Analysis of Transcript

 Transcript:

Me: Can you get me a drink?

Sister: No.

Me: Why?

Sister: Cause I can't be bothered.

Me: Why?

Sister: Because I am on my bed and can't be bothered to get up.

Analysis:

This piece of text is quite formal as it does not contain any slang, the short sentences are effective as they allow the speaker to get straight to the point. However it could also be informal as it contains a word that has been shortened; "cause". This could suggest that the two speakers have a close relationship as even when they shorten words the other speaker would respond as they would normally. The purpose of the shortened word could be to give a quicker response, although it could also be used to show the change of the tone and emotions as the speaker goes from "Cause I can't be bothered." To "Because…I can't be bothered…", from this we can deduce that the speaker goes from being a little annoyed to being angry.

The use of interrogatives could suggest that the questions have been asked with a desired answer for example in the question "Can you get me a drink?" the speaker would have wanted the answer to be a 'yes' and when the given answer was a "no" the speaker then asked "why?" to get the person to justify why they said this. The "Can you" in this question has an upward inflection which means that the tone of the voice rises as this is being said. The reason for this upward inflection could be to emphasise the politeness in the question increasing the possibility of the person actually doing what you ask them to do.

The fact that this text has no fillers or discourse markers could suggest that the speakers are comfortable with each other therefore do not have to think carefully about what they say which means that have no need for fillers and do not need to grab the other speakers attention therefore do not use any discourse markers.

This text is context independent as it clearly states that the conversation is about a drink. As this is a spoken conversation it is immediate/spontaneous, this means that this conversation has not been previously planned or revised. As this is spoken language the emotions are shown clear through the use of tone, this could be seen through the word 'no', this is a dominant word therefore the tone given off by this could be, annoyed, infuriated or frustrated. The fact that this is a spoken conversation stated that this is socially-oriented and not message-oriented.

Plain English Campaign

The Plain English campaign targets the people who have the authority to make a real significant change in the use of clear understandable and meaningful English. 

By speaking in a clear and simple style you are getting rid off the gobbledygook which is frequently spoken in the English language. By decreasing the amount of this, we are able to connect the higher and lower class citizens reinstating equality as they are able to understand each other through the use of simple vocabulary.

Activity 40 page 148

Extract A would be the most effective opening as it goes straight into the action, it starts in mid conversation, this makes the opening very interesting and unusual.

I would not keep the other paragraphs as they drag on, they are not as effective as the first,money are also quite boring therefore would not go with the first extract.

Short dramatic monologue

I am offended... that you do not appreciate my space or my belongings, 

I have saved many things for you, many things, but you go eat the few things that I have saved for myself.

I have forgiven you many times, many times, but you do not seem to appreciate me enough to stay away from my things.

I… I have had enough, I can not put up with you and your selfishness anymore

Conventions of dramatic monologues

A dramatic monologue is a text which is written by someone to be performed through spoken language by another person, it is also written for a written text which is a form of written language.  Dramatic monologues are written for one person and are used to show the deep emotions of one character and what that character is thinking in that moment, it could also be portrayed as an argument with themselves as the could be having a battle between two ideas- Angel & Devil- one idea is something good and can help them/ others whereas the other is a bad idea which could be possibly harm others or is just not the right thing to do. 

Dramatic monologues are used in plays, speeches, lectures, novels- introductions to characters- to understand a dramatic monologue, you will need to know the context as this helps to know the reason for the use of the monologue.

Sentence structure and punctuation is core in a good monologue as it enables the speaker to know the flow of the monologue- where to pause, where to raise their voice, where to stop, where to speed up.

Written by Leonita and Melone.

Transcript

This is a transcript between me and my younger sister:

Me: Can you get me a drink?

Sister: No.

Me: Why?

Sister: Cause I can't be bothered.

Me: Why?

Sister: Because I am on my bed and can't be bothered to get up.

English Terminology

PHATIC LANGUAGE- Sociable (purely relationships/ chatting).

FORMALITY- The way people speak and the tone they use. 

DEIXIS- Words that refer (point) to something.
PRONOUN- A word used in place of a noun.

CONTEXT DEPENDENT - When you have to know the context to understand the message.
CONTEXT INDEPENDENT- When you can understand the message.
LOCUTION- The literal sense of what you're saying, what you're saying.
ILLOCUTION - Implied meaning, what you really mean.
PERLOCUTION- Perceived meaning, what you think they are telling you to do.

CULTURAL ASSUMPTIONS - A person from another country or culture may not understand things we do.

PRAGMATICS- Underline meaning of what someone thinks or the way meaning is implied in a social text.