Functions of LanguageEnglish 4062

Subject

• The focus of the interview/biography• The person interviewed or written about

•The subject of the Russell Peters interview with Dan Rathers is Russell Peters

Topic

•What the interview/biography is about• The topic of an interview, book, biography

•The topic of the interview is the life and career of Russells Peters with particular emphasis on his new book and his attitudes towards race

Purpose

• The goal of the interview/biography

• Generally the purpose is to inform and entertain•More specifically the purpose is to get the interviewee to reveal details about his/her life

•The host Dan Rathers, both informs and entertains the audience by asking the interviewee questions in order to discover information about his personal history as a rock star

Writing techniques

Description: touch, smell, taste, hear, sight

•Justin Beiber looks very young with his platinum blonde hair and boyish looks, but has a strong, melodic voice. •When Sandra Bolluck sat down for our interview, she smelled of her latest perfume that she developed with Dolce Gabbana last year. •When Jacki Chan shook hands to welcome me to the interview, I felt the strength and power of his body.

Exposition: first, then , next, finally

•Steps: First, then, next, finally

•Arnold first enrolled in the army at a young age. He was of course disappointed that he could not train to the best of his ability, but he became creative with his trainings. Next, re decided to persue his bodybuilding regradless and snuck out to compete in a nearby competition.

Humour: A funny story

•Martin Short tells a funny story of when he first met Al Pacino. Being dressed in his tuxedo Martin Short introduced himself to Al with great respect only to later realize that Al Pacino thought he was a waiter!

• Whom is the subject?

• What is the topic of this (autobiography, biography, memoir)?

• What is the purpose of this (autobiography, biography, memoir)?

• Find examples of the following techniques, and explain its effectiveness

• Description• Exposition, • Humor

9

Language used to communicateReading and Listening

Inform

• Provide information by giving facts and details to educate an audience

•Mike Tyson was labeled as mentally retarded by his school by the age of seven. He was given an anti-psychotic drug…..

To explain

•Explains or clarifies information for a greater understanding of the subject

•Explain what you meant when you said that you felt rejected by your mother…..

To Speculate

• To wonder, imagine or make guesses about someone and allows audience and interviewer to imagine other possibilities or encourages the interviewer to respond more freely

•Did you ever think of choosing another career? I think you would have been great at doing that!

To Entertain

• To increase interest or curiosity often through humor and creates audience interest

•Sounds to me like you are the Superman of all dog lovers!

To Generalize

•Make blanket statements and provides the effect of giving a general overview

•But don’t all celebrities go and get plastic surgery? I though it was common practice for all leading ladies to get some work done.

• Choose ________ examples of functions of language used and explain why they are effective.

16