Language & Technology
This extract is from a transcipt taken from video highlights recorded at the 2010 paralympic world swimming championships. The purpose of the transcipt is to inform and the audience are the public watching this on their television, computer, or on any other technological device.
The discourse structure of the extract follows the common conventions of televised commentaries. This discourse consists of multiple people, in this case the presenter, commentator and Mallory Weggman the paralympic swimmer. The commentator is the one who speaks the most because he is guiding the show and the other speakers. His job is to inform the viewers on what is happening at that second in time. What is different about this transcipt is the lack of interruptions. The reason for this is due to the apparent transitions between sections. Between each person speaking, the camera either changes to a different location or 'lively music plays' alongside a 'variety of images' to likely allow time for the speaker to prepare, or to display to the viewer events that have occurred earlier in the day. This is one of the main benefits of technology, the fact that it allows both images and words to be recorded, and through the use of transmitting all this information to a television it is visually illuminating current events. This would support David Crystals new guise theory because it is different visually than it would be written down. Also the spontaneity of a live recording contrasts to a written text. David Crystal's new guise is in effect due to the rapid improvements in technology.
Friday, 20 June 2014
Language & Gender
A surgeon's care
This extract, taken from the Mills and Boon novel 'A Surgeon's Care' involves one man and one women. The man is instantly depicted as the most powerful, through his position in the hospital. The 'famous Professor Chadwick', a man already renowned for his work in the surgical profession is described in a detailed fashion, with the author Lucy Clark explaining how he will repair the 'open reduction and internal fixation of a fractured tibia simplistically'. The post-modifier 'simplistically' shows his professionally and skill in his work, something we aren't told about the other female doctor. The pre-modifier 'fractured' emphasises the extent to the patients injury which in turn emphasises his skill. This follows the male stereotype that it's men who save the day. Professor Chadwick's eyes are described as an 'icy blue' which supports the emotionless representation given in much literature and society alike. However this 'icy blue' 'thawed a little' implying that inside he is emotionally warm challenging the known stereotype but following more closely to the new image of a new man, someone who is more in touch with their feelings. Although his gaze does only thaw a 'little' which also tells the reader that he is careful to maintain his emotions. And the fact that their eye contact is quickly 'broken' emphasises this point.
Dr Chadwick 'demanded' 'where on earth is Dr Hatfield?'. This interrogative sentence depicts the doctors power. The fact that he 'demanded' his point shows that he has dominion over his co-workers and feels free to speak to them in such a sudden and rude manner.
This extract, taken from the Mills and Boon novel 'A Surgeon's Care' involves one man and one women. The man is instantly depicted as the most powerful, through his position in the hospital. The 'famous Professor Chadwick', a man already renowned for his work in the surgical profession is described in a detailed fashion, with the author Lucy Clark explaining how he will repair the 'open reduction and internal fixation of a fractured tibia simplistically'. The post-modifier 'simplistically' shows his professionally and skill in his work, something we aren't told about the other female doctor. The pre-modifier 'fractured' emphasises the extent to the patients injury which in turn emphasises his skill. This follows the male stereotype that it's men who save the day. Professor Chadwick's eyes are described as an 'icy blue' which supports the emotionless representation given in much literature and society alike. However this 'icy blue' 'thawed a little' implying that inside he is emotionally warm challenging the known stereotype but following more closely to the new image of a new man, someone who is more in touch with their feelings. Although his gaze does only thaw a 'little' which also tells the reader that he is careful to maintain his emotions. And the fact that their eye contact is quickly 'broken' emphasises this point.
Dr Chadwick 'demanded' 'where on earth is Dr Hatfield?'. This interrogative sentence depicts the doctors power. The fact that he 'demanded' his point shows that he has dominion over his co-workers and feels free to speak to them in such a sudden and rude manner.
Whore analysis
Whore
When does the OED
citation first record the appearance of the word in printed text?
1050 - 1100
What type of text did
it first appear in?
a1100 Aldhelm
Glossesi. 2940 in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 79/2 Prostituta pellax, i. meretrix quæ prostat,
i. mendax, leas fyrnhicge, hore. It first appeared in a very old glossary.
Where does the word
come from?
Germany
Has the word always
been ‘gender’ specific?
No, when it was used in the Germanic form it was spelt
‘horaz’ for men and ‘horon’ for women
Has the primary
meaning of the word changed over time?
The word has only changed in orthographic characteristics
but maintained the same semantic characteristics. It has always been on a high
level of pejoration, however it has now become more general having only been
used in the past for a prostitute. These changes became more prominent in 1275.
Has the spelling of
the word changed at all?
Yes. It has changed multiple times through the cultural
influences.
Does the word exist
in more than one word class?
It can be used as a verb ‘whoring’
It can be used as a proper noun ‘whore’
Does the dictionary
definition match your understanding of the word?
Yes.
Host analysis
Host
When does the OED
citation first record the appearance of the word in printed text?
1290
What type of text did
it first appear in?
First appeared in an issue of ‘south England legendary’
Where does the word
come from?
The word was originally French
Has the primary
meaning of the word changed over time?
It originally in 1290 meant ‘an armed company of men’
however as time continued is adapted to mean both someone who hosts a gathering
and someone who is possessed by a spirit.
Has the spelling of
the word changed at all?
Yes having originally been spelt ost.
Does the word exist
in more than one word class?
It can be a verb ‘to host’
It can be a proper noun ‘the host’
Does the dictionary
definition match your understanding of the word?
Yes
Dog analysis
Dog
When does the OED
citation first record the appearance of the word in printed text?
1000 - 1050
What type of text did
it first appear in?
c1225 (▸?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 213 His [sc. the devil's] teð beoð attri as of amad dogge. dauið
iþe sauter cleopeð him dogge
Where does the word
come from?
Origin of the word is unknown, but it is presumed to be old
English with Germanic influences.
Has the word always
been ‘gender’ specific?
No the word has always been used for both genders, although
the female dog is also called a ‘bitch’.
Has the primary
meaning of the word changed over time?
The word has maintained the same general meaning, as in a
domesticated animal, or one used for hunting. However now it is sometimes used
to refer to someone who is excessively sexually active or someone who is
relentless in finding out something.
Has the spelling of
the word changed at all?
It was originally spelt Docgena which changed to doggue
which became dogge which changed to doge which became dog.
Does the word exist
in more than one word class?
It can be used as a verb ‘to dog’
It can be used as a concrete noun ‘dog’
Does the dictionary
definition match your understanding of the word?
Yes it does although now it is occasionally used to refer to
people aswell.
Soldier analysis
Soldier
When does the OED
citation first record the appearance of the word in printed text?
1300
What type of text did
it first appear in?
Cursor Mundi
Where does the word
come from?
France
Has the primary
meaning of the word changed over time?
It originally meant in 1603 ‘a man of military skill’
whereas now it can be for both men and women.
Has the spelling of
the word changed at all?
Yes. From soudier, saudier, sodyer to soldier.
Does the word exist
in more than one word class?
It can be used as a proper noun ‘soldier’
Does the dictionary
definition match your understanding of the word?
Yes. 'Someone involved in the military'
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