Monday, 26 January 2015

Paragraph of analysis

Presuppositions

Presuppositions are made on consumers as an assumption using background beliefs, where the truth is taken for granted. Through this, the company assumes the consumer has previous knowledge of the topic. This may be through the structure of the sentence to deliver in a way that will create a relationship seen in the theory, Synthetic Personalisation.
 
These assumptions are evident within text C when the advert uses “You’ll soon discover why Grenada, with all its rich variety, is truly the spice of life”. The company deliberately put constraints onto the consumer by using the epistemic modal auxiliary verb with the contraction, “You’ll” meaning “you will”. The company seems to emphasise that the consumer will go with the company. The adverb, “soon” reinforces the assumption the company has put on the consumer, boldly directing this information with the epistemic modal verb “will” emphasising certainty onto the consumer. Due to this direct phrase, it seems to be used as a cloaked imperative, addressing the command they feel the consumer should abide by in a more deliberately relaxed way although it assumes that the audience will understand it. This assumption makes the consumer feel as though they should go on the holiday with the company deliberately having the consumer on his mind with someone that seems to want to “discover” the wonders of the country. Through this assumption, it seems to make the consumer feel as though the relationship is built onto the consumer through the theory, Synthetic Personalisation.

We are also able to see this through the rhetorical question used in text D as they assume the consumer has previously been on a safari. “Where will you be heading on your next safari?” Through the interrogative, it seems to imply the consumer who is reading the advert has previously been on a safari and wants to go on another one again. The company seems to build the consumer as a family or individual who has experienced the diversity a safari has to offer. The adjective, “next” has connotations of an event that has previously happened. In addition, the epistemic modal auxiliary verb “will” seems to assume the consumer’s holiday will be this one, creating certainty to the advert. This seems to build the companies opinion onto them. However, “will” could be used to address the uncertainty they will go on a safari. This is less directive as it avoids a face threatening act although still influences the decision of the consumer, putting constraints onto them.

1 comment:

  1. Good quotes. Link the paragraphs much more strongly with a lead-in saying how many of the adverts use SP and then focussing on the assumption inherent in the epistemic modal verb "will", contrasting the uses in each text. You need to bring in more about the differences between the audiences to illustrate the contrasting uses.Be crystal clear about what you are trying to say as it is not clear how the consumer is built - maybe read some more theory where the phrase is used to get a sense of how to apply it accurately.

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