the tone is set
Which subsystem is concerned with the structure of words and how they are formed from morphemes?
Morphology
Identify three purposes of informal language.
Any three of: building rapport, establishing or reinforcing identity, showing solidarity or intimacy, including or excluding others, expressing humour or creativity, reducing social distance, challenging social norms or authority
Which subsystem is concerned with meaning in words, phrases and whole texts?
Semantics
What is the term for short responses like "mm", "yeah" and "uh-huh" that show a listener is engaged?
Minimal responses (backchannelling)
Identify the word class of "happiness".
Noun (abstract noun)
Which of Jakobson's functions is used to establish or maintain social contact, e.g. "How good's this weather, hey?"
Phatic function
What is the term for a pair of related utterances where the first creates the expectation of a particular second, e.g. a question followed by an answer?
Adjacency pair
What is the term for Australian English shortenings like "arvo", "brekkie" and "servo"?
Hypocoristics
Which of Jakobson's functions focuses on language itself, e.g. "What does 'ubiquitous' mean?"
Metalinguistic function
Which subsystem would you use to analyse intonation, stress and pitch?
Phonetics and phonology (prosodic features)
What is the difference between positive face and negative face?
Positive face is the desire to be liked, approved of and included. Negative face is the desire to be free from imposition and to act without being hindered.
Identify the word class of the word in capitals: "She spoke QUITE confidently."
Adverb
Identify the Jakobson function: "Click the link below to claim your free gift today!"
Conative function (aims to direct the receiver's behaviour, here through an imperative)
Identify the sentence type: "Although the policy was popular, it was repealed because funding ran out."
Complex sentence (one independent clause and two subordinate clauses)
Name the three accent varieties of Australian English.
Cultivated, General and Broad
Identify three strategies a speaker can use to hold the floor and avoid losing their turn.
filled pauses or fillers ("um", "uh") instead of silent pauses, linking clauses with conjunctions ("and", "so", "but"), raising volume, speeding up, avoiding pauses at transition-relevance places, using discourse markers that signal more is coming ("firstly", "another thing"), level or rising intonation rather than falling at the end of clauses
Name two Australian values and a language feature that reflects each.
mateship ("mate" as an address term), egalitarianism (first-name address, informality with authority figures), laid-back attitude ("no worries", "she'll be right"), irreverence/larrikinism (hypocoristics, humour, understatement)
Identify the word formation process in each: "smog", "laser" and "uni"
Smog = blending (smoke + fog). Laser = acronym. Uni = clipping (shortened from university).
Identify two purposes of formal language and a text type that serves each.
Any two, e.g. clarity and precision (legislation), establishing authority or expertise (academic essay, scientific report), maintaining social distance (official letter), adhering to conventions (ceremonial speech), obscuring or manipulating (corporate press release)
Identify the Jakobson function and one language feature that realises it: "My heart absolutely shattered when I saw the news."
Emotive (expressive) function, realised through first person, emotive lexis ("shattered"), the intensifier "absolutely", or metaphor
Explain the difference between euphemism and doublespeak, and give an example of each.
Euphemism softens an unpleasant or taboo topic to avoid offence and save face, e.g. "passed away". Doublespeak deliberately obscures or distorts meaning to mislead or evade responsibility, e.g. "collateral damage" or "rightsizing".
Explain how this request attends to negative face: "I was just wondering if you might possibly be able to help me with this?"
It minimises imposition through hedges ("just", "possibly"), modality ("might", "be able to") and an indirect request framed as wondering rather than an imperative. This gives the hearer an easy way to decline and respects their freedom from imposition.
Explain the difference between overt prestige and covert prestige, and give an example of each.
Overt prestige is attached to standard, socially recognised varieties linked to education and status, e.g. using Standard Australian English or a Cultivated accent in a job interview. Covert prestige is attached to non-standard varieties that are valued within a group for solidarity and identity, e.g. using slang, a Broad accent or an ethnolect among friends to signal belonging.
Explain the difference between overt prestige and covert prestige, and give an example of each.
Overt prestige is attached to standard, socially recognised varieties linked to education and status, e.g. using Standard Australian English or a Cultivated accent in a job interview. Covert prestige is attached to non-standard varieties that are valued within a group for solidarity and identity, e.g. using slang, a Broad accent or an ethnolect among friends to signal belonging.
Analyse how "Yeah, no, she'll be right, mate" reflects Australian identity across at least two subsystems.
Lexicology: "mate" as an address term signals mateship and egalitarianism; the idiom "she'll be right" reflects a laid-back, optimistic attitude. Discourse: "yeah, no" is a distinctive Australian discourse marker. Semantics: "she" is non-referential. Phonology: likely General or Broad accent features and elision in casual speech.