsquo
Interrogative The interrogative asks a question The interrogative form ends with a question mark
Examples lsquoHow long have you lived in Francersquo lsquoWhen does the bus leaversquo lsquoDo you enjoy listening to classical musicrsquo
Exclamatory The exclamatory form emphasises a statement (either declarative or imperative) with an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoHurry uprsquo lsquoThat sounds fantasticrsquo lsquoI cant believe you said thatrsquo
10
More about Sentences All of the sentence types fall into three further categories
bull Simple
bull Compound
bull Complex
Simple Sentences Simple sentences contain no conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoJack ate his dinner quicklyrsquo
lsquoPeter and Sue visited the museum last Saturdayrsquo lsquoAre you coming to the partyrsquo
Compound Sentences Compound sentences contain two statements that are connected by a conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoI wanted to watch TV but it was latersquo
lsquoI went shopping and my wife went to her classesrsquo lsquoThe company had an excellent year so they gave everyone a bonusrsquo
Complex Sentences Complex sentences have an independent main clause and at least one other clause that is added They are joined by a subordinating conjunction such as which who although despite if since etc Examples lsquoMy daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rangrsquo
lsquoAlthough it was difficult the class passed the test with excellent marksrsquo
AC
TIV
ITY
lsquoTh
is M
orn
ing
Clip
rsquo
Watch this clip from lsquoThis Morningrsquo where Katie Hopkins is explaining how she
judges children based on their names
httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=8AivKoVT38Q
1) What are your own reactions to this discussion How important are
names Should we judge others based on their given names
2) How do Phillip Holly and the other guest show their disagreement with
Katiersquos views through their body language tone of voice facial
expressions
3) What do you notice about the kinds of sentences used by each participant
in this conversation Who uses more interrogatives declaratives Does
anyone use exclamatory sentences or imperatives
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
2
Welcome to A Level English Language
Now that yoursquove decided to study English Language at A level yoursquoll need to do a bit of
preparation This pack contains a programme of information sheets activities and resources
to prepare you to start your A level in September It is aimed to be used during the summer
term and over the summer holidays to ensure you are ready to start your course in
September
The resources include
bull Key pre-knowledge topics that are required for you to be successful in your course
with activities associated with the topics which test your key knowledge and
understanding of the building blocks required to be successful in this subject
bull Suggested reading and associated websites where you can research the topics you
will be exploring in your A level course
bull Suggested activities to complete now and over the summer holidays that will
generate enthusiasm and engagement
bull Suggestions about how to make the most of the technology you use every day
How to use this booklet
bull You can complete the activities in any order Try to keep your notes and responses
in an organised folder either on paper or electronically by using the titles in the
booklet and dating your work
bull Use this booklet alongside the transition booklet specifically for paper 2 which is a
project exploring accents and dialects
bull This booklet is aimed at introducing you to some key terms and concepts that we will
go over again in September Do not worry if some of the new terms seem difficult-
this is normally how students feel and it is natural Just do your best to work
through the booklet look up terms and keep a note of anything you still feel unsure
of so you can ask about it in September
bull Good luck and have fun
3
1 Introducing the key ideas and skills
There are some important areas that will be the basis of your study of the language of texts taken from everyday sources You will have to become confident in using them There are a number of linguistic frameworks and related concepts to come to grips with
Linguistic Frameworks
Lexis
Semantics
Grammar
Phonetics Phonology
Pragmatics
Discourse
Graphology
Related Concepts
Register
Mode
Idiolect
Sociolect
Dialect
Accent
Representation
4
Linguistic Frameworks
Lexis - The words used in text or spoken data the words phrases and idioms of language
Think of lexis as just another word for vocabulary or more simply words
Key Features may include
bull Choice of lexis eg jargon (specialist terms) dialect slang colloquialisms swearing taboo terms clicheacutes euphemisms dysphemisms archaisms (deliberate use of old-fashioned terms)
bull Choices indicating factors such as levels of formality and education eg elevated literate sophisticated Latinate unusual and polysyllabic terms (largely a reading or writing vocabulary) as opposed to simple every-day vernacular and monosyllabic (largely a speaking vocabulary)
bull The concept of the lexeme
bull Types of word eg compound shortening abbreviation acronym neologism blend loan word
bull Use of recurring lexis from particular lexical (semantic) fields
bull Collocations whether common (predictable) or uncommon (deviant)
bull Use of figurative language eg metaphor simile pun hyperbole personification metonymy oxymoron
Phew Donrsquot panic just look up some of these words begin to compile a glossary and learn a few for now You
might start with jargon and see if it applies to the list of words you have been given so far Then go to the last bullet point and see how many you recognise from your GCSE studies
5
As you work through this booklet and complete activities you will come across many new terms that you have not studied before Just try and look them up and become familiar with them We will go over them in September when we begin the course
Formal Technical Informal
Colloquial Impolite Slang
Taboo Dialect Regional lsquoPoshrsquo Slang
Old Fashioned Older Peoplersquos Slang lsquoYouthrsquo Slang
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Exploring Lexis (words)
List as many words for a) an attractive person and b) an unattractive person as you
can trying to cover as many different registers (levels of formality and informality)
Try to think about what your parents and grandparents would say and also think
about different contexts eg what would you say to a police officer teacher and
what would you say to your friends
Next you need to get your words in rank order from most formal to least Once
thatrsquos done try applying some lexical labels to them Do you have examples for
each of the following terms If not can you add some for the categories you donrsquot
yet have
AC
TIV
ITY
2 Investigating jargon
Jargon is a term used to describe specialist vocabulary or lexis that people use in a
particular specialist field For example medical language used by doctors However
this can also be applied to the field of sports Think about terms like lsquoman-onrsquo
lsquotacklersquo lsquooff-sidersquo used in football If you didnrsquot know anything about football you
would not know what these terms refer to
1) List as many examples of jargon you can think of for a particular sport or
hobby You could choose rugby ballet karate hockey computing or another
area of interest
2) Why do you think jargon is often used in specialist areas
6
Semantics - The meaning of language The semantics of a word is the meaning of it as
given in a dictionary The semantic meaning of a text is not always straightforward though because we can add layers of meaning for example through euphemisms or dysphemisms and through imagery
Key Features may include
bull Denotation - factual and objective meanings
o The denotation of this image is that it represents the sun
bull Connotation - personal and subjective meanings Look at the image of the sun above What are the connotations of this image For example it suggests warmth What else does this image suggest make you think of
bull Contrasts in meaning - synonym antonym hypernym hyponym homonym homophone homograph
bull Changes in meaning - amelioration pejoration broadening narrowing
Euphemisms and Dysphemisms
A euphemism is the substitution of a polite expression for one thought to be offensive harsh or blunt (eg ldquospending a pennyrdquo)
A dysphemism is when we use a harsh expression instead of a more neutral one (eg animal names when they are applied to people such as coot old bat pig chicken snake and bitch) We might call someone a pig when we actually mean that his table manners are not very delicate
AC
TIV
ITY
Look up any of these key words from the bullet points above that you do not know and
add them to your glossary Try to find some examples that you can include and make
some flash-cards so you can learn them For example start with finding a synonym and
antonym for happy Then explore the hypernyms of fruit computer and sport and list
as many hyponyms as you can for each one
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Pick an area where euphemisms are often used (sex death and bodily functions are
the most common) Try to list five euphemisms and five dysphemisms
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Write a school report for an imaginary student who is lazy rude and disinterested
in which you the teacher wish to communicate a true picture without giving
offence
7
Grammar - The way individual words are structured and arranged together in sentences
Key Features may include
bull Word classes nouns verbs adjectives adverbs pronouns conjunctions prepositions and determiners
bull Features of the verb main and auxiliary tense modal auxiliaries active and passive voice
bull Sentence types declarative interrogative imperative exclamatory
bull Sentence complexity minor simple compound complex relative length
bull Unusual word order
bull Standard or non-standard forms
bull Other aspects ellipsis pre - and post - modification subject object pronoun use person agreement content and function words noun phrase complexity
bull Word structure prefix suffix
We will study these terms as part of our course It will be very helpful to learn the key word classes before September Some of the key features are explored below Add these too your glossary and make flash-cards You may also find the power-point with Captain Grammar useful to learn these terms too
Word Classes
You need to know the different word classes so that you can analyse how they are used They are
the basic types of words that English has There are eight of them
Nouns
A noun is a naming word It names a person place thing idea living creature quality or action
There are two main types of noun proper and common Most nouns are common nouns and they
can be divided up into three categories concrete abstract and collective
Adjectives
An adjective is a word that describes a noun It tells you something about the noun Examples big
yellow thin amazing beautiful quick important
Verbs
A verb is a word which describes an action (doing something) or a state (being something) You will
need to find out about main verbs auxiliary verbs primary verbs modal auxiliaries active and
passive verbs Some information is provided on pages 8-10
Adverbs
An adverb is a word which usually describes a verb It tells you how something is done It may also
tell you when or where something happened Many adverbs end in ndashly
Examples slowly intelligently well yesterday tomorrow here everywhere
8
Pronouns A pronoun is used instead of a noun to avoid repeating the noun Examples I you he
she it we they
