Flashcards · 9670 · AS Topic 2

Unit 2 – Language and Society (AS Level) flashcards

9 cards on AS Topic 2, subtopics 3.2.1 to 3.2.2. Pick a subtopic or study them all.

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What does Unit 2 Section A require?: Analysis of spoken, written or multimodal texts, naming the social functions that specific language features perform for the groups using them.
What four social functions of language does Unit 2 focus on?: Group rapport and shared perspectives; power and status; identity and relationships; and play and performance.
How is power visible in a conversation transcript?: In who interrupts, who controls the topic, who asks closed questions and who answers, who hedges, and who holds the floor longest.
What is a multimodal text?: A text that combines more than one channel of meaning, such as image and caption in a meme or advertisement. It is not a synonym for informal.
What is back-channelling?: Short responses such as "mm" or "yeah" from a listener, showing attention and support without taking the floor.

What does Unit 2 Section B require?: An academic essay that uses the Section A analysis as evidence to argue a point about language and social groups, rather than restating it.
How should Section A be read with Section B in mind?: Note while analysing which observations could support the later argument, so the two sections work as one connected task.
Which assessment objective weighs more in Unit 2 than Unit 1?: AO1, understanding of methods, terminology, concepts and issues, so precise named terminology matters as much as fluent style.
What is code-switching?: Moving between languages or varieties within a conversation, often to signal identity, solidarity or a change of topic.