Metalanguage in expository

[kurrymuncher]

hey guys, how would I write about metalanguage in an introduction on Catcher in the Rye. My teacher is being very vague about it. thanks 

[methodsboy]

isn't meta language the explanation of decisions?
do we have to do metalanguage in the actual context essay?

[TrueTears]

I thought meta-language was language that described 'language' lol

[kurrymuncher]

I thought meta-language was language that described 'language' lol

yeah it is, but how would I talk about that in an expository essay?

[jackinthepatch]

Metalanguage is the language you use when you talk about language. Or so we're taught in English Language...

[methodsboy]

I thought meta-language was language that described 'language' lol

yeah it is, but how would I talk about that in an expository essay?

i think that only applies to if your doing an imaginative piece. Cause if you did diary entry or somthing, you would have to talk like Holden.

[methodsboy]

from 2007 vcaa assessment report example

"Each article sets out its intended audience by its distinct tone. ‘Overprotective parents’ begins with a series of cynical and frustrated rhetorical questions that emphasizes that society and parents are to blame for the ‘mollycoddling’ of our children. ‘Mollycoddling’ is intended along with the sarcastic emphasis on ‘protect’ to subvert the actions of parents and highlight their flaws.

Bolded bits = metalanguage
(wow you guys do stuff completely differently to us, it looks like what the GAT asks you to do, no fair )

I don't see how it would be relevant to your texts, as you are discussing the story itself and not how the author wrote the story? unless some of the characters say some pretty awesome things


edit: i need to go to sleep now. I guess try to think of it as labelling things with their proper words, label what your example is doing rather then just copying it. but then i dont know how much of this stuff you learn in normal english gahhh

found that in a diff thread...its like doing a lang anal..... im confused!
we weren't told about using this in context essays!

[shinny]

I can't possibly see why you would need metalanguage in an expository in an introduction. You MIGHT need to use it (although unlikely) in a body paragraph when providing evidence (perhaps in describing Holden's register and tone of his narration or something, who knows), but it's really something that should only be used when providing evidence and of course, you shouldn't have evidence in the intro.

[dekoyl]

Our teacher only mentioned metalanguage for reflective commentary/statement of intention.

[kurrymuncher]

ahhk, thanks guys

[KazeRyu21]

Lol, Good luck in your english SAC... ideas come when you least think about them, one idea brings about many more (i hate it when this happens...)