Language Analysis - Smoking in Public
Language Analysis – Smoking in Public
In this analysis I will be talking about the different types of language used in the article “Time smokers were made to clear the air”, written by: Alice Clarke, published in the Herald Sun on February 11th 2013. The Headline tells the readers that it is a serious article about putting more bans on smoking. The writer starts the article with a humorous, but interesting sentence, she says “I say this with love, but people are stupid”. This opening sentence really catches the reader’s attention and makes him/her quite intrigued. The first paragraph has no facts, evidence or statistics what so ever, it is very opinionative. The writer generalises the public, saying that a lot of people like to do things that are bad for them even after knowing how bad they are. She then inputs her own opinion by saying that “the Law needs to step in every now and then to stop us from hurting other people”. In the next paragraph she starts off her argument in a more cordial manner, saying “Sure, it sucks that the law stops us from doing things we like, but it’s awkward when something you do kills someone. She then gives an example for smoking in public places by using a metaphor.
In the third paragraph she uses a persuasive technique called “Appeal to hip-pocket nerve”. She says “Although smokers cost taxpayers millions of dollars every year because of the strain they put on the public healthcare system, I have no real problem with people smoking”. In that sentence she uses a very cunning strategy to get a lot of the readers on her side. By saying “smokers cost taxpayers millions of dollars every year” she basically makes all the readers who are non-smoking tax payers angry at smokers because they feel that Smokers are affecting their financial wellbeing. In the next paragraph she states an obvious fact telling the readers how smoking and inhaling second hand smoke can give you cancer. In the 5th paragraph she says, “I also have asthma
In this analysis I will be talking about the different types of language used in the article “Time smokers were made to clear the air”, written by: Alice Clarke, published in the Herald Sun on February 11th 2013. The Headline tells the readers that it is a serious article about putting more bans on smoking. The writer starts the article with a humorous, but interesting sentence, she says “I say this with love, but people are stupid”. This opening sentence really catches the reader’s attention and makes him/her quite intrigued. The first paragraph has no facts, evidence or statistics what so ever, it is very opinionative. The writer generalises the public, saying that a lot of people like to do things that are bad for them even after knowing how bad they are. She then inputs her own opinion by saying that “the Law needs to step in every now and then to stop us from hurting other people”. In the next paragraph she starts off her argument in a more cordial manner, saying “Sure, it sucks that the law stops us from doing things we like, but it’s awkward when something you do kills someone. She then gives an example for smoking in public places by using a metaphor.
In the third paragraph she uses a persuasive technique called “Appeal to hip-pocket nerve”. She says “Although smokers cost taxpayers millions of dollars every year because of the strain they put on the public healthcare system, I have no real problem with people smoking”. In that sentence she uses a very cunning strategy to get a lot of the readers on her side. By saying “smokers cost taxpayers millions of dollars every year” she basically makes all the readers who are non-smoking tax payers angry at smokers because they feel that Smokers are affecting their financial wellbeing. In the next paragraph she states an obvious fact telling the readers how smoking and inhaling second hand smoke can give you cancer. In the 5th paragraph she says, “I also have asthma