Language Analysis Sample

879 Words4 Pages
The Christmas season is traditionally a time of providing and giving. Therefore, financial investments were a necessity to all families. Due to this reality, many find themselves in a financial downfall in what seems to be the merriest occasion of the year. Controversy has sparked across the media regarding whether or not “Christmas spending” is more beneficial than financially destructive. A recent opinion piece published on the 30th December, 2008 in The ‘Herald Sun’ titled ‘Owe Owe Owe. Oh no!’ by Susie O’Brien argues that banks have taken advantage of Christmas spending by targeting middle to low class people, forcing them to use their credit cards. O’Brien refers to this as a ‘credit card catastrophe,’ (a loaded word) which she includes in the opening statement. The heading of this article is a humorous play on words, mocking Santa Claus’ notorious motto – “Ho Ho Ho!” It has been changed to the word “owe”, contributing to the financial topic. In her passionate and assertive tone, O’Brien attempts to engage the reader with rhetorical questions, emotive language and strong punch lines. She attempts to draw approval from her readers prior beginning her argument. –“Has all that loving and giving been replaced with a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach about how you’re going to pay for it all? You’re not alone.” Not to mention the use of inclusive language, especially since she writes in the much dominant first person, and occasionally in the second person. In the latter short paragraphs, O’Brien leads her readers into believing that they have been deceived. She says that the banks are leading us into all sorts of traps and trickery. Therefore, the words “trap” and “trick” are used continuously throughout the article. This is a reminder to the reader of the deceptive nature of banks. On the other hand, O’Brien switches to an authoritative position when
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