Looking toward 2017: ask your English Language questions here

[seth]

Hi Joseph,

Can you teach me how to post a intoductory paragraph becuase I tried to attach it as a JPEG but it was too large and the max limit is 546kB or something?

How do you do it?

Thanks

Not Joseph but you could upload the image to a photo sharing site (e.g imgur or tinypic) and post the link here, or just simply type it out as a reply to the thread (this is preferable as it's easiest to read and provide feedback for).

[NAT0003]

What kind of things do you do in english language. I was considering switching to english language from mainstream english

[Ahmad_A_1999]

Hey, Ahmad!

All you really need to do to discuss topic management is identify where and how the subject of conversation changed. So like, Speaker A may introduce the first topic but then, on line 10, Speaker B changes the subject. And then on line 26, Speaker A changes it back to the initial topic. And so on.

Interlocutors can manage the topic in a number of ways. Subject shifts can be very obvious ("so, to change the topic...") or less so. Ultimately, just follow the transcript from start to finish and speak about what the topic was, how it progressed, and who managed that topic (and how).

Does that answer your question? :/

In regard to turn-taking, you can usually glean relationship between the interlocutors by the types of turns. If they're all very structured, for example - with limited overlapping speech - the relationship seems more formal. This may be the case in, for example, a job interview, where one interlocutor (the interviewee) speaks only when addressed (essentially, when they're given the floor). When social relationships are closer, turn-taking may be more aggressive and less structured. You may notice with your friends, for example, that there is more overlapping speech and butting in.

Please post again if that wasn't clear (I don't think it was hugely well explained) or if you have any other questions before your SAC!

Hey Joseph!

Thank you! I think I got it!

So topic management, discuss where changes in topic/subject occur through out the transcript, and turn-taking discuss who is holding the most social power in the conversation/power roles.

Could you tell me some of these different mechanisms you said speakers use to manage the topic with? 

Also I'll be on here very frequently because language is so hard. 

[AngelWings]

What kind of things do you do in english language. I was considering switching to english language from mainstream english

Please see the study design for guidance. If you don't like being analytical and linguistics, English Language is not something for you. It is arguably harder than mainstream English.

[NAT0003]

Please see the study design for guidance. If you don't like being analytical and linguistics, English Language is not something for you. It is arguably harder than mainstream English.

It seems more like a sciency english

[Alexicology]

Not Joseph but you could upload the image to a photo sharing site (e.g imgur or tinypic) and post the link here, or just simply type it out as a reply to the thread (this is preferable as it's easiest to read and provide feedback for).

Thanks seth


Can someone please correct my introduction for Analytical Commentary? The link of the text is in red in brackets

Thank you

http://imgur.com/a/R813f

[Joseph41]

What kind of things do you do in english language. I was considering switching to english language from mainstream english

Yep, reading the study design would be a good idea. But basically, you analyse language! This includes how language develops, how it's used, and what its effects are in society.

Hey Joseph!

Thank you! I think I got it!

So topic management, discuss where changes in topic/subject occur through out the transcript, and turn-taking discuss who is holding the most social power in the conversation/power roles.

Could you tell me some of these different mechanisms you said speakers use to manage the topic with? 

Also I'll be on here very frequently because language is so hard. 

Yep, that's basically it, Ahmad!

Topic management can be very obvious, very subtle, or anywhere in between. Discourse markers can be used to indicate a new topic ("So, I went to the beach yesterday"). Sometimes there are explicit lexemes used for that function ("To change the topic slightly..."). Phonology can also be useful, here; typically, intonation goes down when a turn ends, and goes up if the speaker wants to maintain the floor - and these turns are often associated with particular topics/subjects.

And I can't wait to see you around throughout the year. EngLang is a supremely excellent subject, even if it is difficult haha.

Thanks seth


Can someone please correct my introduction for Analytical Commentary? The link of the text is in red in brackets

Thank you

http://imgur.com/a/R813f

Hey, Alexicology! Thanks for posting your introduction. Nice handwriting.