Prepositions
A preposition usually comes before a noun pronoun or noun phrase Prepositions can relate to
position They join the noun to some other part of the sentence
Examples on in by with under through at
Conjunctions (connectives)
A conjunction joins two words phrases or sentences together Examples but so and because or
Determiners
These words come before nouns and refer to them directly The most common determiner the is
called the definite article The indefinite article is aan
Peter Boy Cheese England
Country Dumbo The Lion King Rover
Table Elephant Yorkshire Film
Pencil Doctor Fire Engine Brick
Happiness Armchair Light Bulb Hate
Sky Heart Tree Charity
Christianity Flag Woman Time
Wheelbarrow Loneliness Jug Mystery
AC
TIV
ITY
N
OU
NS
Sort these nouns into two categories You decide what the two categories should
be (this is more easily done as a cut and sort activity) Note that the two groups
are not necessarily even in number
Once you have reached an agreement over what goes where define the difference
between the two groups as clearly as you can
Next repeat the exercise with these nouns
9
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Will Shall MayMight Would CanCould Must Should Ought to
Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility intention obligation and necessity eg
bull I would have told you if you had wanted me to
bull Yes I can do that
Consider which of the following versions suggest more certainty I could do my homework before
lunch I might do my homework before lunch I will do my homework before lunch
They are not used to talk about things that definitely exist or events that definitely happened These
meanings are sometimes divided into two groups
Modal verbs are verbs that help other verbs to express a meaning it is important
to realise that modal verbs have no meaning by themselves Look at the list of
modal verbs again Write them out in order of certainty starting from least certain
to most certain
Sentence Types
There are four sentence types in English The first sentence type is the most common
Declarative A declarative sentence declares or states a fact arrangement or opinion Declarative sentences can be either positive or negative A declarative sentence ends with a full stop
Examples lsquoIll meet you at the train stationrsquo lsquoThe sun rises in the Eastrsquo lsquoHe doesnt get up earlyrsquo
Imperative The imperative commands (or sometimes requests) The imperative has no subject as you is the implied subject The imperative form ends with either a full stop or an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoOpen the doorrsquo lsquoFinish your homeworkrsquo lsquoPick up that messrsquo
Interrogative The interrogative asks a question The interrogative form ends with a question mark
Examples lsquoHow long have you lived in Francersquo lsquoWhen does the bus leaversquo lsquoDo you enjoy listening to classical musicrsquo
Exclamatory The exclamatory form emphasises a statement (either declarative or imperative) with an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoHurry uprsquo lsquoThat sounds fantasticrsquo lsquoI cant believe you said thatrsquo
10
More about Sentences All of the sentence types fall into three further categories
bull Simple
bull Compound
bull Complex
Simple Sentences Simple sentences contain no conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoJack ate his dinner quicklyrsquo
lsquoPeter and Sue visited the museum last Saturdayrsquo lsquoAre you coming to the partyrsquo
Compound Sentences Compound sentences contain two statements that are connected by a conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoI wanted to watch TV but it was latersquo
lsquoI went shopping and my wife went to her classesrsquo lsquoThe company had an excellent year so they gave everyone a bonusrsquo
Complex Sentences Complex sentences have an independent main clause and at least one other clause that is added They are joined by a subordinating conjunction such as which who although despite if since etc Examples lsquoMy daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rangrsquo
lsquoAlthough it was difficult the class passed the test with excellent marksrsquo
AC
TIV
ITY
lsquoTh
is M
orn
ing
Clip
rsquo
Watch this clip from lsquoThis Morningrsquo where Katie Hopkins is explaining how she
judges children based on their names
httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=8AivKoVT38Q
1) What are your own reactions to this discussion How important are
names Should we judge others based on their given names
2) How do Phillip Holly and the other guest show their disagreement with
Katiersquos views through their body language tone of voice facial
expressions
3) What do you notice about the kinds of sentences used by each participant
in this conversation Who uses more interrogatives declaratives Does
anyone use exclamatory sentences or imperatives
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
3
1 Introducing the key ideas and skills
There are some important areas that will be the basis of your study of the language of texts taken from everyday sources You will have to become confident in using them There are a number of linguistic frameworks and related concepts to come to grips with
Linguistic Frameworks
Lexis
Semantics
Grammar
Phonetics Phonology
Pragmatics
Discourse
Graphology
Related Concepts
Register
Mode
Idiolect
Sociolect
Dialect
Accent
Representation
4
Linguistic Frameworks
Lexis - The words used in text or spoken data the words phrases and idioms of language
Think of lexis as just another word for vocabulary or more simply words
Key Features may include
bull Choice of lexis eg jargon (specialist terms) dialect slang colloquialisms swearing taboo terms clicheacutes euphemisms dysphemisms archaisms (deliberate use of old-fashioned terms)
bull Choices indicating factors such as levels of formality and education eg elevated literate sophisticated Latinate unusual and polysyllabic terms (largely a reading or writing vocabulary) as opposed to simple every-day vernacular and monosyllabic (largely a speaking vocabulary)
bull The concept of the lexeme
bull Types of word eg compound shortening abbreviation acronym neologism blend loan word
bull Use of recurring lexis from particular lexical (semantic) fields
bull Collocations whether common (predictable) or uncommon (deviant)
bull Use of figurative language eg metaphor simile pun hyperbole personification metonymy oxymoron
Phew Donrsquot panic just look up some of these words begin to compile a glossary and learn a few for now You
might start with jargon and see if it applies to the list of words you have been given so far Then go to the last bullet point and see how many you recognise from your GCSE studies
5
As you work through this booklet and complete activities you will come across many new terms that you have not studied before Just try and look them up and become familiar with them We will go over them in September when we begin the course
Formal Technical Informal
Colloquial Impolite Slang
Taboo Dialect Regional lsquoPoshrsquo Slang
Old Fashioned Older Peoplersquos Slang lsquoYouthrsquo Slang
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Exploring Lexis (words)
List as many words for a) an attractive person and b) an unattractive person as you
can trying to cover as many different registers (levels of formality and informality)
Try to think about what your parents and grandparents would say and also think
about different contexts eg what would you say to a police officer teacher and
what would you say to your friends
Next you need to get your words in rank order from most formal to least Once
thatrsquos done try applying some lexical labels to them Do you have examples for
each of the following terms If not can you add some for the categories you donrsquot
yet have
AC
TIV
ITY
2 Investigating jargon
Jargon is a term used to describe specialist vocabulary or lexis that people use in a
particular specialist field For example medical language used by doctors However
this can also be applied to the field of sports Think about terms like lsquoman-onrsquo
lsquotacklersquo lsquooff-sidersquo used in football If you didnrsquot know anything about football you
would not know what these terms refer to
1) List as many examples of jargon you can think of for a particular sport or
hobby You could choose rugby ballet karate hockey computing or another
area of interest
2) Why do you think jargon is often used in specialist areas
6
Semantics - The meaning of language The semantics of a word is the meaning of it as
given in a dictionary The semantic meaning of a text is not always straightforward though because we can add layers of meaning for example through euphemisms or dysphemisms and through imagery
Key Features may include
bull Denotation - factual and objective meanings
o The denotation of this image is that it represents the sun
bull Connotation - personal and subjective meanings Look at the image of the sun above What are the connotations of this image For example it suggests warmth What else does this image suggest make you think of
bull Contrasts in meaning - synonym antonym hypernym hyponym homonym homophone homograph
bull Changes in meaning - amelioration pejoration broadening narrowing
Euphemisms and Dysphemisms
A euphemism is the substitution of a polite expression for one thought to be offensive harsh or blunt (eg ldquospending a pennyrdquo)
A dysphemism is when we use a harsh expression instead of a more neutral one (eg animal names when they are applied to people such as coot old bat pig chicken snake and bitch) We might call someone a pig when we actually mean that his table manners are not very delicate
AC
TIV
ITY
Look up any of these key words from the bullet points above that you do not know and
add them to your glossary Try to find some examples that you can include and make
some flash-cards so you can learn them For example start with finding a synonym and
antonym for happy Then explore the hypernyms of fruit computer and sport and list
as many hyponyms as you can for each one
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Pick an area where euphemisms are often used (sex death and bodily functions are
the most common) Try to list five euphemisms and five dysphemisms
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Write a school report for an imaginary student who is lazy rude and disinterested
in which you the teacher wish to communicate a true picture without giving
offence
7
Grammar - The way individual words are structured and arranged together in sentences
Key Features may include
bull Word classes nouns verbs adjectives adverbs pronouns conjunctions prepositions and determiners
bull Features of the verb main and auxiliary tense modal auxiliaries active and passive voice
bull Sentence types declarative interrogative imperative exclamatory
bull Sentence complexity minor simple compound complex relative length
bull Unusual word order
bull Standard or non-standard forms
bull Other aspects ellipsis pre - and post - modification subject object pronoun use person agreement content and function words noun phrase complexity
bull Word structure prefix suffix
We will study these terms as part of our course It will be very helpful to learn the key word classes before September Some of the key features are explored below Add these too your glossary and make flash-cards You may also find the power-point with Captain Grammar useful to learn these terms too
Word Classes
You need to know the different word classes so that you can analyse how they are used They are
the basic types of words that English has There are eight of them
Nouns
A noun is a naming word It names a person place thing idea living creature quality or action
