meanings and reps

Audience Positioning

The way a text is designed to make the audience view a subject or message in a certain way.

Example: A political speech may position the audience as patriotic and motivated to support a cause.

Synthetic Personalisation

A technique where a text addresses the reader or listener as an individual, creating a personal relationship.

Example: Advertisements using phrases like “You deserve the best” to engage the reader directly.

Intended Receiver

The specific audience or group for whom a text is deliberately created.

Example: A medical journal is intended for healthcare professionals.

Unknown Receiver

The audience of a text that is not specifically known or may be very broad.

Example: A public billboard message aimed at anyone passing by

Discourse Community

A group of people who share common language conventions and ways of communicating within a particular area of interest.

Example: Online gaming communities or academic circles.

Primary Purpose

The main reason a text is created.

Example: To inform, entertain, persuade, or instruct.

Secondary Purpose

A less obvious or additional reason behind the creation of a text.

Example: A charity advert’s primary purpose is to raise awareness, but a secondary purpose may be to build the organization’s brand.

Dual Purpose

When a text serves two main purposes simultaneously.

Example: A blog post that entertains while also educating.

Mode

The way in which a text is delivered or communicated (spoken, written, or multimodal).

Example: A podcast is spoken mode; a poster uses multimodal (text + images).

Tone

The attitude or feeling conveyed by the writer or speaker through language choices.

Example: Sarcastic, serious, friendly, or formal tone.

Genre

• Explain how the genre influences the text’s conventions, structure, and language choices.

• Example: “As a news report, the text uses formal language and objective tone to present facts clearly and authoritatively.”

• Analysis link: Show how genre expectations shape the reader’s understanding and trust in the text.

Audience

• Identify who the text is aimed at (intended receiver) and how it positions them.

• Example: “The use of direct address (‘you’) creates a personal connection, appealing to the intended audience of young adults.”

• Analysis link: Demonstrate how audience targeting influences language, tone, and persuasive strategies.

Subject

• Identify the main topic and how it is presented or framed.

• Example: “By focusing on environmental issues, the text uses emotive language to raise concern and urgency.”

• Analysis link: Show how the subject drives the choice of content and language features to fulfill the text’s aims.

Purpose

• State the text’s primary and/or secondary purpose(s) (inform, persuade, entertain).

• Example: “The purpose to persuade is evident in the repeated use of rhetorical questions, encouraging readers to reflect and agree.”

• Analysis link: Explain how purpose shapes the overall tone, structure, and rhetorical devices in the text.

general

• Because the genre is a blog, the informal tone and personal anecdotes engage readers seeking entertainment.”

• “The text’s purpose to inform is shown through clear explanations and factual data.”

• “Targeting a specialist audience, the use of technical jargon establishes authority and trust.”

• “The subject of health and fitness is framed positively to motivate readers.”