Informal Features
The use of offensive or socially inappropriate language.
Can be used to intimidate others, add emphasis, reflect the situational context, convey a negative idea, or as a coping mechanism for pain.
Swearing
Language that aims to unite people by using more general terminology to embrace a wide audience or group and promote inclusion. This type of language is rapidly evolving, and has changed significantly over time.
Eg. Using the term ‘postie’ or ‘post person’ instead of ‘post man’.
Non-Discriminatory Language
The process where collections of related elements are placed together and are often joined by a conjunction. Eg. [At the shops I bought chips, chocolate and fruit.]
Can also be created through bullet points, which uses dot points and sentence fragments to separate items.
Eg. [The elements of
syntactic patterning are:
--> Parallelism
--> Antithesis
--> Listing]
Listing
Texts that have this purpose aim to strengthen shared goals and make participants in a discourse feel more connected to each other by empowering them to feel unified, visible and capable
Encouraging Solidarity
Rhyme, Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Rhythm, Assonance, and Consonance
Phonological Patterning
Use of words and expressions that are intentionally harsh, offensive or derogatory to describe a person, group or concept.
Usually used in relation to sensitive and taboo topics.
Dysphemism
Language that is designed to be strongly persuasive, and involves an appeal to the audience’s sense of ethical responsibility, empathy, or logic and reasoning.
Is often achieved through the use of subsystem patterning that helps to reinforce a specific message in the text.
Rhetoric
The process of changing the word class of a
term by adding suffixes.
Eg. ‘Participate’ (v) to ‘Participation’ (n)
Eg. ‘Email’ (n) to ‘Emailed’ (past tense v)
Conversion of Word Class
Texts that have this purpose use language to discuss a topic that is uncomfortable to discuss publicly. This can include language that makes the topic more OR less socially acceptable to discuss in public.
Negotiating Social Taboo
Elision
Insertion
Assimilation
Vowel Reduction
Connected Speech Processes
Visual language features that convey emotions, represent objects or concepts and serve specific purposes.
Add an additional layer of meaning and expression to written and digital texts.
Represent facial expressions using keyboard characters - eg. :) // >:(
Emoticons
Used to negotiate sensitive or taboo topics.
Can foster social harmony through lessening the impact of a statement OR by upholding the overt norms related to specific topics. Can make communication more difficult, as they avoid directly addressing a topic.
Euphemism
Using language to give human qualities or abilities to a non-human thing.
Eg. [The plants are crying out on this hot day.]
Eg. [These notebooks are waiting to be filled.]
Personification
Texts that have this purpose use language to reflect the shared values and goals of people within a respectful and understanding society.
Promoting Social Harmony
Vocal Effects
Non-Verbal Communication
Creakiness and Breathiness
Paralinguistic Features
Taboo Language
Consists of words, phrases and expressions that are considered culturally or socially inappropriate within a community or situational context.
Can include vulgar or obscene language, swearing, dysphemism, and language that demeans, insults and denigrates.
Refers to language that is overly euphemistic or misleading, and is used to obfuscate or manipulate the presentation of information. Relies heavily on inference, as speaker talk ‘around’ a topic, instead of addressing it directly.
Eg. ‘ill-advised’ instead of ‘really bad idea’
Double Speak
Occurs when words with multiple meanings are used and it is not possible to determine which meaning should be used.
Eg. I shot the elephant in my pyjamas.
Eg. The punch made him unsteady on his feet.
Lexical Ambiguity
Texts that have this purpose use language to highlight the author’s status as an interlocutor who is in control and has power within the discourse.
Reinforcing Authority
- It-Clefting
- Pseudo-Clefting
- WH-Clefting
- Front Focus
- End Focus
Information Flow
Visual language features that convey emotions, represent objects or concepts and serve specific purposes.
Add an additional layer of meaning and expression to written and digital texts.
Includes specific symbols that have an assigned meaning - eg. $$ // # // @
Context-Specific Graphemes
Language that is highly technical and specific to a trade, occupation, hobby or group and may not be understood by people outside of this group.
Jargon
A play on the meaning of different words, often
for comedic effect.
Eg. [You can tune a guitar, but you can’t tuna
fish.]
Eg.[Inspecting mirrors is a job I could see myself
doing.]
Puns
Texts that have this purpose strategically use language to present information in a way that will be interpreted in a specific, desirable way by the other participants.
Gestures
Facial Expressions
Eye Contact
Non-Verbal Communication