Textual Form And Language Essay

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Explore how the acts of representation influence our response through textual form and language. Refer to Keating’s Speech and 1 poem. The acts of representation refer to the way in which a composer chooses to portray their perspective through textual form, features and language. Any representation is a perspective of its author that contains language devices to influences a response from their audience. The act of representation is clearly evident in Paul Keating’s Redfern address written by Don Watson and the poem “Civilisation” written by Oodgeroo. Both texts represent similar narratives in regards to the Aboriginal experience, thus demonstrating a wholistic view and the relationship between representation, language and the responder.…show more content…
In order to persuade the targeted audience, the composer uses specific language devices to connect their representation to their responder. In Keating speech, Keating repeatedly uses inclusive language such as “we” and “us” to reinforce a nation united and empower his audience to take action. He also uses high modality in “smashed” and “fractured identity” to connotate the negative impacts of a broken nation and positions the audience to sympathise with his speech. The sense of pathos created appeals to all Australians to show an understanding of the unjustice and creates a tone of hope for Indigenous Australians. In relation, Oodgeroo uses direct address “You” to refer to the intended audience of the poem, White Australians. She also uses antithesis to show indigenous Australians “had so little but had happiness” but White Australians had the complete opposite. This reoccurring motif of happiness is echoed through an emotionless poem that ultimately emphasises indigenous Australians perspective of White Australian Culture to her audience. We can learn from both representations that specific language devices of their chosen form are used to persuade targeted audience’s opinions on the Aboriginal experience. These different devices of representation have intentional effects on targeted audiences that can ultimately change their perspective on the Aboriginal

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