There are two main types of noun proper and common Most nouns are common nouns and they
can be divided up into three categories concrete abstract and collective
Adjectives
An adjective is a word that describes a noun It tells you something about the noun Examples big
yellow thin amazing beautiful quick important
Verbs
A verb is a word which describes an action (doing something) or a state (being something) You will
need to find out about main verbs auxiliary verbs primary verbs modal auxiliaries active and
passive verbs Some information is provided on pages 8-10
Adverbs
An adverb is a word which usually describes a verb It tells you how something is done It may also
tell you when or where something happened Many adverbs end in ndashly
Examples slowly intelligently well yesterday tomorrow here everywhere
8
Pronouns A pronoun is used instead of a noun to avoid repeating the noun Examples I you he
she it we they
Prepositions
A preposition usually comes before a noun pronoun or noun phrase Prepositions can relate to
position They join the noun to some other part of the sentence
Examples on in by with under through at
Conjunctions (connectives)
A conjunction joins two words phrases or sentences together Examples but so and because or
Determiners
These words come before nouns and refer to them directly The most common determiner the is
called the definite article The indefinite article is aan
Peter Boy Cheese England
Country Dumbo The Lion King Rover
Table Elephant Yorkshire Film
Pencil Doctor Fire Engine Brick
Happiness Armchair Light Bulb Hate
Sky Heart Tree Charity
Christianity Flag Woman Time
Wheelbarrow Loneliness Jug Mystery
AC
TIV
ITY
N
OU
NS
Sort these nouns into two categories You decide what the two categories should
be (this is more easily done as a cut and sort activity) Note that the two groups
are not necessarily even in number
Once you have reached an agreement over what goes where define the difference
between the two groups as clearly as you can
Next repeat the exercise with these nouns
9
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Will Shall MayMight Would CanCould Must Should Ought to
Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility intention obligation and necessity eg
bull I would have told you if you had wanted me to
bull Yes I can do that
Consider which of the following versions suggest more certainty I could do my homework before
lunch I might do my homework before lunch I will do my homework before lunch
They are not used to talk about things that definitely exist or events that definitely happened These
meanings are sometimes divided into two groups
Modal verbs are verbs that help other verbs to express a meaning it is important
to realise that modal verbs have no meaning by themselves Look at the list of
modal verbs again Write them out in order of certainty starting from least certain
to most certain
Sentence Types
There are four sentence types in English The first sentence type is the most common
Declarative A declarative sentence declares or states a fact arrangement or opinion Declarative sentences can be either positive or negative A declarative sentence ends with a full stop
Examples lsquoIll meet you at the train stationrsquo lsquoThe sun rises in the Eastrsquo lsquoHe doesnt get up earlyrsquo
Imperative The imperative commands (or sometimes requests) The imperative has no subject as you is the implied subject The imperative form ends with either a full stop or an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoOpen the doorrsquo lsquoFinish your homeworkrsquo lsquoPick up that messrsquo
Interrogative The interrogative asks a question The interrogative form ends with a question mark
Examples lsquoHow long have you lived in Francersquo lsquoWhen does the bus leaversquo lsquoDo you enjoy listening to classical musicrsquo
Exclamatory The exclamatory form emphasises a statement (either declarative or imperative) with an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoHurry uprsquo lsquoThat sounds fantasticrsquo lsquoI cant believe you said thatrsquo
10
More about Sentences All of the sentence types fall into three further categories
bull Simple
bull Compound
bull Complex
Simple Sentences Simple sentences contain no conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoJack ate his dinner quicklyrsquo
lsquoPeter and Sue visited the museum last Saturdayrsquo lsquoAre you coming to the partyrsquo
Compound Sentences Compound sentences contain two statements that are connected by a conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoI wanted to watch TV but it was latersquo
lsquoI went shopping and my wife went to her classesrsquo lsquoThe company had an excellent year so they gave everyone a bonusrsquo
Complex Sentences Complex sentences have an independent main clause and at least one other clause that is added They are joined by a subordinating conjunction such as which who although despite if since etc Examples lsquoMy daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rangrsquo
lsquoAlthough it was difficult the class passed the test with excellent marksrsquo
AC
TIV
ITY
lsquoTh
is M
orn
ing
Clip
rsquo
Watch this clip from lsquoThis Morningrsquo where Katie Hopkins is explaining how she
judges children based on their names
httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=8AivKoVT38Q
1) What are your own reactions to this discussion How important are
names Should we judge others based on their given names
2) How do Phillip Holly and the other guest show their disagreement with
Katiersquos views through their body language tone of voice facial
expressions
3) What do you notice about the kinds of sentences used by each participant
in this conversation Who uses more interrogatives declaratives Does
anyone use exclamatory sentences or imperatives
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
4
Linguistic Frameworks
Lexis - The words used in text or spoken data the words phrases and idioms of language
Think of lexis as just another word for vocabulary or more simply words
Key Features may include
bull Choice of lexis eg jargon (specialist terms) dialect slang colloquialisms swearing taboo terms clicheacutes euphemisms dysphemisms archaisms (deliberate use of old-fashioned terms)
bull Choices indicating factors such as levels of formality and education eg elevated literate sophisticated Latinate unusual and polysyllabic terms (largely a reading or writing vocabulary) as opposed to simple every-day vernacular and monosyllabic (largely a speaking vocabulary)
bull The concept of the lexeme
bull Types of word eg compound shortening abbreviation acronym neologism blend loan word
bull Use of recurring lexis from particular lexical (semantic) fields
bull Collocations whether common (predictable) or uncommon (deviant)
bull Use of figurative language eg metaphor simile pun hyperbole personification metonymy oxymoron
Phew Donrsquot panic just look up some of these words begin to compile a glossary and learn a few for now You
might start with jargon and see if it applies to the list of words you have been given so far Then go to the last bullet point and see how many you recognise from your GCSE studies
5
As you work through this booklet and complete activities you will come across many new terms that you have not studied before Just try and look them up and become familiar with them We will go over them in September when we begin the course
Formal Technical Informal
Colloquial Impolite Slang
Taboo Dialect Regional lsquoPoshrsquo Slang
Old Fashioned Older Peoplersquos Slang lsquoYouthrsquo Slang
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Exploring Lexis (words)
List as many words for a) an attractive person and b) an unattractive person as you
can trying to cover as many different registers (levels of formality and informality)
Try to think about what your parents and grandparents would say and also think
about different contexts eg what would you say to a police officer teacher and
what would you say to your friends
Next you need to get your words in rank order from most formal to least Once
thatrsquos done try applying some lexical labels to them Do you have examples for
each of the following terms If not can you add some for the categories you donrsquot
yet have
AC
TIV
ITY
2 Investigating jargon
Jargon is a term used to describe specialist vocabulary or lexis that people use in a
particular specialist field For example medical language used by doctors However
this can also be applied to the field of sports Think about terms like lsquoman-onrsquo
lsquotacklersquo lsquooff-sidersquo used in football If you didnrsquot know anything about football you
would not know what these terms refer to
1) List as many examples of jargon you can think of for a particular sport or
hobby You could choose rugby ballet karate hockey computing or another
area of interest
2) Why do you think jargon is often used in specialist areas
6
Semantics - The meaning of language The semantics of a word is the meaning of it as
given in a dictionary The semantic meaning of a text is not always straightforward though because we can add layers of meaning for example through euphemisms or dysphemisms and through imagery
Key Features may include
bull Denotation - factual and objective meanings
o The denotation of this image is that it represents the sun
bull Connotation - personal and subjective meanings Look at the image of the sun above What are the connotations of this image For example it suggests warmth What else does this image suggest make you think of
bull Contrasts in meaning - synonym antonym hypernym hyponym homonym homophone homograph
bull Changes in meaning - amelioration pejoration broadening narrowing
Euphemisms and Dysphemisms
A euphemism is the substitution of a polite expression for one thought to be offensive harsh or blunt (eg ldquospending a pennyrdquo)
A dysphemism is when we use a harsh expression instead of a more neutral one (eg animal names when they are applied to people such as coot old bat pig chicken snake and bitch) We might call someone a pig when we actually mean that his table manners are not very delicate
AC
TIV
ITY
Look up any of these key words from the bullet points above that you do not know and
add them to your glossary Try to find some examples that you can include and make
some flash-cards so you can learn them For example start with finding a synonym and
antonym for happy Then explore the hypernyms of fruit computer and sport and list
as many hyponyms as you can for each one
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Pick an area where euphemisms are often used (sex death and bodily functions are
the most common) Try to list five euphemisms and five dysphemisms
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Write a school report for an imaginary student who is lazy rude and disinterested
in which you the teacher wish to communicate a true picture without giving
offence
7
Grammar - The way individual words are structured and arranged together in sentences
Key Features may include
bull Word classes nouns verbs adjectives adverbs pronouns conjunctions prepositions and determiners
bull Features of the verb main and auxiliary tense modal auxiliaries active and passive voice
bull Sentence types declarative interrogative imperative exclamatory
bull Sentence complexity minor simple compound complex relative length
bull Unusual word order
bull Standard or non-standard forms
bull Other aspects ellipsis pre - and post - modification subject object pronoun use person agreement content and function words noun phrase complexity
bull Word structure prefix suffix
