Holly Short

Reading visual text Visual text uses a combination of visual features (pictures and graphics) and verbal features (words and language features) to get a message across to the reader. Examples of visual language include: static image, posters, websites, and advertisements. To read a visual text you must spend time looking at the layout of the text, read all the important written text, and look for links between the visual and verbal features. Think about the purpose of the text and how the techniques help to communicate a message to the audience. See:
• What is the purpose of this text?

• Guidelines For Studying Cartoons

• Identifying the processes involved in the presentation of a Static Image

Key visual features: layout, dominant image, repetition, colour, font, graphic, contrast. For an explanation see Picture the Times. Key verbal features: alliteration, personal pronoun, pun, imperative, minor sentence, slogan, rhyme, repetition. See the use of figurative language and advertising language. Visual language example question and answer:
• The visual text Naturally Kaikoura has been used as the basis of this example of exam questions and possible answers:

o Apart from the colours, identify ONE visual language feature used in this text. Find an example of this feature.

o Explain how this feature is used to make people want to visit Kaikoura.

Possible answers: Achieve: The dominant image of the whale tail. Merit: The dominant image of the whale tail looks beautiful and natural like the landscape. Excellence: People who like adventure and nature would be interested, the whale tail is like a symbol of nature which is precious like the whale. See the following links for examples of visual language questions:
• VL4111 Wellington City Council

• VL4082 Water Safety

• Vl4086 Able Tasman