Unit 3: Area of Study 2: Formal language
Students “analyse the features of formal language in written, spoken and electronic interactions, understanding that the situational and cultural context of an exchange influences the language used.”
Students “understand that formal language, in all language modes, tends to have greater cohesion, and is more likely to make some aspects of the presumed context more explicit.”
“Students explore the range of ways in which formal language can be used to perform various purposes. They investigate how formal language choices, particularly politeness strategies, can reinforce or challenge social distance, relationship hierarchies and rapport.
Students “explore how formal language can be used to clarify, manipulate or obfuscate, particularly in public language – the language of politics, reportage, the law and bureaucracy. ” (VCE Study Design 2024-2027)
Formal linguistic features and tenor: Jargon and specialist terminology (subject specific fields); nominals and acronyms ; social purpose and function; syntax; passive voice; proper nouns etc.
Choose a media release from the Premier’s office: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/ and analyse the discourse and linguistic features.
Members: for ease of use, please see our reference list of Current Formal Examples – 2024.
Formal Linguistic Features
See The Victorian Premier’s Media Release, “Celebrating Multicultural Communities Across Victoria“.
The cultural context
Throughout the Media Release and to reinforce the formal register, the Adviser uses a range of compound and complex sentence structures to fulfil the informative and persuasive function of the text.
Further, the Adviser uses a string of proper nouns,
The use of contractions – “they’ll develop technical skills” – and the second person pronoun address to Graduates – “you” as in “If you have completed a master’s degree” — lowers the social distance in a bid to appeal to a generation of students who are set to embark on their careers.
The Advisor uses the domain field of events and services — nominals and … related to … to impart information
Imperative sentence – “find out more about the program” – has an insistent tone and is used to encourage graduates to register for what might be career-defining move.
- Return to: Contemporary examples 2024 for language variation
- Return to Essays Made Easy: English Language
- References to linguists and relevant commentators (which ones?)