We will study these terms as part of our course It will be very helpful to learn the key word classes before September Some of the key features are explored below Add these too your glossary and make flash-cards You may also find the power-point with Captain Grammar useful to learn these terms too
Word Classes
You need to know the different word classes so that you can analyse how they are used They are
the basic types of words that English has There are eight of them
Nouns
A noun is a naming word It names a person place thing idea living creature quality or action
There are two main types of noun proper and common Most nouns are common nouns and they
can be divided up into three categories concrete abstract and collective
Adjectives
An adjective is a word that describes a noun It tells you something about the noun Examples big
yellow thin amazing beautiful quick important
Verbs
A verb is a word which describes an action (doing something) or a state (being something) You will
need to find out about main verbs auxiliary verbs primary verbs modal auxiliaries active and
passive verbs Some information is provided on pages 8-10
Adverbs
An adverb is a word which usually describes a verb It tells you how something is done It may also
tell you when or where something happened Many adverbs end in ndashly
Examples slowly intelligently well yesterday tomorrow here everywhere
8
Pronouns A pronoun is used instead of a noun to avoid repeating the noun Examples I you he
she it we they
Prepositions
A preposition usually comes before a noun pronoun or noun phrase Prepositions can relate to
position They join the noun to some other part of the sentence
Examples on in by with under through at
Conjunctions (connectives)
A conjunction joins two words phrases or sentences together Examples but so and because or
Determiners
These words come before nouns and refer to them directly The most common determiner the is
called the definite article The indefinite article is aan
Peter Boy Cheese England
Country Dumbo The Lion King Rover
Table Elephant Yorkshire Film
Pencil Doctor Fire Engine Brick
Happiness Armchair Light Bulb Hate
Sky Heart Tree Charity
Christianity Flag Woman Time
Wheelbarrow Loneliness Jug Mystery
AC
TIV
ITY
N
OU
NS
Sort these nouns into two categories You decide what the two categories should
be (this is more easily done as a cut and sort activity) Note that the two groups
are not necessarily even in number
Once you have reached an agreement over what goes where define the difference
between the two groups as clearly as you can
Next repeat the exercise with these nouns
9
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Will Shall MayMight Would CanCould Must Should Ought to
Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility intention obligation and necessity eg
bull I would have told you if you had wanted me to
bull Yes I can do that
Consider which of the following versions suggest more certainty I could do my homework before
lunch I might do my homework before lunch I will do my homework before lunch
They are not used to talk about things that definitely exist or events that definitely happened These
meanings are sometimes divided into two groups
Modal verbs are verbs that help other verbs to express a meaning it is important
to realise that modal verbs have no meaning by themselves Look at the list of
modal verbs again Write them out in order of certainty starting from least certain
to most certain
Sentence Types
There are four sentence types in English The first sentence type is the most common
Declarative A declarative sentence declares or states a fact arrangement or opinion Declarative sentences can be either positive or negative A declarative sentence ends with a full stop
Examples lsquoIll meet you at the train stationrsquo lsquoThe sun rises in the Eastrsquo lsquoHe doesnt get up earlyrsquo
Imperative The imperative commands (or sometimes requests) The imperative has no subject as you is the implied subject The imperative form ends with either a full stop or an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoOpen the doorrsquo lsquoFinish your homeworkrsquo lsquoPick up that messrsquo
Interrogative The interrogative asks a question The interrogative form ends with a question mark
Examples lsquoHow long have you lived in Francersquo lsquoWhen does the bus leaversquo lsquoDo you enjoy listening to classical musicrsquo
Exclamatory The exclamatory form emphasises a statement (either declarative or imperative) with an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoHurry uprsquo lsquoThat sounds fantasticrsquo lsquoI cant believe you said thatrsquo
10
More about Sentences All of the sentence types fall into three further categories
bull Simple
bull Compound
bull Complex
Simple Sentences Simple sentences contain no conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoJack ate his dinner quicklyrsquo
lsquoPeter and Sue visited the museum last Saturdayrsquo lsquoAre you coming to the partyrsquo
Compound Sentences Compound sentences contain two statements that are connected by a conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoI wanted to watch TV but it was latersquo
lsquoI went shopping and my wife went to her classesrsquo lsquoThe company had an excellent year so they gave everyone a bonusrsquo
Complex Sentences Complex sentences have an independent main clause and at least one other clause that is added They are joined by a subordinating conjunction such as which who although despite if since etc Examples lsquoMy daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rangrsquo
lsquoAlthough it was difficult the class passed the test with excellent marksrsquo
AC
TIV
ITY
lsquoTh
is M
orn
ing
Clip
rsquo
Watch this clip from lsquoThis Morningrsquo where Katie Hopkins is explaining how she
judges children based on their names
httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=8AivKoVT38Q
1) What are your own reactions to this discussion How important are
names Should we judge others based on their given names
2) How do Phillip Holly and the other guest show their disagreement with
Katiersquos views through their body language tone of voice facial
expressions
3) What do you notice about the kinds of sentences used by each participant
in this conversation Who uses more interrogatives declaratives Does
anyone use exclamatory sentences or imperatives
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
5
As you work through this booklet and complete activities you will come across many new terms that you have not studied before Just try and look them up and become familiar with them We will go over them in September when we begin the course
Formal Technical Informal
Colloquial Impolite Slang
Taboo Dialect Regional lsquoPoshrsquo Slang
Old Fashioned Older Peoplersquos Slang lsquoYouthrsquo Slang
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Exploring Lexis (words)
List as many words for a) an attractive person and b) an unattractive person as you
can trying to cover as many different registers (levels of formality and informality)
Try to think about what your parents and grandparents would say and also think
about different contexts eg what would you say to a police officer teacher and
what would you say to your friends
Next you need to get your words in rank order from most formal to least Once
thatrsquos done try applying some lexical labels to them Do you have examples for
each of the following terms If not can you add some for the categories you donrsquot
yet have
AC
TIV
ITY
2 Investigating jargon
Jargon is a term used to describe specialist vocabulary or lexis that people use in a
particular specialist field For example medical language used by doctors However
this can also be applied to the field of sports Think about terms like lsquoman-onrsquo
lsquotacklersquo lsquooff-sidersquo used in football If you didnrsquot know anything about football you
would not know what these terms refer to
1) List as many examples of jargon you can think of for a particular sport or
hobby You could choose rugby ballet karate hockey computing or another
area of interest
2) Why do you think jargon is often used in specialist areas
6
Semantics - The meaning of language The semantics of a word is the meaning of it as
given in a dictionary The semantic meaning of a text is not always straightforward though because we can add layers of meaning for example through euphemisms or dysphemisms and through imagery
Key Features may include
bull Denotation - factual and objective meanings
o The denotation of this image is that it represents the sun
bull Connotation - personal and subjective meanings Look at the image of the sun above What are the connotations of this image For example it suggests warmth What else does this image suggest make you think of
bull Contrasts in meaning - synonym antonym hypernym hyponym homonym homophone homograph
bull Changes in meaning - amelioration pejoration broadening narrowing
Euphemisms and Dysphemisms
A euphemism is the substitution of a polite expression for one thought to be offensive harsh or blunt (eg ldquospending a pennyrdquo)
A dysphemism is when we use a harsh expression instead of a more neutral one (eg animal names when they are applied to people such as coot old bat pig chicken snake and bitch) We might call someone a pig when we actually mean that his table manners are not very delicate
AC
TIV
ITY
Look up any of these key words from the bullet points above that you do not know and
add them to your glossary Try to find some examples that you can include and make
some flash-cards so you can learn them For example start with finding a synonym and
antonym for happy Then explore the hypernyms of fruit computer and sport and list
as many hyponyms as you can for each one
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Pick an area where euphemisms are often used (sex death and bodily functions are
the most common) Try to list five euphemisms and five dysphemisms
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Write a school report for an imaginary student who is lazy rude and disinterested
in which you the teacher wish to communicate a true picture without giving
offence
7
Grammar - The way individual words are structured and arranged together in sentences
Key Features may include
bull Word classes nouns verbs adjectives adverbs pronouns conjunctions prepositions and determiners
bull Features of the verb main and auxiliary tense modal auxiliaries active and passive voice
bull Sentence types declarative interrogative imperative exclamatory
bull Sentence complexity minor simple compound complex relative length
bull Unusual word order
bull Standard or non-standard forms
bull Other aspects ellipsis pre - and post - modification subject object pronoun use person agreement content and function words noun phrase complexity
bull Word structure prefix suffix
We will study these terms as part of our course It will be very helpful to learn the key word classes before September Some of the key features are explored below Add these too your glossary and make flash-cards You may also find the power-point with Captain Grammar useful to learn these terms too
Word Classes
You need to know the different word classes so that you can analyse how they are used They are
the basic types of words that English has There are eight of them
Nouns
A noun is a naming word It names a person place thing idea living creature quality or action
There are two main types of noun proper and common Most nouns are common nouns and they
can be divided up into three categories concrete abstract and collective
Adjectives
An adjective is a word that describes a noun It tells you something about the noun Examples big
yellow thin amazing beautiful quick important
Verbs
A verb is a word which describes an action (doing something) or a state (being something) You will
