Essay Question Texts E&F

Text E starts with formal register ‘dear father’ this shows us that at this time, letters were considered a very formal way of communication.  We see a different register in text F, the writer of the letter has wrote ‘HOLLA PEOPLE’, which is slang and this suggests that the language in letters have changed dramatically, not only is the register completely different in the two texts but also text F has been written in full block capitals. This shows us that grammar has changed as well since text E and F. We could also look at who the letters were for. Text E was written to the soldiers’ father, this could explain the formal register as in the 19^th century, people showed more respect towards elders, especially if they were in their family. Text F meanwhile, is still written for the soldiers’ family but the informal register shows us that in the early 21^st century register in communication to family is generally informal.

 

Also we can see signs of illiteracy in Text E, ‘it blewe down’. This can reflect language at the time as many people did not have the opportunity of education which meant they never learnt to read or write, or learnt how to read and write incorrectly. Also in this period, standardisation had only just been around for less than a hundred years, and considering language takes a very long time to change and for the majority of the population to understand it and for it to be taught properly in education.