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 Premier’s Media Adviser uses formal language (a range of sentence structures and styles; nominals; modal verbs; proper nouns) to achieve its referential function. It seeks to clarify information relating to the grants which are being offered as “part of of the Multicultural Festivals and Events Program.
The informative purpose is to announce a “new round of grants”. The specific domain fields of multiculturalism and grants dominate the text.
Adverbials relating to time and financial amounts clarify the type of grants that are available and the selection procedures. (“Applicants can apply for up to $50,000 in funding for events delivered between 1 July and 31 December 2024.”)
The cultural context: The “Labor Government” is committed to multicultural communities and is providing details of a “new round of grants as part of the Multicultural Festivals and Events Program”.
The Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt uses the collective pronoun “we” to refer to the “Labor Government” and captures the government’s emotive intent when she uses the declarative sentence: “We’re proud to be supporting so many multicultural and multifaith communities across Victoria each year.”
The emphasis on the compound nominals – “multicultural” and “multifaith” — show an emphasis on diversity and inclusivity which aligns with Australia’s social values.
“Cultural celebrations are a way for Victorians to take part in events that foster understanding and appreciation for all communities, and they are a powerful contribution to Victoria’s richly diverse multicultural landscape.”
- Return to: Contemporary examples 2024 for language variation
- Return to Essays Made Easy: English Language
- References to linguists and relevant commentators (which ones?)