need to find out about main verbs auxiliary verbs primary verbs modal auxiliaries active and
passive verbs Some information is provided on pages 8-10
Adverbs
An adverb is a word which usually describes a verb It tells you how something is done It may also
tell you when or where something happened Many adverbs end in ndashly
Examples slowly intelligently well yesterday tomorrow here everywhere
8
Pronouns A pronoun is used instead of a noun to avoid repeating the noun Examples I you he
she it we they
Prepositions
A preposition usually comes before a noun pronoun or noun phrase Prepositions can relate to
position They join the noun to some other part of the sentence
Examples on in by with under through at
Conjunctions (connectives)
A conjunction joins two words phrases or sentences together Examples but so and because or
Determiners
These words come before nouns and refer to them directly The most common determiner the is
called the definite article The indefinite article is aan
Peter Boy Cheese England
Country Dumbo The Lion King Rover
Table Elephant Yorkshire Film
Pencil Doctor Fire Engine Brick
Happiness Armchair Light Bulb Hate
Sky Heart Tree Charity
Christianity Flag Woman Time
Wheelbarrow Loneliness Jug Mystery
AC
TIV
ITY
N
OU
NS
Sort these nouns into two categories You decide what the two categories should
be (this is more easily done as a cut and sort activity) Note that the two groups
are not necessarily even in number
Once you have reached an agreement over what goes where define the difference
between the two groups as clearly as you can
Next repeat the exercise with these nouns
9
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Will Shall MayMight Would CanCould Must Should Ought to
Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility intention obligation and necessity eg
bull I would have told you if you had wanted me to
bull Yes I can do that
Consider which of the following versions suggest more certainty I could do my homework before
lunch I might do my homework before lunch I will do my homework before lunch
They are not used to talk about things that definitely exist or events that definitely happened These
meanings are sometimes divided into two groups
Modal verbs are verbs that help other verbs to express a meaning it is important
to realise that modal verbs have no meaning by themselves Look at the list of
modal verbs again Write them out in order of certainty starting from least certain
to most certain
Sentence Types
There are four sentence types in English The first sentence type is the most common
Declarative A declarative sentence declares or states a fact arrangement or opinion Declarative sentences can be either positive or negative A declarative sentence ends with a full stop
Examples lsquoIll meet you at the train stationrsquo lsquoThe sun rises in the Eastrsquo lsquoHe doesnt get up earlyrsquo
Imperative The imperative commands (or sometimes requests) The imperative has no subject as you is the implied subject The imperative form ends with either a full stop or an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoOpen the doorrsquo lsquoFinish your homeworkrsquo lsquoPick up that messrsquo
Interrogative The interrogative asks a question The interrogative form ends with a question mark
Examples lsquoHow long have you lived in Francersquo lsquoWhen does the bus leaversquo lsquoDo you enjoy listening to classical musicrsquo
Exclamatory The exclamatory form emphasises a statement (either declarative or imperative) with an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoHurry uprsquo lsquoThat sounds fantasticrsquo lsquoI cant believe you said thatrsquo
10
More about Sentences All of the sentence types fall into three further categories
bull Simple
bull Compound
bull Complex
Simple Sentences Simple sentences contain no conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoJack ate his dinner quicklyrsquo
lsquoPeter and Sue visited the museum last Saturdayrsquo lsquoAre you coming to the partyrsquo
Compound Sentences Compound sentences contain two statements that are connected by a conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoI wanted to watch TV but it was latersquo
lsquoI went shopping and my wife went to her classesrsquo lsquoThe company had an excellent year so they gave everyone a bonusrsquo
Complex Sentences Complex sentences have an independent main clause and at least one other clause that is added They are joined by a subordinating conjunction such as which who although despite if since etc Examples lsquoMy daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rangrsquo
lsquoAlthough it was difficult the class passed the test with excellent marksrsquo
AC
TIV
ITY
lsquoTh
is M
orn
ing
Clip
rsquo
Watch this clip from lsquoThis Morningrsquo where Katie Hopkins is explaining how she
judges children based on their names
httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=8AivKoVT38Q
1) What are your own reactions to this discussion How important are
names Should we judge others based on their given names
2) How do Phillip Holly and the other guest show their disagreement with
Katiersquos views through their body language tone of voice facial
expressions
3) What do you notice about the kinds of sentences used by each participant
in this conversation Who uses more interrogatives declaratives Does
anyone use exclamatory sentences or imperatives
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
6
Semantics - The meaning of language The semantics of a word is the meaning of it as
given in a dictionary The semantic meaning of a text is not always straightforward though because we can add layers of meaning for example through euphemisms or dysphemisms and through imagery
Key Features may include
bull Denotation - factual and objective meanings
o The denotation of this image is that it represents the sun
bull Connotation - personal and subjective meanings Look at the image of the sun above What are the connotations of this image For example it suggests warmth What else does this image suggest make you think of
bull Contrasts in meaning - synonym antonym hypernym hyponym homonym homophone homograph
bull Changes in meaning - amelioration pejoration broadening narrowing
Euphemisms and Dysphemisms
A euphemism is the substitution of a polite expression for one thought to be offensive harsh or blunt (eg ldquospending a pennyrdquo)
A dysphemism is when we use a harsh expression instead of a more neutral one (eg animal names when they are applied to people such as coot old bat pig chicken snake and bitch) We might call someone a pig when we actually mean that his table manners are not very delicate
AC
TIV
ITY
Look up any of these key words from the bullet points above that you do not know and
add them to your glossary Try to find some examples that you can include and make
some flash-cards so you can learn them For example start with finding a synonym and
antonym for happy Then explore the hypernyms of fruit computer and sport and list
as many hyponyms as you can for each one
AC
TIV
ITY
1
Pick an area where euphemisms are often used (sex death and bodily functions are
the most common) Try to list five euphemisms and five dysphemisms
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Write a school report for an imaginary student who is lazy rude and disinterested
in which you the teacher wish to communicate a true picture without giving
offence
7
Grammar - The way individual words are structured and arranged together in sentences
Key Features may include
bull Word classes nouns verbs adjectives adverbs pronouns conjunctions prepositions and determiners
bull Features of the verb main and auxiliary tense modal auxiliaries active and passive voice
bull Sentence types declarative interrogative imperative exclamatory
bull Sentence complexity minor simple compound complex relative length
bull Unusual word order
bull Standard or non-standard forms
bull Other aspects ellipsis pre - and post - modification subject object pronoun use person agreement content and function words noun phrase complexity
bull Word structure prefix suffix
We will study these terms as part of our course It will be very helpful to learn the key word classes before September Some of the key features are explored below Add these too your glossary and make flash-cards You may also find the power-point with Captain Grammar useful to learn these terms too
Word Classes
You need to know the different word classes so that you can analyse how they are used They are
the basic types of words that English has There are eight of them
Nouns
A noun is a naming word It names a person place thing idea living creature quality or action
There are two main types of noun proper and common Most nouns are common nouns and they
can be divided up into three categories concrete abstract and collective
Adjectives
An adjective is a word that describes a noun It tells you something about the noun Examples big
yellow thin amazing beautiful quick important
Verbs
A verb is a word which describes an action (doing something) or a state (being something) You will
need to find out about main verbs auxiliary verbs primary verbs modal auxiliaries active and
passive verbs Some information is provided on pages 8-10
Adverbs
An adverb is a word which usually describes a verb It tells you how something is done It may also
tell you when or where something happened Many adverbs end in ndashly
Examples slowly intelligently well yesterday tomorrow here everywhere
8
Pronouns A pronoun is used instead of a noun to avoid repeating the noun Examples I you he
she it we they
Prepositions
A preposition usually comes before a noun pronoun or noun phrase Prepositions can relate to
position They join the noun to some other part of the sentence
Examples on in by with under through at
Conjunctions (connectives)
A conjunction joins two words phrases or sentences together Examples but so and because or
Determiners
These words come before nouns and refer to them directly The most common determiner the is
called the definite article The indefinite article is aan
Peter Boy Cheese England
Country Dumbo The Lion King Rover
Table Elephant Yorkshire Film
Pencil Doctor Fire Engine Brick
Happiness Armchair Light Bulb Hate
Sky Heart Tree Charity
Christianity Flag Woman Time
Wheelbarrow Loneliness Jug Mystery
AC
TIV
ITY
N
OU
NS
Sort these nouns into two categories You decide what the two categories should
be (this is more easily done as a cut and sort activity) Note that the two groups
are not necessarily even in number
Once you have reached an agreement over what goes where define the difference
between the two groups as clearly as you can
Next repeat the exercise with these nouns
9
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Will Shall MayMight Would CanCould Must Should Ought to
Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility intention obligation and necessity eg
bull I would have told you if you had wanted me to
bull Yes I can do that
Consider which of the following versions suggest more certainty I could do my homework before
lunch I might do my homework before lunch I will do my homework before lunch
They are not used to talk about things that definitely exist or events that definitely happened These
meanings are sometimes divided into two groups
Modal verbs are verbs that help other verbs to express a meaning it is important
to realise that modal verbs have no meaning by themselves Look at the list of
modal verbs again Write them out in order of certainty starting from least certain
to most certain
Sentence Types
There are four sentence types in English The first sentence type is the most common
Declarative A declarative sentence declares or states a fact arrangement or opinion Declarative sentences can be either positive or negative A declarative sentence ends with a full stop
