Question 2 Skills: Language Analysis

 Question 2(d) assesses your ability to examine, interpret, and evaluate the writer's choice of language.

This involves analysing both the clear and implied meanings of words and phrases, as well as considering the reasons behind the writer’s decisions to use them.

This guide provides a detailed explanation of how to effectively analyse language.

 

Overview of Language Analysis

 To examine, interpret, and evaluate the writer’s language choices, you must focus on the following:

• Understanding the text: What is being described or narrated?
• Subject terminology: What specific choices has the writer made?
• Denotations and connotations: What are the explicit and implied meanings behind these choices?
• Writer’s intent: What overall effect or message is the writer trying to communicate?

 

The question requires you to select three examples of words or phrases from each paragraph. It is crucial to choose words or phrases you can analyse in detail, rather than simply identifying obvious literary techniques (e.g., a simile).

Recognising a technique alone will not earn marks; you must explain what the writer achieves through its use.

 

Consider what image or impression the writer aims to create with their language choices. Focus on why those particular words or techniques were chosen and keep your analysis concise by selecting compact examples rather than attempting to interpret entire sentences.

 

Examining Words and Phrases

 Analysing language involves thinking about the intentional choices a writer has made—why they have included particular words or phrases and what they aim to achieve. To do this effectively, you should consider both the denotation and connotations of the words used:

• Denotation: The literal, dictionary definition of a word or phrase
• Connotation: The ideas, associations, or implied meanings connected to the word or phrase

 

When discussing specific words or phrases from the text, always reflect on why the writer might have selected that particular expression. Below are some questions to guide your analysis:

 

Literal and Implied Meanings	Emotional effect	Character portrayal	Formality and Informality
How do these levels of meaning add depth to the text?	How do the chosen words influence the reader's emotions? Do they evoke happiness, sorrow, fear, or excitement?	Do the words provide insight into a character’s personality, background, or emotional state?	Do the words make the text feel more approachable and relatable, or do they create a sense of distance?

  

The table below offers a list of terms and definitions to assist you in analysing individual words and phrases:

 

Term	Definition	Example
Comparative Adjectives	Adjectives used to show the difference between two things, often ending in "-er" or using "more" or "less".	‘The mountain climb was more challenging than I expected.’
Superlatives	Adjectives or adverbs used to describe the best, worst, or most extreme of something.	‘Her performance was the most impressive of the evening.’
Emotive Language	Words chosen deliberately to create strong emotional reactions in the reader or listener.	‘The heartbreaking loss of the beloved pet left the family in tears.’
Colloquial Language	Informal language often used in everyday speech or casual conversations.	‘I can’t believe how much I’m looking forward to the weekend!’
Imperatives	Verbs used to give direct orders, instructions, or requests.	‘Please pass me the salt.’

 

Once you can identify specific words and phrases in a text, the next step is to enhance this skill by reflecting on why the writer has chosen to use them.

 

For example, let’s examine some of the words and phrases from the table above and think about the writer's intentions.

  

Words and Phrases	Example	Writers Intentions
Emotive Language	‘The heartbreaking loss of the beloved pet left the family in tears.’	The writer uses emotive language to evoke strong feelings of sympathy and sadness. The words “heartbreaking” and “beloved” highlight the deep emotional bond between the family and their pet, while “in tears” underscores the extent of their grief, aiming to elicit an emotional response from the reader.

 

Remember, the aim of analysing words and phrases is to uncover layers of meaning, understand the writer's intention, and explore how language contributes to the overall effect of the text.

 

Language Features and Techniques

•  It is essential to be familiar with key literary terms, as they can aid in supporting your analysis of the text (though they should never replace analysis itself).
• It is far more important to clearly explain the intended effects of any terms you use.

 

The table below offers definitions for some key literary terms. This list is not exhaustive but serves as a guide to some techniques that may be particularly useful when analysing a text.

