Explain The Way In Which Power And Authority Shape Spoken Language

Explore the way in which power and authority shape spoken language, considering it in the light of your own classroom experience. The English language contains many aspects and tools used to gain power and authority when speaking. In a political broadcast interview gaining information and turn-taking is expected. Therefore when Jeremy Paxman, the interviewer, speaks in a blunt and outspoken way to George Galloway, a politician who has just won an election to become a Member of Parliament beating a black female labour party member, the interview quickly turns into one of a challenging and aggressive nature. In my own classroom experience of question and answer it has had a very asymmetric relationship. The teacher maintains the power through
After Galloway has been insulted with the word ‘demagogue’ Paxman questions him on the Members of Parliament. When Galloway replies ‘Yes, I have, yes’ he nods and his eyebrows lower. The fact that his eyebrows lower could show that he is confused and concerned about what Paxman has to say. This clarifies that the power relationship is still one in which Paxman holds authority. Lowered eyebrows can also indicate annoyance- Galloway cannot see the relevance of these questions to him winning the election- and they could also imply deception- Galloway does not want the people of Bethnal Green and Bow to see what his other colleagues have thought about his approach to gaining the votes. This means that Paxman has exposed Galloway for a short time so he is under Paxman’s control and restraints. While Galloway is speaking at the end of the interview Paxman sits back and looks bored. Although this could imply that he is not affected nor bothered about what Galloway has to say hence not giving him control, it could also imply that Paxman has now been reduced to fact Galloway is right and cannot think of any worthy comebacks to say thus handing the domination he has to