Examples lsquoIll meet you at the train stationrsquo lsquoThe sun rises in the Eastrsquo lsquoHe doesnt get up earlyrsquo
Imperative The imperative commands (or sometimes requests) The imperative has no subject as you is the implied subject The imperative form ends with either a full stop or an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoOpen the doorrsquo lsquoFinish your homeworkrsquo lsquoPick up that messrsquo
Interrogative The interrogative asks a question The interrogative form ends with a question mark
Examples lsquoHow long have you lived in Francersquo lsquoWhen does the bus leaversquo lsquoDo you enjoy listening to classical musicrsquo
Exclamatory The exclamatory form emphasises a statement (either declarative or imperative) with an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoHurry uprsquo lsquoThat sounds fantasticrsquo lsquoI cant believe you said thatrsquo
10
More about Sentences All of the sentence types fall into three further categories
bull Simple
bull Compound
bull Complex
Simple Sentences Simple sentences contain no conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoJack ate his dinner quicklyrsquo
lsquoPeter and Sue visited the museum last Saturdayrsquo lsquoAre you coming to the partyrsquo
Compound Sentences Compound sentences contain two statements that are connected by a conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoI wanted to watch TV but it was latersquo
lsquoI went shopping and my wife went to her classesrsquo lsquoThe company had an excellent year so they gave everyone a bonusrsquo
Complex Sentences Complex sentences have an independent main clause and at least one other clause that is added They are joined by a subordinating conjunction such as which who although despite if since etc Examples lsquoMy daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rangrsquo
lsquoAlthough it was difficult the class passed the test with excellent marksrsquo
AC
TIV
ITY
lsquoTh
is M
orn
ing
Clip
rsquo
Watch this clip from lsquoThis Morningrsquo where Katie Hopkins is explaining how she
judges children based on their names
httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=8AivKoVT38Q
1) What are your own reactions to this discussion How important are
names Should we judge others based on their given names
2) How do Phillip Holly and the other guest show their disagreement with
Katiersquos views through their body language tone of voice facial
expressions
3) What do you notice about the kinds of sentences used by each participant
in this conversation Who uses more interrogatives declaratives Does
anyone use exclamatory sentences or imperatives
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
7
Grammar - The way individual words are structured and arranged together in sentences
Key Features may include
bull Word classes nouns verbs adjectives adverbs pronouns conjunctions prepositions and determiners
bull Features of the verb main and auxiliary tense modal auxiliaries active and passive voice
bull Sentence types declarative interrogative imperative exclamatory
bull Sentence complexity minor simple compound complex relative length
bull Unusual word order
bull Standard or non-standard forms
bull Other aspects ellipsis pre - and post - modification subject object pronoun use person agreement content and function words noun phrase complexity
bull Word structure prefix suffix
We will study these terms as part of our course It will be very helpful to learn the key word classes before September Some of the key features are explored below Add these too your glossary and make flash-cards You may also find the power-point with Captain Grammar useful to learn these terms too
Word Classes
You need to know the different word classes so that you can analyse how they are used They are
the basic types of words that English has There are eight of them
Nouns
A noun is a naming word It names a person place thing idea living creature quality or action
There are two main types of noun proper and common Most nouns are common nouns and they
can be divided up into three categories concrete abstract and collective
Adjectives
An adjective is a word that describes a noun It tells you something about the noun Examples big
yellow thin amazing beautiful quick important
Verbs
A verb is a word which describes an action (doing something) or a state (being something) You will
need to find out about main verbs auxiliary verbs primary verbs modal auxiliaries active and
passive verbs Some information is provided on pages 8-10
Adverbs
An adverb is a word which usually describes a verb It tells you how something is done It may also
tell you when or where something happened Many adverbs end in ndashly
Examples slowly intelligently well yesterday tomorrow here everywhere
8
Pronouns A pronoun is used instead of a noun to avoid repeating the noun Examples I you he
she it we they
Prepositions
A preposition usually comes before a noun pronoun or noun phrase Prepositions can relate to
position They join the noun to some other part of the sentence
Examples on in by with under through at
Conjunctions (connectives)
A conjunction joins two words phrases or sentences together Examples but so and because or
Determiners
These words come before nouns and refer to them directly The most common determiner the is
called the definite article The indefinite article is aan
Peter Boy Cheese England
Country Dumbo The Lion King Rover
Table Elephant Yorkshire Film
Pencil Doctor Fire Engine Brick
Happiness Armchair Light Bulb Hate
Sky Heart Tree Charity
Christianity Flag Woman Time
Wheelbarrow Loneliness Jug Mystery
AC
TIV
ITY
N
OU
NS
Sort these nouns into two categories You decide what the two categories should
be (this is more easily done as a cut and sort activity) Note that the two groups
are not necessarily even in number
Once you have reached an agreement over what goes where define the difference
between the two groups as clearly as you can
Next repeat the exercise with these nouns
9
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Will Shall MayMight Would CanCould Must Should Ought to
Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility intention obligation and necessity eg
bull I would have told you if you had wanted me to
bull Yes I can do that
Consider which of the following versions suggest more certainty I could do my homework before
lunch I might do my homework before lunch I will do my homework before lunch
They are not used to talk about things that definitely exist or events that definitely happened These
meanings are sometimes divided into two groups
Modal verbs are verbs that help other verbs to express a meaning it is important
to realise that modal verbs have no meaning by themselves Look at the list of
modal verbs again Write them out in order of certainty starting from least certain
to most certain
Sentence Types
There are four sentence types in English The first sentence type is the most common
Declarative A declarative sentence declares or states a fact arrangement or opinion Declarative sentences can be either positive or negative A declarative sentence ends with a full stop
Examples lsquoIll meet you at the train stationrsquo lsquoThe sun rises in the Eastrsquo lsquoHe doesnt get up earlyrsquo
Imperative The imperative commands (or sometimes requests) The imperative has no subject as you is the implied subject The imperative form ends with either a full stop or an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoOpen the doorrsquo lsquoFinish your homeworkrsquo lsquoPick up that messrsquo
Interrogative The interrogative asks a question The interrogative form ends with a question mark
Examples lsquoHow long have you lived in Francersquo lsquoWhen does the bus leaversquo lsquoDo you enjoy listening to classical musicrsquo
Exclamatory The exclamatory form emphasises a statement (either declarative or imperative) with an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoHurry uprsquo lsquoThat sounds fantasticrsquo lsquoI cant believe you said thatrsquo
10
More about Sentences All of the sentence types fall into three further categories
bull Simple
bull Compound
bull Complex
Simple Sentences Simple sentences contain no conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoJack ate his dinner quicklyrsquo
lsquoPeter and Sue visited the museum last Saturdayrsquo lsquoAre you coming to the partyrsquo
Compound Sentences Compound sentences contain two statements that are connected by a conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoI wanted to watch TV but it was latersquo
lsquoI went shopping and my wife went to her classesrsquo lsquoThe company had an excellent year so they gave everyone a bonusrsquo
Complex Sentences Complex sentences have an independent main clause and at least one other clause that is added They are joined by a subordinating conjunction such as which who although despite if since etc Examples lsquoMy daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rangrsquo
lsquoAlthough it was difficult the class passed the test with excellent marksrsquo
AC
TIV
ITY
lsquoTh
is M
orn
ing
Clip
rsquo
Watch this clip from lsquoThis Morningrsquo where Katie Hopkins is explaining how she
judges children based on their names
httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=8AivKoVT38Q
1) What are your own reactions to this discussion How important are
names Should we judge others based on their given names
2) How do Phillip Holly and the other guest show their disagreement with
Katiersquos views through their body language tone of voice facial
expressions
3) What do you notice about the kinds of sentences used by each participant
in this conversation Who uses more interrogatives declaratives Does
anyone use exclamatory sentences or imperatives
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
8
Pronouns A pronoun is used instead of a noun to avoid repeating the noun Examples I you he
she it we they
Prepositions
A preposition usually comes before a noun pronoun or noun phrase Prepositions can relate to
position They join the noun to some other part of the sentence
Examples on in by with under through at
Conjunctions (connectives)
A conjunction joins two words phrases or sentences together Examples but so and because or
Determiners
These words come before nouns and refer to them directly The most common determiner the is
called the definite article The indefinite article is aan
Peter Boy Cheese England
Country Dumbo The Lion King Rover
Table Elephant Yorkshire Film
Pencil Doctor Fire Engine Brick
Happiness Armchair Light Bulb Hate
Sky Heart Tree Charity
Christianity Flag Woman Time
Wheelbarrow Loneliness Jug Mystery
AC
TIV
ITY
N
OU
NS
Sort these nouns into two categories You decide what the two categories should
be (this is more easily done as a cut and sort activity) Note that the two groups
are not necessarily even in number
Once you have reached an agreement over what goes where define the difference
between the two groups as clearly as you can
Next repeat the exercise with these nouns
9
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Will Shall MayMight Would CanCould Must Should Ought to
Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility intention obligation and necessity eg
bull I would have told you if you had wanted me to
bull Yes I can do that
Consider which of the following versions suggest more certainty I could do my homework before
lunch I might do my homework before lunch I will do my homework before lunch
They are not used to talk about things that definitely exist or events that definitely happened These
meanings are sometimes divided into two groups
Modal verbs are verbs that help other verbs to express a meaning it is important