 

Language Technique	Definition	Example
Simile	A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as" to show how they are alike.	‘The rain fell like a curtain, drenching everything in its path.’
Metaphor	A metaphor directly compares two things by saying one thing is another, without using "like" or "as."	‘The classroom was a zoo, with children running wild and shouting.’
Imagery	Imagery uses descriptive language to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind, appealing to their senses.	‘The scent of fresh bread filled the air, mixing with the warm sunlight streaming through the window.’
Alliteration	Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of several words in a sentence or phrase.	‘The soft sands slipped silently beneath her feet.’
Personification	Personification gives human characteristics to non-human things, such as objects or animals, to create a more relatable image.	‘The wind whispered secrets through the trees, as if sharing its ancient knowledge.’
Onomatopoeia	Onomatopoeia involves words that sound like the noise or action they describe.	‘The clock ticked steadily, each second echoing through the silent room.’
Repetition	Repetition is the intentional reuse of words, phrases, or structures to emphasise a point, reinforce an idea, or create rhythm.	‘He ran faster, faster than ever before, pushing through the pain with every step.’
Juxtaposition	Juxtaposition places two contrasting ideas or images together to highlight their differences or create an interesting effect.	‘The bustling city streets were filled with noise, while the park nearby offered a tranquil escape from the chaos.’

 

Once you are able to identify and understand various literary techniques, it is important to build on this skill by thinking about why the writer has decided to use them in their work.

 

For instance, we will examine one of the language techniques from the table above and explore the writer's intentions.

 

Language Technique	Example	Writers Intentions
Metaphor	‘The classroom was a zoo, with children running wild and shouting.’	The writer has used a metaphor to convey the chaotic and uncontrollable nature of the classroom. By describing the classroom as a ‘zoo,’ the writer is suggesting that the environment is wild, noisy, and full of disorder. This comparison helps the reader to understand the sense of confusion and lack of control, emphasising the children's unruly behaviour and the disruption it causes within the space.

 

In this example, the writer’s use of the metaphor comparing the classroom to a ‘zoo’ has been effectively analysed and interpreted. The response explores the reasoning behind the writer’s choice of metaphor and examines its intended impact on the reader.

 

Incorporating language analysis into your response

•  Remember, you are being assessed on your ability to choose appropriate words or phrases from the text to analyse.
•  However, selecting the right language is only part of the task; you must also be able to integrate your analysis into your answer in a clear, coherent, and concise manner.

 

A high-quality response will:

• Select relevant and precise words or phrases from the text for analysis
• Incorporate these words or phrases into an explanation of their meaning
• Seamlessly embed these direct quotations into your sentences, providing context for the quote

 

For example:

 

Lower level example	Analysis
The writer uses a verb to suggest she behaves like an animal. This is illustrated in the quote ‘snarl’. This implies that the writer is like an animal, as snarling is an action typically associated with animals.	This example fails to provide any context for the quote—how and where is the word ‘snarl’ used? What is its significance in the situation described? Highlighting that it is a verb adds little to the explanation, which simply repeats the initial observation. The response does not delve into the imagery or deeper implications of the writer’s word choice.

 

 

Higher level example	Analysis
The writer responds to anyone questioning her husband’s decisions with a ‘snarl,’ indicating that she reacts in a fierce and defensive manner. This evokes the image of a wild animal growling when it feels threatened or challenged, suggesting that her reaction is instinctive and driven by a desire to protect her loved ones.	This example begins by establishing the context in which the word ‘snarl’ is used within the text. It explains the literal meaning of the word before exploring its implied significance and the vivid imagery it creates.

 

Things to remember: 

• Provide context for the quote you are analysing:
  • In what context is it being used?
  • What is it describing?
• Begin by considering the straightforward or literal meaning of the word or phrase.
• Then delve into the implied or deeper meaning, reflecting on why the writer selected it.

 

Analysis

 Consider the previous questions as part of an investigation, and this analysis question as the courtroom trial. Like a lawyer or detective, you must examine the evidence — the text extract — and ask yourself three critical questions to fully understand its meaning:

 

1. What have they done?
   • What is the text about? What is its central message and purpose?
2. How have they done it?
   • What techniques has the writer employed? Pay attention to figurative language and other literary devices.
3. Why have they done it?
   • What impact did the writer hope to create? How did they want the reader to think or feel? Lastly, reflect on your personal reaction to the text — did the writer achieve their intended effect?