Meta Language- what is it?

[ganges]

My teacher said i should use this more in my essays. what is it? Can people give me examples of meta language....

[dcc]

Protagonist
Antagonist
Denouement
Crisis Point
Turning Point
Narrative

[melaniej]

Metalanguage is basically language describing language, or language used to discuss language. It's a term made by VCAA. Can include things like jargon, metaphors... I'm not all too clear on what it is exactly, but its all about talking about language uses.

[ganges]

Protagonist
Antagonist
Denouement
Crisis Point
Turning Point
Narrative

Thanks for the example, but i am still unclear about its exact meaning and purpose.

[dcc]

dont take me seriously by the way, my teacher has never been able to explain what metalanguage is (she thinks its a joke )

[melaniej]

metalanguage: A metalanguage is a language used to discuss language conventions and use, for example, the terms and definitions used in the various grammars to describe the functions of words in sentences and the terms used to describe and categorise structural features of different kinds of texts.

From the VCAA website.

I'm not exactly sure how to explain it. My teacher never taught us about it.

[cara.mel]

Metalanguage is basically language describing language, or language used to discuss language. It's a term made by VCAA. Can include things like jargon, metaphors... I'm not all too clear on what it is exactly, but its all about talking about language uses.

Thats exactly it. (except for the being invented by VCAA part) can also be like noun, adjective, 2nd person etc.

Though how it is relevant to normal english I dont know... do you guys do stuff like alliteration, simile, metaphor etc? (more metalanguage for you )

dcc's post is not metalanguage

[melaniej]

Ah thanks caramel, a TSFX lecturer told me it was made by VCAA, sorry about that!
So it can include things like stereotypes, tone, and dialogue as well?

I'm not sure how to use it. Apparently is is supposed to be used in our context pieces, or somehow relevant to our context pieces.

[xox.happy1.xox]

It that like those 'climax', 'traditional linear', 'retrospectively'? It was like they were talking about in the TSFX lectures?  I don't really know?

[cara.mel]

I'm sorry I'm describing this really shittily
For me the definition posted makes perfect sense (its like a cornerstone of English Language, knowing all the metalanguage)
I would just not worry about it

stereotypes, tone, and dialogue as well - unless it's tone of voice (as in literally speaking kind of voice), none of them are.
I'm really sorry, I know what it is but I can't explain it

[cara.mel]

Ah thanks caramel, a TSFX lecturer told me it was made by VCAA, sorry about that!
So it can include things like stereotypes, tone, and dialogue as well?

I'm not sure how to use it. Apparently is is supposed to be used in our context pieces, or somehow relevant to our context pieces.

Is the context one that one where you get a few things to read and you write about it in some odd analysis way?

[melaniej]

Yeah, we have a theme, and do some texts related to it, and kinda have to refer to them, and all that, it's actually quite fun! ButI really have no idea how metalanguage ties in there...

[AppleXY]

Yeah, isn't metalanguage like language (jargon I guess?)  used to describe the text/novel.

Like in 1984, metalanguage would indeed be:
- Doublethink
- Newspeak
- Torture
- Freedom
- Death
- Control
- Liberty
- Totalitarianism

etc

[melaniej]

OK, so for example, Bombshells, metalanguage cold be like the monologue aspect?
Or for witness, the filming techniques such as close-ups, framing etc.
I don't know how it relates to my 'non-books'

[cara.mel]

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