A-Level English Language 9093 - Paper 3: Language Analysis

Objective: Analyse and synthesise language data from a variety of sources.

Understanding the Core Concepts

What is Language Analysis?

Language analysis involves a close examination of the linguistic features used in texts to achieve particular effects and persuade an audience. It's not simply identifying words; it's understanding how those words and grammatical structures function to create meaning.

Key Areas of Analysis

Effective language analysis covers a range of linguistic features. These can be broadly categorised as:

• Lexis (Word Choice): Examining the specific words used, including their connotations, formality, and impact.
• Grammar (Sentence Structure): Analysing sentence types, complexity, and the use of grammatical devices.
• Pronoun Use: Investigating the use of pronouns (e.g., 'I', 'you', 'we') and their effect on the relationship between the speaker and the audience.
• Discourse Features: Considering how the text is organised and how it interacts with the reader (e.g., use of signposting, questions, direct address).
• Register and Genre: Understanding how language adapts to different contexts and types of writing.

Key Linguistic Features to Analyse

Lexis

Consider:

• Connotation vs. Denotation: The emotional associations of words beyond their literal meaning.
• Formality: The level of formality in the language (e.g., formal vs. informal, colloquial).
• Specific Word Choice: The use of particular words with strong implications (e.g., positive, negative, emotive).
• Neologisms and Slang: The use of new or informal words and their effect.

Grammar

Consider:

• Sentence Structure: Simple, compound, complex sentences and their impact on pacing and emphasis.
• Tense: The use of past, present, and future tenses and their effect on the narrative or argument.
• Voice (Active vs. Passive): How the choice of voice affects the focus and responsibility.
• Modals (can, could, should, etc.): Their use to express possibility, obligation, or permission.
• Negation: The use of 'not' and other negative forms and their impact.

Pronoun Use

Consider:

• First Person (I, me, my): Creates a sense of personal involvement and immediacy.
• Second Person (you, your): Directly addresses the reader, creating a sense of involvement or confrontation.
• Third Person (he, she, it, they): Creates distance and objectivity.
• Pronoun Reference: Ensuring clarity and understanding of what pronouns refer to.

Discourse Features

Consider:

• Signposting Language: Words and phrases that guide the reader through the text (e.g., 'however', 'therefore', 'in addition').
• Questions: Used to engage the reader, challenge assumptions, or create suspense.
• Direct Address: Directly speaking to the reader.
• Narrative Devices: Techniques used to tell a story (e.g., flashbacks, foreshadowing).

Synthesising Language Data

Analysis isn't just about identifying features; it's about drawing conclusions about their effect. This involves:

1. Identifying Patterns: Looking for recurring linguistic features.
2. Connecting Features to Purpose: Considering why the author might have used these features.
3. Considering Audience: How the language choices might be tailored to a specific audience.
4. Evaluating Effectiveness: Assessing how successful the language is in achieving the author's purpose.

Example Analysis Framework

Feature	Example from Text	Analysis (How does it work?)	Effect/Purpose (What does it achieve?)
Lexis - Connotation	"Oppressive"	The word "oppressive" carries strong negative connotations, suggesting a heavy and burdensome atmosphere.	Creates a sense of negativity and reinforces the idea of a restrictive environment.
Grammar - Passive Voice	"Mistakes were made."	The passive voice obscures who is responsible for the mistakes, creating a sense of detachment.	Allows the author to avoid direct accountability or to downplay responsibility.
Discourse - Rhetorical Questions	"Are we not all human?"	The question is rhetorical, meaning it doesn't seek an answer but aims to persuade the reader.	Engages the reader emotionally and encourages them to consider the author's perspective.

Suggested diagram: A flowchart showing the process of language analysis: Identify Feature -> Find Example -> Analyse How it Works -> Determine Effect/Purpose.