Language Analysis

Persuasive techniques

Warne deserves his suspension and the public deserves to know how the decision was made.

The Age 25 February 2003

MainContention

Sex-sells advertising is sleazy, sexist, and stereotypes women.

(Subheading for an article on advertisers who exploit sex to sell products.)

Alliteration

The latest in a string of incidents I have witnessed on public transport occurred last Monday night on a late night train. Several youths who were chroming started abusing two young men. The men attempted to leave and the next thing I knew the chromers were attacking these men. Why can drug-affected, violent people be allowed to intimidate the travelling public? Why is the only Connex employee on the train the driver, who is powerless to do anything?

Adapted from The Age 2 March 2003

Anecdote

Ned Kelly was a terrorist who killed policemen. I am disgusted that there is an exhibition for this criminal who sanctioned murder, theft and thuggery.

Adopted from Herald Sun Sun 3 March 2003

Attack

There’s a time and a place for breastfeeding.Herald Sun 3 March 2003

Cliche

one man's meat is another man's poison.Many hands make light work.Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.Any friend of yours is a friend of mine.There is no place like home.A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.As easy as pie.

Michael Jackson’s whingeing about his supposed misrepresentation is not my idea of entertainment.

Connotation

Thin: svelte, slender, slim, gaunt, scrawny, willowy, lean, skinny, emaciated, skeletalFat: Overweight, obese, chubby, voluptuous, curvacious, largeSoldier: trooper, serviceman, servicewoman, warrior, peacekeeper; archaic man-at-arms, terrorist, enemy

It is absolutely disgusting and abhorrent that children are able to look up pornography on the Internet.

Emotive language

Researcher Dr Colin Bell from Deakin University, called for widespread removal of junk food vending machines from schools and fitness venues.

Adapted from Herald Sun 27 February 2003

Evidence

Evidence can come in many forms:Expert advice, Expert opinion, Facts, Research, Statistics

Each year Gold Coast residents are subjected to Schoolies week when the streets are taken over by irresponsible and often aggressive teenagers, who celebrate leaving school by drinking as much as possible and having as many sexual encounters as possible.

Adapted from The Age 26 February 2003

Generalisation

We should all do our bit to keep our town clean and litter free. It is up to each and every one of us to all do our bit and dispose of rubbish thoughtfully.

Inclusive language

Without proper resources and funding, people suffering from serious mental illnesses are drowning in a sea of misery and neglect.

Metaphor

Every day millions of people are being completely brainwashed through the lies spread by the media.

OverstatementOr

ExaggerationOr

Hyperbole

AFL potters with rules, seeking Wizard result.

The Age 21 February 2003

Pun

Simply being me, or you, or anyone else is not morally relevant. It is what we do that attracts moral judgement, not who we are. Accordingly, our actions towards our enemies are judged under the same absolute moral principles as their actions towards us.

The Age 20 March 2003

Reason and Logic

There is not enough funding for education, not enough money spent on health and not enough done for the unemployed. It is time to tell this government that enough is enough.

Repetition

Time and time again the Minister has lied to us and broken his promises. Are we supposed to trust and believe him again?

Rhetorical question

More Persuasive techniques to consider:

Euphemisms are mild or vague terms used in place of the correct word to overcome negative connotations of a word.

Examples:

Death To pass away

Losing one’s job Time out

Killing animals Hunting

Feeling unwell Under the weather

Metaphor, Simile or Personification?

Personification involves giving human qualities and attributes to something inanimate.

The sky is a big wet rug.A cloud has drawn graffiti on the moon.The pavement is an ice skating rink.The flowers look like red plastic forks.His clothes are as thin as cleaning rags.Their dresses are green and pink orchids.Eliza has fingernails like silver grapes.The baby’s fingers are as thin as bird’s legs.He’s a volcano about to erupt.The wet road is a river of light.

Verbosity

Using more words than is necessary

1. One who fits and mends pipes for water and gas.2. Punishment meted out by a judge3. Arising of sailors, etc. against their officers.4. Mass of snow, stones etc. falling from a mountain5. To be silent because of bad temper.

Ambiguity

Means having more than one possible meaning; unclear

Miners Refuse to Work After Death

Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Space

Prostitutes Appeal to Pope

Drunks Get Nine Months in Violin Case.

Kids make Nutritious Snacks