Langauage and power

Language and Power

In this piece I will talk about the tone, audience and purpose of the texted and how the page is laid out and presented to the readers. I will look at the language and power of the piece and how this texted demands power. The audiences of texted H is the candidates taking the test and are reading the exam rules on to how perform the test.

The list format of the pieces demands power as its giving you a set of instructions in an organised manner. The list is issued as a warning however how the Graphology of the piece is very organised and is shown as rules by the format, this demands respect and power as the rules are demanding power from the candidates reading it to follow or fail the exam.  The images near the bottom also show power as its telling the candidates you can’t uses these certain equipment in the exam. Both of these are influences the reader as they have a choice to follow the rules of the exam, however the candidates chooses to as the instructions format states that you have to follow the rules or fail the exam. Without the Graphology looking respectable and easy to read, the rule sheet for the exam would loose that level of respected and candidates might dismiss the rules as they will feel it isn’t important due to the Graphology. Without the bold writing in the piece e,g the date of the exam and all the musts, these are highlighted for the candidates to show important information for quick skim reading. The boldness of the texted also is there as it tells the candidates that you must follow these rules.

The lexis choice is very demanding in this piece especially the “must not” and “Must” as these words demand respected because must is an auxiliary modal verb it gives the candidates no option but to follow the rules, combined with  the bold writing which highlights the fact they have no choice but to follow. The word “must” is powerful as it talks down to the candidates as it turns a normal sentences to a demand. The word “must” also is scatted throughout the texted seven times which shows tagin every rule needs to be followed. The heading of the piece “Warning to all candidates” is interesting as the word warning really sets the tone of the piece. The word “warning” tells the candidate’s that you must follow the rules but in a completely different way than the “musts” this is because it’s telling the candidates that if you don’t follow these rules it’s your fault that you failed. The word “warning” draws attention from the reader and gets them to read through the rules as they don’t want the failure that the heading warns them about. The term “criminal offence” again really tells the reader that failure to abide by the warning to follow the rules, consequences will happen. All of these three words are in the same semantic field, also words like “misconduct”, “dishonest”, “unfair” and words which explain consequence such as “serious offence”, “ disqualified” and “debarred”, all tell the candidate that following the rules isn’t a choice if they want to succeed and that consequences may take place if need be. There are a lot of imperatives sentences in this texted e.g “Remember: you must not become involved in any unfair or dishonest practices in any part of the examination”. The imperatives part of the sentences is “you must” as imperatives are sentences that are commanding. The word “must” I commanding as it doesn’t allow you to do anything else as you must do it that way but adding “you” personalises it and directs it to the reader reading it. Instead of using word such as “can” giving an option to the reader the words such as “must “make a texted forceful as it tells the reader who’s in charge as “must” and “have” are deontic modal verbs. while “can”, “may” and “might” is a epistemic modal verb  gives someone an option  follow the rules, this tells them that they themselves must follow these rules.  The grammar of the piece is very formal which fits the format of the piece and is very professional. As this is in an exam it needs to sound professional to fit the forceful nature of the texted

In conclusion I believe that the texted is very forceful and powerful. From a graphology view the texted looks very militarised as it’s in an organised fashion with a set instructions. The boldness of writing allows the the reader to pick up on that if you don’t follow the examination rules your setting yourself up to fail. The lexis choice of “must” and words from that semantic field tells the reader again follow the rules or you’re setting yourself up to fail. Without these words the texted wouldn’t be forceful enough however and would allow candidate’s to disregard the rules. Without the theme of power the grammar had to sound professional to fit with the criterial of a power set of rules which doesn’t allow candidate’s to disregard them. I believe that texted H is forceful because of the deontic modal verbs which doesn’t allow the readers any room to change the rules.