The text presented is a transcript from a televised interview conducted by Piers Morgan. Pies Morgan interviewed Usian Bolt, an Olympic athlete who won 3 gold medals in the London Olympics in 2012. You can tell by reading the transcript of the interview that Piers Morgan planned out her questions ahead of time, while Bolt had spontaneous speech during the interview.
This interview appeals to a wide range of audiences around the world. The interview uses a wide range of words and the topic of the Olympics would be interesting to hundreds of people around the world. However, the interviewer uses the "dolt." The word "dolt" is used by the British that means stupid person. By stating this she is trying to appeal to her British audience. However, Pies Morgan, the interviewer, was not the only person in this interview to appeal to the British audience. Usian Bolt appealed to the British audience as well by stating, "but at London (.) early in the morning (.) EVERYBODY was out (.) like it was full from the morning sessions (1) so for me the energy that i got in London was wonderful." By stating "London is wonderful" shows Usain Bolt praising the people of London.
Now, as I stated in the beginning Usian Bolt had spontaneous speech or did not plan his answers for the questions Morgan asked. Bolt used fillers in his responses and repeated words before he properly answered the questions he was asked. For example, Bolt used the filler "err" twice through out the interview. He stated these fillers when asked both the question " what does it take to be a CHAMPION↗" and the question "what is it that motivates you most now↗." Both of the questions made Bolt in his response use fillers. Bolt used these fillers because he did not plan his response ahead of time, unlike Morgan. People use fillers to have more time to plan their responses and also to process what they are trying to say. Bolt's responses also show non-fluency features. Fillers like "err" and false starters like "i(.) i feel GOOD (1) i feel good." These all show that Bolt has spontaneous speech.
Furthermore, Pies Morgan shows dominance over the interview. This not only because Morgan is the interviewer but it is also because he has the power to do so. He has control over the interview by the questions he asks Bolts. For instance, Morgan starts the interview with the vague question " so how does that make you feel↗?" This vague question makes Bolt respond with a short reply. Bolt's short responds makes Morgan have to ask more question like "what is it that motivates you most now↗" to get a deeper and more informational response then the first question he asked that was vague.
However, Morgan uses politeness to praise Bolt during the interview. Morgan stated " but for me the hundred metre dash is the GREATEST test of a man" and "YOU'RE my hero." Both of these statements display praise and politeness for Bolt. Morgan uses this strategy of politeness as a way to supply their participant with more options and more responses. For example, Bolt responds to Morgans question of "what is it that motivates you most now↗ (1) is it the winning↗ (.) is it being the champ↗ (.) is it money↗ (.) is it fame↗ (.) is it the women↗ (.) is it ALL of it do you think↗." is " its ALL those factors." This question gave Bolt more responses and made it easier for Bolt to respond to the question.
This interview with Olympic, three gold metal winner, athlete Usian Bolt that was conducted by Pies Morgan was informal because if the slang words that were used throughout the interview transcript. As I stated previously, Morgan used the British slang word "dolt' in the very beginning of the interview to express that she did not want to sound like an idiot. Formal speech and writings do not use slang words during their speech or writing.
This interview appeals to a wide range of audiences around the world. The interview uses a wide range of words and the topic of the Olympics would be interesting to hundreds of people around the world. However, the interviewer uses the "dolt." The word "dolt" is used by the British that means stupid person. By stating this she is trying to appeal to her British audience. However, Pies Morgan, the interviewer, was not the only person in this interview to appeal to the British audience. Usian Bolt appealed to the British audience as well by stating, "but at London (.) early in the morning (.) EVERYBODY was out (.) like it was full from the morning sessions (1) so for me the energy that i got in London was wonderful." By stating "London is wonderful" shows Usain Bolt praising the people of London.
Now, as I stated in the beginning Usian Bolt had spontaneous speech or did not plan his answers for the questions Morgan asked. Bolt used fillers in his responses and repeated words before he properly answered the questions he was asked. For example, Bolt used the filler "err" twice through out the interview. He stated these fillers when asked both the question " what does it take to be a CHAMPION↗" and the question "what is it that motivates you most now↗." Both of the questions made Bolt in his response use fillers. Bolt used these fillers because he did not plan his response ahead of time, unlike Morgan. People use fillers to have more time to plan their responses and also to process what they are trying to say. Bolt's responses also show non-fluency features. Fillers like "err" and false starters like "i(.) i feel GOOD (1) i feel good." These all show that Bolt has spontaneous speech.
Furthermore, Pies Morgan shows dominance over the interview. This not only because Morgan is the interviewer but it is also because he has the power to do so. He has control over the interview by the questions he asks Bolts. For instance, Morgan starts the interview with the vague question " so how does that make you feel↗?" This vague question makes Bolt respond with a short reply. Bolt's short responds makes Morgan have to ask more question like "what is it that motivates you most now↗" to get a deeper and more informational response then the first question he asked that was vague.
However, Morgan uses politeness to praise Bolt during the interview. Morgan stated " but for me the hundred metre dash is the GREATEST test of a man" and "YOU'RE my hero." Both of these statements display praise and politeness for Bolt. Morgan uses this strategy of politeness as a way to supply their participant with more options and more responses. For example, Bolt responds to Morgans question of "what is it that motivates you most now↗ (1) is it the winning↗ (.) is it being the champ↗ (.) is it money↗ (.) is it fame↗ (.) is it the women↗ (.) is it ALL of it do you think↗." is " its ALL those factors." This question gave Bolt more responses and made it easier for Bolt to respond to the question.
This interview with Olympic, three gold metal winner, athlete Usian Bolt that was conducted by Pies Morgan was informal because if the slang words that were used throughout the interview transcript. As I stated previously, Morgan used the British slang word "dolt' in the very beginning of the interview to express that she did not want to sound like an idiot. Formal speech and writings do not use slang words during their speech or writing.
Amelia,
ReplyDeleteI would give your paper a Band 3, you had clear understand of what you were talking about. You had good use of textual evidence, and topics to talk about throughout your paper. Your structure was clean and easy to follow along. You used some A level topics which helped you show your development as a student. I only wish that you did in fact develop your points a little bit more. It is clear that you understand what is going on, but you have the room to expand and truly explain what your trying to say. I gave you a Band 3 because you had "some detailed and informed exploration of the effects and qualities conveyed by language, structure, purpose and contexts;"
Good afternoon Amelia,
ReplyDeleteYou clearly have a good understanding of the English language and how it can effect or be effected by context. You give substantial time to discussing the pragmatics involved in a formal interview.
However, you might be focusing on the audience aspect a bit too much. This is an interview and more than trying to gain support of London, these two people are discussing Bolt's achievements. While Piers Morgan's control of the interview is an important part, and you do mention it, you do not elaborate enough for it to be clear what Morgan is trying to get out of questions. It is more than long or responses, and more so that he had already prepared his questions, while Bolt was left to use spontaneous speech. You need discuss all the differences that these things entail.
In the future it would also boost your marks significantly if you would include reference to language theorists or pretty anything from our outside study of the language. This is integral to the Paper 4 since without pointing to these outside works by established linguist, it seems more like we are just spouting out random possibilities to what the use of language could mean. With only the given text, your discussion is weakened.
It would also really help if you mentioned how the register and tone is used, seeing as it is a formal televised interview. It could greatly affect the context. So much so that it is included in the mark scheme.
Overall, you did a great job, especially for your first Paper 4. Regrettably, because of your lack of theorists, and missing discussion of register/tone, this would most likely get a band 4 of 12 marks. If you include these little things, you'll jump up to band 2 or 3 easily.