Random Questions

[nbalakers24]

It really depends on the exact topic. Doublespeak is often used in the public domain, so it could definitely be mentioned

[tyson.evans]

I know I probably sound really stupid so close to the exam, but I'm really struggling with the difference between Coherence and Cohesion? Does anyone have any good definition for that could help?

[jasoN-]

Living Lingo:

Coherence: The semantic connections that exist within a text to make it meaningful; ie, if a text is coherent it makes sense.

Cohesion: The linguistic connections and ties that exist between the words and sentences to give structure to a text.

Heinemann EL:

Coherence: refers to how well a text is understood. Factors influencing coherence include the users' knowledge of the world, the inferences they make based on the text and the assumptions they make about what is being communicated.

Cohesion: refers to text that holds together sensibly for the reader - text that flows logically from one point to the next. Cohesion is achieved through the skilled use of cohesive ties - devices used to signpost for the reader the way through the text.

[Visionz]

I know I probably sound really stupid so close to the exam, but I'm really struggling with the difference between Coherence and Cohesion? Does anyone have any good definition for that could help?

yeah im the same. Can hardly differentiate. Even knowing the definitions doesnt make anything in my head click.

[stonecold]

Just me, or are VCAA playing scare tactics with all these lines in the new exams?

Look at the examiners report, and you could write what they've got there in like half the space...

bastards with their mind games...

[naved_s9994]

My teacher is going to assess this year, and they had some "Training" for assessing.
They cannot disclose to anyone what they learnt, but I sort of understood through
the 'lexical ambiguity', double speak, and stylistic features such as synonyms, that
they prefer direct responses.

It doesn't have to be at length. As long as it is clear, and has answered the question
adequately, then there is no issue at all.  (sort of like dotpoints, but slightly more expanded
version)

[Chocolate01]

What would you gyz talk about for this topic?
How are the linguistic features of public language used to exercise power and authority in contemporary
Australian society?

[jasoN-]

How is 'Hosing down driveways, paths, concrete and paved areas is not permitted.' an example of passive voice? (VCAA 2006)

[slothpomba]

What would you gyz talk about for this topic?
How are the linguistic features of public language used to exercise power and authority in contemporary
Australian society?

Sounds like a thinly veiled question about political language, discuss in the same way as you would political language

I guess you could also talk about power in other forms like advertising or police but i'd go down the political language road

This essentially talks about language in the public (Eg. Lots of people hear it, politicians speaking, newspapers, TV advertisements) and how it is used to exercise power and authority, just intuitively for me this sounds like its kind of talking about the power of law and politics and the rule of law. So, i'd go down the path of talking about political language and political speech, just tie it into how it gives them power.

[slothpomba]

How is 'Hosing down driveways, paths, concrete and paved areas is not permitted.' an example of passive voice? (VCAA 2006)

Passive and Active voice pretty much are determined by the order of the subject and object in the sentence.

The subject is the thing doing the action or performing something

The object is getting done (semantical pun?), it's getting something done to it

The object in this case is the driveway, path, concrete and paved areas.

In cases it is fine and acceptable to eliminate the subject (Ie. You using the hose) and i think that is what happened here...

The active voice version of this would be....

Yeah i see your problem..

[stonecold]

How is 'Hosing down driveways, paths, concrete and paved areas is not permitted.' an example of passive voice? (VCAA 2006)

Passive and Active voice pretty much are determined by the order of the subject and object in the sentence.

The subject is the thing doing the action or performing something

The object is getting done (semantical pun?), it's getting something done to it

The object in this case is the driveway, path, concrete and paved areas.

In cases it is fine and acceptable to eliminate the subject (Ie. You using the hose) and i think that is what happened here...

The active voice version of this would be....

Yeah i see your problem..

Yeah they have eliminated the agent, as it is implied, and detracts from the authoritative nature of the piece if included.

[jasoN-]

if that's the passive, then wouldnt the active be:
You are not permitted to hose down the driveway etc..
this sounds much more authoritative, but who knows, there could be another active version that I'm not thinking of atm.

[slothpomba]

What would that sentence been in active voice just out of interest... i couldn't think of a very coherent transformation of it into active..

Maybe something like: "It is prohibited for you to hose down driveways, paths, concrete and paved areas."

Yeah, it also sounds more authoritative to me...

I thought active was generally more authoritative and direct where as passive is used to be more polite in some instances or hide some information (i don't have a very good example but you could delete the subject and make the blame for a particular act seem more collective)

I was wrong about finding weapons in iraq (Active)

Weapons of mass destruction were not found in iraq [by me... my bad guys] (Passive)

You can kind of see what im trying to illustrate right guys

[stonecold]

No it is less authoritative to use pronouns as they personalise the text, whearas by using nominalisation and by excluding the people who the measures affect, it creates distance and comes across as more powerful and authoritative.

[slothpomba]

I'll mentally note that down, cheers mate


We need some kind of thread where we list out the key concepts or try write an essay each or something.. i think that would be helpful

----------------------------------------------
Question:

How much metalanguage should a "good" essay have? (Eg. Essay 4 here )

I've been reading "good" english language essays and they don't have all that much metalanguage....

They don't really seem to target at least 2 subsystems either

I pepper my essays here and there with metalanguage quiet a decent bit so the difference rings some bells...

(This is english language though... if we dont have metalanguage what do we have..)