Presidential speech analysis - Language and Power

This interactive infographic analysis is interesting in terms of 'accommodation' theory - that we adapt our language to suit our audience (do some research into this), and in terms of the application of the Flesch-Kinkaid 'readabilty' score. You could use that for analysing any written texts you are studying and use MLU (mean length of utterance) for any spoken texts. This is actually a Power issue because we seem more powerful when we diverge (speak more eloquently, with more complexity than our audience) but we are much more likely to be influential if we communicate well by choosing language suited to our audience.

How do you think this infographic makes Obama look? What might it suggest on closer reading?

A great piece of writing from a recent speaker at college

Real issues written about compellingly - this would make a great style model for AS and is worth reading. This is Roger Griffith for Bristol 24/7 on 'Black community needs a hand up not a handout'.

'Protecting pregnant women' or exactly the opposite?

A movement gaining ground through 'Unspeak'. This Huffington Post blog post shines a light on what lies underneath the attractive prospect of 'protecting pregnant women'. Always be careful what ideas you buy into.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jen-caltrider/hello-america-its-me-colorado_b_5870476.html

Stephen Fry talking about the power of language

This links to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. Fry talks about the change in thinking reflected in a change in language.

http://www.upworthy.com/stephen-fry-somehow-makes-sense-of-racism

Using quotations in your coursework non-fiction texts (AS and A2)

This article from the Guardian Language section encourages you to think about clarity when quoting. Very useful in preparation for AS and A2 coursework articles.

What are UKIP for?

Setting the agenda. Interruptions. What other powerful devices in this audio clip?

Investigations

There is some very good work going on here on investigations. Check out the links posted today to students' blogs.

A2 lesson 10/10/14

A2 gorgeousnesses,

I have little or no voice again today so I will come around and do 1-1s while you continue working on your analysis of the transcript. I also need you to set targets to put onto the reporting system. Can you set yourself a SMART target first, please (e.g. learn 6 new terms every week), then go on to do the analysis asap.

Here's the link to the video.

1) look at Zach's non-standard language (done last lesson)
2) annotate my CDS techniques
3) summarise what is happening in terms of activity and interaction and language development
4) quantify some interesting aspects of the data e.g. closed/open questions, non-standard pronunciation patterns, turn lengths etc. etc.
5) post your findings to your blog
extension: research into Vygotski's 'zone of proximal development' and look at any ways I scaffold Zach's language development

Don't forget to keep commenting on the wider reading articles on my blog and on the blogs of others. Also remember that we will be doing grammar starters from next week, so revise your grammar terminology.

Please send me your informed consent letters if you are collecting private data (particularly spoken language) with the greatest of urgency.

Google search 'advanced' options - reading level

After James Rawlings's talk to my A2s about searching databases, I have given more thought to advanced searches and came across the option of having Google searches annotated with 'reading level'. Fascinated, I wondered how it was worked out. Google are, apparently, keeping their cards close to their chest on that one but here are some people speculating. This would make a fantastic investigation - what the effect of different synonymous search terms had on the reported reading level of the results and how reasonably reflective that might be of the actual demands of the texts - I was astonished to find a bit of Mervyn Peake's writing flagged as 'basic'. There would be great theory links to reading level tests like Flesch and an opportunity to do some fab quantitative and qualitative analysis and the search topic could play to students' interests.

Also, those looking to break themselves in gently with their reading on a topic might find it a useful indicator! If anyone uses it, please let me know how relevant it was.

Article on ISIS that links to unspeak and the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis - a media text style model

This is quite a tough read if you are not up to speed with the issue but worth struggling with. A2 will find it useful for media texts, Power and Language Change and AS for Power.

Dr What?!

With global Englishes a hot topic in Language Change, it is worth noting that accent becomes an issue when accessing information in unfamiliar contexts. I've had problems penetrating the Geordie accent on the phone in the past... and English speakers with accents from another country must have even greater problems. Hence this article. But notice it says that accent is not the only (or even the principal) issue with Peter Capaldi's Dr Who.

Love, love, love these words as images

A clever blend of lexis and graphology. Some I missed the point of first time round, so I will have to watch again but I rushed to share!

Sentence set-ups

These jokes rely on our expectations. Not only the image (supposing readers are prey to stereotyping or think the writer is stereotyping) but also the syntactical and lexical choices send readers in a certain direction... and then the second part surprises us to create humour and stimulate thought about prejudices. Clever, I think.

Ordinary Muslim man collected on Upworthy