to realise that modal verbs have no meaning by themselves Look at the list of
modal verbs again Write them out in order of certainty starting from least certain
to most certain
Sentence Types
There are four sentence types in English The first sentence type is the most common
Declarative A declarative sentence declares or states a fact arrangement or opinion Declarative sentences can be either positive or negative A declarative sentence ends with a full stop
Examples lsquoIll meet you at the train stationrsquo lsquoThe sun rises in the Eastrsquo lsquoHe doesnt get up earlyrsquo
Imperative The imperative commands (or sometimes requests) The imperative has no subject as you is the implied subject The imperative form ends with either a full stop or an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoOpen the doorrsquo lsquoFinish your homeworkrsquo lsquoPick up that messrsquo
Interrogative The interrogative asks a question The interrogative form ends with a question mark
Examples lsquoHow long have you lived in Francersquo lsquoWhen does the bus leaversquo lsquoDo you enjoy listening to classical musicrsquo
Exclamatory The exclamatory form emphasises a statement (either declarative or imperative) with an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoHurry uprsquo lsquoThat sounds fantasticrsquo lsquoI cant believe you said thatrsquo
10
More about Sentences All of the sentence types fall into three further categories
bull Simple
bull Compound
bull Complex
Simple Sentences Simple sentences contain no conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoJack ate his dinner quicklyrsquo
lsquoPeter and Sue visited the museum last Saturdayrsquo lsquoAre you coming to the partyrsquo
Compound Sentences Compound sentences contain two statements that are connected by a conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoI wanted to watch TV but it was latersquo
lsquoI went shopping and my wife went to her classesrsquo lsquoThe company had an excellent year so they gave everyone a bonusrsquo
Complex Sentences Complex sentences have an independent main clause and at least one other clause that is added They are joined by a subordinating conjunction such as which who although despite if since etc Examples lsquoMy daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rangrsquo
lsquoAlthough it was difficult the class passed the test with excellent marksrsquo
AC
TIV
ITY
lsquoTh
is M
orn
ing
Clip
rsquo
Watch this clip from lsquoThis Morningrsquo where Katie Hopkins is explaining how she
judges children based on their names
httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=8AivKoVT38Q
1) What are your own reactions to this discussion How important are
names Should we judge others based on their given names
2) How do Phillip Holly and the other guest show their disagreement with
Katiersquos views through their body language tone of voice facial
expressions
3) What do you notice about the kinds of sentences used by each participant
in this conversation Who uses more interrogatives declaratives Does
anyone use exclamatory sentences or imperatives
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
9
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Will Shall MayMight Would CanCould Must Should Ought to
Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as possibility intention obligation and necessity eg
bull I would have told you if you had wanted me to
bull Yes I can do that
Consider which of the following versions suggest more certainty I could do my homework before
lunch I might do my homework before lunch I will do my homework before lunch
They are not used to talk about things that definitely exist or events that definitely happened These
meanings are sometimes divided into two groups
Modal verbs are verbs that help other verbs to express a meaning it is important
to realise that modal verbs have no meaning by themselves Look at the list of
modal verbs again Write them out in order of certainty starting from least certain
to most certain
Sentence Types
There are four sentence types in English The first sentence type is the most common
Declarative A declarative sentence declares or states a fact arrangement or opinion Declarative sentences can be either positive or negative A declarative sentence ends with a full stop
Examples lsquoIll meet you at the train stationrsquo lsquoThe sun rises in the Eastrsquo lsquoHe doesnt get up earlyrsquo
Imperative The imperative commands (or sometimes requests) The imperative has no subject as you is the implied subject The imperative form ends with either a full stop or an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoOpen the doorrsquo lsquoFinish your homeworkrsquo lsquoPick up that messrsquo
Interrogative The interrogative asks a question The interrogative form ends with a question mark
Examples lsquoHow long have you lived in Francersquo lsquoWhen does the bus leaversquo lsquoDo you enjoy listening to classical musicrsquo
Exclamatory The exclamatory form emphasises a statement (either declarative or imperative) with an exclamation mark
Examples lsquoHurry uprsquo lsquoThat sounds fantasticrsquo lsquoI cant believe you said thatrsquo
10
More about Sentences All of the sentence types fall into three further categories
bull Simple
bull Compound
bull Complex
Simple Sentences Simple sentences contain no conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoJack ate his dinner quicklyrsquo
lsquoPeter and Sue visited the museum last Saturdayrsquo lsquoAre you coming to the partyrsquo
Compound Sentences Compound sentences contain two statements that are connected by a conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoI wanted to watch TV but it was latersquo
lsquoI went shopping and my wife went to her classesrsquo lsquoThe company had an excellent year so they gave everyone a bonusrsquo
Complex Sentences Complex sentences have an independent main clause and at least one other clause that is added They are joined by a subordinating conjunction such as which who although despite if since etc Examples lsquoMy daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rangrsquo
lsquoAlthough it was difficult the class passed the test with excellent marksrsquo
AC
TIV
ITY
lsquoTh
is M
orn
ing
Clip
rsquo
Watch this clip from lsquoThis Morningrsquo where Katie Hopkins is explaining how she
judges children based on their names
httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=8AivKoVT38Q
1) What are your own reactions to this discussion How important are
names Should we judge others based on their given names
2) How do Phillip Holly and the other guest show their disagreement with
Katiersquos views through their body language tone of voice facial
expressions
3) What do you notice about the kinds of sentences used by each participant
in this conversation Who uses more interrogatives declaratives Does
anyone use exclamatory sentences or imperatives
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
10
More about Sentences All of the sentence types fall into three further categories
bull Simple
bull Compound
bull Complex
Simple Sentences Simple sentences contain no conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoJack ate his dinner quicklyrsquo
lsquoPeter and Sue visited the museum last Saturdayrsquo lsquoAre you coming to the partyrsquo
Compound Sentences Compound sentences contain two statements that are connected by a conjunction (and but or etc) Examples lsquoI wanted to watch TV but it was latersquo
lsquoI went shopping and my wife went to her classesrsquo lsquoThe company had an excellent year so they gave everyone a bonusrsquo
Complex Sentences Complex sentences have an independent main clause and at least one other clause that is added They are joined by a subordinating conjunction such as which who although despite if since etc Examples lsquoMy daughter who was late for class arrived shortly after the bell rangrsquo
lsquoAlthough it was difficult the class passed the test with excellent marksrsquo
AC
TIV
ITY
lsquoTh
is M
orn
ing
Clip
rsquo
Watch this clip from lsquoThis Morningrsquo where Katie Hopkins is explaining how she
judges children based on their names
httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=8AivKoVT38Q
1) What are your own reactions to this discussion How important are
names Should we judge others based on their given names
2) How do Phillip Holly and the other guest show their disagreement with
Katiersquos views through their body language tone of voice facial
expressions
3) What do you notice about the kinds of sentences used by each participant
in this conversation Who uses more interrogatives declaratives Does
anyone use exclamatory sentences or imperatives
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
11
Phonetics Phonology
Phonetics is the study of the sounds made by speakers
Phonology is the use of vocal elements to add extra force to what is being said Phonology Key Features may include
bull Characteristics of normal spoken delivery eg volume stress pitch intonation (pitch pattern or melody) tempo silent pauses voiced pauses (fillers eg lsquoerrsquo lsquoermrsquo) alliteration assonance These are called prosodic features
bull Elision (partial loss of sounds from words in connected speech indicated through spelling) eg Irsquom canrsquot rsquocos fish rsquonrsquo chips livinrsquo cuppa tea)
bull Phonology can even be a characteristic of written English as well as spoken and can be spotted in certain patterns You will be used to this with the poems that you studied for GCSE but remember that we are not just thinking about poems anymore The patterns can include rhyme alliteration onomatopoeia rhythm assonance
bull Significant aspects of accent indicated by means of deviant spelling eg West Lancashire lsquothrsquoreet monrsquo (lsquothe right manrsquo) Somerset lsquozo I zaidrsquo (lsquoso I saidrsquo)
AC
TIV
ITY
1
a) Collect examples of 10 headlines from tabloid newspapers (The Sun The
Mirror The Star) that use phonological devices- eg alliteration puns Label
the technique and explain what the effect is
b) Write some headlines for a tabloid newspaper which use phonological
devices for effect Your subjects can be ldquorealrdquo based on current affairs or
celebrity gossip or you could take a school in-house issue
AC
TIV
ITY
2
Imagine that you are a traditional market trader calling out
to attract customers Write a few lines using phonological
devices for effect
AC
TIV
ITY
3
Record find a conversation online so that you can look for as many of the
characteristics listed above as possible Note down examples for example of volume
pauses fillers etc You could use this clip form Graham Norton and focus on how
phonological devices are used to add meanings during the first 3 minutes of the clip httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=sqWsAyoHiAo
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
12
Pragmatics
When you think of the term pragmatics think of the word context It really refers to the context of the situation in which a conversation is happening For example how well the speakers might know each other what has happened and where they might be
Pragmatics is also the study of the meanings people are really trying to communicate For example ldquoHow lovely to see yourdquo can convey different meanings the speaker is genuinely pleased to see the other person the speaker is being sarcastic and would prefer not to see the other person there might be an element of malice because of the appalling dress sense of the second person which provides entertainment etc
AC
TIV
ITY
Pra
gmat
ics
For each of the following conversations write out as many possible meanings that