Some thoughts:
- As a general rule, I like the first sentence to explicitly introduce the text (so like, "Text A is a transcript of Paul Keating's eulogy..." or whatever).
- I like how you've addressed the context of the piece, the audience, the social purpose, the register (formality), the relationship between Keating and the audience, and the semantic field. These are all very important things to include in the introduction. You might also like to think about the mode (spoken or written?) and time period (when did the text take place?).
- To lead into your body paragraphs, you might like to have a sentence like: "The formality of the text/the social purpose of the text is reflected by [whatever subsystems you're discussing]."

Nice job!

[NAT0003]

Yep, reading the study design would be a good idea. But basically, you analyse language! This includes how language develops, how it's used, and what its effects are in society.

Yep, that's basically it, Ahmad!

Topic management can be very obvious, very subtle, or anywhere in between. Discourse markers can be used to indicate a new topic ("So, I went to the beach yesterday"). Sometimes there are explicit lexemes used for that function ("To change the topic slightly..."). Phonology can also be useful, here; typically, intonation goes down when a turn ends, and goes up if the speaker wants to maintain the floor - and these turns are often associated with particular topics/subjects.

And I can't wait to see you around throughout the year. EngLang is a supremely excellent subject, even if it is difficult haha.

Hey, Alexicology! Thanks for posting your introduction. Nice handwriting.

Some thoughts:
- As a general rule, I like the first sentence to explicitly introduce the text (so like, "Text A is a transcript of Paul Keating's eulogy..." or whatever).
- I like how you've addressed the context of the piece, the audience, the social purpose, the register (formality), the relationship between Keating and the audience, and the semantic field. These are all very important things to include in the introduction. You might also like to think about the mode (spoken or written?) and time period (when did the text take place?).
- To lead into your body paragraphs, you might like to have a sentence like: "The formality of the text/the social purpose of the text is reflected by [whatever subsystems you're discussing]."

Nice job!

What kind of reading do you do in englang

[Joseph41]

What kind of reading do you do in englang

You don't read any books, if that's what you mean. But the language you analyse could come from anywhere: a newspaper article, a television advertisement, fast food wrapping.

That's the nature of English Language: you analyse language in general, and it's not confined to a particular text.

[NAT0003]

You don't read any books, if that's what you mean. But the language you analyse could come from anywhere: a newspaper article, a television advertisement, fast food wrapping.

That's the nature of English Language: you analyse language in general, and it's not confined to a particular text.

Oh, ok I see, if I were to change to englang in term 3, would I have to learn anything extra do you think

[Joseph41]

Oh, ok I see, if I were to change to englang in term 3, would I have to learn anything extra do you think

Term 3 of Year 11? No - you'll be fine.

[NAT0003]

Oh, ok I see, if I were to change to englang in term 3, would I have to learn anything extra do you think

Hi Joseph41, I was just wondering if i need to modify my posts each time I have something to add

[Joseph41]

Hi Joseph41, I was just wondering if i need to modify my posts each time I have something to add

Hi NAT,

It's best to avoid posting twice in a row unnecessarily, so yes, that would be great.

[NAT0003]

Hi NAT,

It's best to avoid posting twice in a row unnecessarily, so yes, that would be great.

Thanks for clarifying

[Alexicology]

[quote/]
Hey, Alexicology! Thanks for posting your introduction. Nice handwriting.

Some thoughts:
- As a general rule, I like the first sentence to explicitly introduce the text (so like, "Text A is a transcript of Paul Keating's eulogy..." or whatever).
- I like how you've addressed the context of the piece, the audience, the social purpose, the register (formality), the relationship between Keating and the audience, and the semantic field. These are all very important things to include in the introduction. You might also like to think about the mode (spoken or written?) and time period (when did the text take place?).
- To lead into your body paragraphs, you might like to have a sentence like: "The formality of the text/the social purpose of the text is reflected by [whatever subsystems you're discussing]."

Nice job!
[/quote]

Thank you for giving me feedback

I really appreciate it