speaker B might be implying as possible For each conversation you will have to
imagine what the possible relationships between the speakers could be and what
the situation could be There will be more than one possibility for each example
1) A Would you like to come to the cinema later
B Who is going
2) A Hi
B Oh you managed to get here
3) A Do you think this dress looks good on me
B What others do you have
AC
TIV
ITY
2
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
13
Discourse
Discourse is really another label for a text This can be both spoken texts and written texts When we look at discourse we are looking at the following aspects
(i) How texts are organised and link together through cohesive device (the way different parts of a text are connected through either grammar or lexis) We might also consider generic features of a text as this links to the structure of a text (generic features are the things we expect to see in a text because of the genre of form of the text eg how we might expect a formal letter to being and end)
(ii) The way texts create identities for particular individuals groups or institutions eg the discourse of law politics the media
AC
TIV
ITY
N
arra
tive
Wri
tin
g
For now we are going to focus on written texts Think about the narrative arc
structure you have probably looked at for your GCSE narrative writing
preparation
A) Read some of the stories here httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles143H4d3xfnk8MMnVNN0fyg9to
p-50-stories-2019-age-10-to-13
Choose one that you like and plot it out as a narrative arc diagram
B) Plan and write your own 500 word story You could use one of these opening
lines as inspiration
httpswwwbbccoukprogrammesarticles1RJyY0hcFBzfY5VG79BtSRYfirst-
words-10-great-opening-lines-from-literature
Or you could use the current situation as inspiration for a short story You
might complete a story from an unusual perspective for example a day in the
life of a dog during lock down Or did you see the footage of the goats roaming
around the Welsh village as the streets are so quiet now- what would their
perspective be
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
14
Graphology
The visual appearance of language
Key Features may include
bull Nature of characters eg handwritten or printed plain or ornamental upper or lower case
bull Font type eg Arial Parisian BT Times New Roman
bull Font style eg standard emboldened italic
bull Font size (measured in points ndash 72 points to the inch eg eight point ten point twelve point)
bull The concept of the grapheme the fundamental unit in written language such as letters of the alphabet numbers punctuation marks
bull Organisation of text eg headings columns bullet points numeration borders boxes paragraph size line spacing use of white space
bull Other aspects eg use of colour logos drawings photographs captions diagrams
charts
A key word to learn semiotics It is the study of how we read signs
AC
TIV
ITY
Find a leaflet poster or blog and analyse its graphological
features A good one to analyse might be this leaflet on the covid 19 outbreak
httpswwwecdceuropaeusitesdefaultfilesdocumentscovid19-leaflet-public-
travellers-EC-enpdf
How are graphological features used here to create a serious and reassuring tone
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
15
Related Concepts
Register How language varies in relation to situation (audience purpose and context) Register can be a spectrum of formality through to informality the style or tone reflects the attitude adopted by the writerspeaker to the readeraudience and the topic This is called the tenor The language used in connection with a specific topic is called the field A text from a computer magazine for example will include field specific words to do with computing
Mode The two main types are spoken and written with the computer-mediated communication (CMC) also now taking its own important place Language varies from mode to mode for example a letter a phone call and an email will not use the same language even if they have the same audience purpose and context Within each mode there are variations and for the same reasons eg a letter to a friend has different language compared to a letter applying for a job
Multimodality Using more than one mode within a text
Idiolect The language used by an individual Everyone expresses themselves in their own style depending on the influences that have been brought to bear such as family travel education region peer group etc
Sociolect The language associated with a particular social group produced due to the effects of education occupation social class religion etc
Dialect This has its own distinctive vocabulary grammar and pronunciation It is a sub-division of the main language and can exist with several other dialects within the one language they are mutually intelligible Usually regional dialects are the most common in England you can find the Norfolk dialect the Liverpudlian and the Geordie dialects for example
Accent is not as broad as dialect as it relates only to pronunciation
Representation How language represents reality such as thought social values and so on
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
16
2 Useful websites to explore
Andrew Moorersquos website is a good place to start There is a lot of info here so start by browsing for different topics httpuniversalteacherorguk
If your knowledge of grammar isnrsquot up to scratch improve it by using wwwenglishbizcoukgrammar
The British Library has a fantastic site with a vast range of resources wwwbluk Try lsquoThe history of the English Languagersquo
If yoursquore looking for a brief introduction to some key aspects of linguistics try the site for the Linguistic Society of America lsadcorgweb2indexhtml
Under lsquoField of Linguisticsrsquo yoursquoll find useful articles eg by Deborah Tannen (useful for studying gender theories)
Try the Museum of Human Language ndash a virtual site wwwgeocitiescomagihardmohlmohlhtml
Look up interesting words in wwwworldwidewordsorg
Listen to a variety of British accents on YouTube One Woman 17 British Accents ndash Anglophenia
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
17
3 Virtual Visits
A visit to the British Library will give you a fascinating insight into texts across the ages You can access the British Library Online
4 Using Technology
Your pc and the internet is of course an unlimited linguistic resource Use it to look up articles about how language is used and to read peoplersquos ideas about language
The opinion pages in The Guardian online is a good starting point
You should also familiarise yourself with a range of online texts Visit The Student Room to explore how blogs work
And then therersquos your smartphone Use it to record your friendsrsquo conversations ndash with their permission of course ndash and then listen to how they communicate Do the guys interrupt the ladies all the time Do the girls really talk about their feelings and make-up You could find this useful when studying identity or language and gender
5 Analysing Texts
Annotate the following texts to explore how language has been used to create meanings present ideas and attitudes
Where you can label the language features you identify with terminology and explain what you think is being emphasised suggested
A) Here is an example taken from a Wildlife Trust leaflet
Here you might make the point that the environment is being represented as under
threat
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
18
How is this achieved hellip Through a series of different language choices all contributing
their own meanings to an overall representation
For example
1 the graphology anchors the themes being talked about and presents us with a
clear picture of what is under threat Can you label elements of the use of colour font images that emphasise this
2 the vocabulary uses a lexical field of nature and keeps the focus squarely on
key areas while there are quite specific references to breeds of bird types of
environment and precise figures Can you highlight examples of this kind of lexis
3 vocabulary choices like the adjective iconic help to represent the natural
environment as part of the UKs heritage Can you find any other examples of lexis that does this
4 the grammar helps to present the threat as current and ongoing through the
present progressive verb phrase are disappearing and as a victim of external
forces through the passive voice in the second box has been lost
What do you think these examples emphasise
Overall these combine to create a particular set of ideas about the situation ndash
BUT WHAT Can you write a paragraph to summarise your ideas
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
19
B) How are language features used here to create meanings and demonstrate
attitudes and ideas
Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
bull ldquoYourdquo ndash
bull ldquoOver indulgedrdquo
bull ldquoChristmas Holidaysrdquo
bull ldquoOne luckyrdquo
bull lsquoskinnyrsquo (repeated)
bull wwweasypeasycooking
bull healthclub
bull Girl in the image (not skinny)
bull Dressed to party
bull Plate of biscuits
bull One biscuit in each hand
bull Glass of wine
Summarise your ideas here
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
20
How do these texts use language to
present ideas attitudes and
opinions about girls
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
21
How does this text use language to
present ideas attitudes and opinions
about boys
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
22
6 Extension Tasks
Complete any of the following optional tasks to further explore some of the key language concepts that will help you to begin your course in September
A) Investigate your own language use Keep a log of all the times and methods you use language over a 24 hour period You do not need record all of the details of your conversations but keep brief details and log the time length and mode of communication You could record it in a table like this
Time and length of communication
Who Mode Reason
8pm- 20 mins best friends A + B House party app Social- catch up
830pm- 10 mins Friend C Snap chat Social
900pm- 1030pm Friends C and Ds X box Playing game
Following the completion of the log note down any conclusions and reflections that you have How typical do you think this is in terms of how you usually communicate Does anything surprise you How do you think this compares to pre-lock-down
B) Investigating the impact of technology on how we use language If you have started to use technology to have video group chats see if you can record one of your chats Then explore how you think these chats are similar different to face-to face conversation
C) Investigating the use of new words and jargon surrounding the coronavirus pandemic 1) Watch clips of politicians discussing it and look at a selection of other media such
as newspapers facebook threads twitter Instagram memes etc What new words have entered our vocabularies Are there any other patterns emerging from your own research
2) What do you think of David Crystalrsquos tweet here
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-
23
3) Read this blog on the use of language being a matter of life and death too httpsmakingrightsmakesensewordpresscom20200328the-right-words-save-lives-the-wrong-words-kill
What are your thoughts on this blog How does it reflect what you have found out in your own investigation into how language is being used during this lsquounprecedentedrsquo situation
Contact Mrs Mahmoud (vmahmoudeatonbankorg) or Miss Parker(eparkereatonbankorg) if you have any
questions about English Language A Level the transition booklets or to submit any work that you complete
- Consider ndash everything in the image alongside language
-