questions on the barrister transcript

Questions on the barrister transcript

1.       In the transcript, pronouns are used frequently. Names are a type of pronouns and this is the most common pronoun in this extract. The barrister shows his authority in this situation, by calling the defendant ‘Mr Neil’ ,  this illustrates to the audience the power he has over him because not only is it a formal way to address someone it is said in a patronising way/ manipulating way.  It shows that he isn’t familiar with the man and calls him a name his friend or family wouldn’t call him on a daily basis, but maybe someone would address him as if he was in trouble.  He refers to him as this the whole way through the extract continuing to manipulate him with the formality, even when the conversation becomes more spontaneous.

2.       In the sections 5-15 it seems suited to a court situation as the barrister holds his power by repeatedly questioning the defendant and when necessary talking over him ‘is that right? What happened?...’ this gives the barrister the upper hand in the conversation and has control over what information he needs to find which is evident to the audience. Mr Neil answers in a closed manner as far as possible and to the audience this means that he is guilty, nervous or unable to remember- he often answers ‘no’ with a prior uncomfortable pause, he also stumbles and becomes noticeably uncomfortable with a lot of utterances and ‘er’ sounds during his conversation. The conversation here is structured by the barrister however later on the questions get noticeably spontaneous due to the nature of the situation, his questions start to adapt depending on this answers and the next set of information he needs to gather.

Later on Mr Neil ‘laughs quietly’ when responding to the barristers question where he raised his voice, this was clearly a natural response that wouldn’t have been pre learnt, it may have come from his nerves of the fact that he is so confident that it is rubbish.  The barrister still goes on to raise his voice to emphasise certain words which would have been unplanned.

3.       From the beginning of the transcript it is clear who has the control in the situation the barrister manipulates his language and language techniques to belittle the defendant. He emphasises words which would reach out to Mr Neil as it would bring him back into the conversation and highlight the importance of what the is saying like when he suggests the ‘police’, this picks out the fat that it is a serious matter and the potential consequences. Mr Neil denies most of what he says and doesn’t give very detailed, truthful answers.

  

4.       To me nothing specifically stuck out to me for being unusual or uncommon in a transcript.  

Commentary of same sex marriage article

Commentary for same sex marriage article

The two blogs speak of the controversial subject of same sex marriage. They both have very opposing views on the subject due to personal experiences, religion and other factors. I created these characters as I thought they had a clear insight to the topic of same sex marriage as one was a women who is in a heterosexual relationship and finally has the freedom to marry her fiancée and my other character, a middle aged man (around 35/40 year old) who was brought up with the religious views that same sex relationships are wrong and now wants the same views on this for his children.

In the first blog I open with a rhetorical question ‘Isn’t getting married supposed to be the happiest day of your life?’ this immediately makes you think of what your day would look like and consist of, it holds your attention as it gives you the time to bring yourself into the writing, it also makes you question just what the lady is going on to talk about, it’s clear that it is going to be on the subject of marriage but the aspect of this is unclear. My character then spoke about the facts that shocked her “definition of marriage” I used a fact to emphasis what the ‘Oxford University’ class same sex marriage as, the definition was surprising.

blogging Controversial subjects

Same sex marriage

Blog 1

Isn’t getting married supposed to be the happiest day of your life? So why should the sex of who you marry have an effect on this. I think that falling in love is out of your control, the person who stills your heart is the one, and if this is between two males, two females or a man and women it will have the same effect.

The definition of marriage is critical in itself, 'the legally or formally recognized union of a man and a woman (or, in some jurisdictions, two people of the same sex) as partners in a relationship.', I think it’s appalling that the definition has the words 'same sex' in brackets which suggests to me that it’s a side comment as if it’s something to be ashamed of or abnormal to having a heterosexual relationship. But this has only been the case since 2000, before then there was no mention of same sex marriages, so in a way there is some improvement but I think there is still a long way to go.

During childhood we all know our wedding day is a recurring dream that excites us, but the question of who we married didn’t matter then so why should it matter now. The day can be just as perfect whether you share it with your gay partner or not. However the catholic religion is against this as they believe Adam and Eve were created for the reason that only men and women should marry each other.

People criticise people in a same sex relationship that want or have children. Although having a child in this situation is unable to happen naturally why does this make them not fit to have their own child? The child would still receive the same amount of love and care it would get from a mother and a father with two mums or two dads. Even though this would make them different to other children they may know, they would be the ‘same’ as them. Life has adapted to people not being able to have children naturally with IVF, sperm donors and even adoption can come from a same sex partnership.

I think it’s good that TV programs are introducing the same sex couple idea, in shows such as Eastenders, and goggle box. It is letting the younger generation become more exposed to the situation which will help them understand that a same sex relationship is just as normal as a heterosexual one.

I think it is right that same sex marriage is legalised as it captures the love of two people that were forbidden marriage due to their sex. Marriage for some is the promise of their love so why shouldn’t this be for a couple of the same sex?

People may say this is a typical feminine view and maybe they are right but to this day I still dream of this, a big white wedding with my wife and I being able to now legally marry.

Blog 2

I believe that same sex marriage shouldn’t be legalised as I have grew up around the idea of men and women being together, not men and men or women with women. As a fully grown man I don’t think it is right for children (especially my own) to see this as they have a mum and dad and could become confused by why some ‘dads’ kissing other ‘dads’.

Being brought up in a church England school I also see the religious side to it; I believe that god made Adam and Eve to produce live on this earth, which is carried on by men and women having babies. This isn’t possible in a same sex marriage as it doesn’t mirror the way god created the world. it’s said that those who don't agree with the same sex marriage (like me) believe that 'same-sex relationships are immoral and against God's will', this is important to them as they believe that God gave women the responsibility of adding life to the wold and that this is their main duty in life. Many other religions discard same sex marriages and I believe they are right to do so.

Regarding getting jobs I agree with the fact that people who are in a heterosexual relationship shouldn't be first in line to be offered a job as it could be off putting to customers that they are talking too as it is uncommon for them to see. The may present behaviour that is related to being heterosexual which could be off putting for people they come in contact with, resulting in a company loosing sells and reducing their income. Being a manager myself I have taken my own advice and when I interview a possible employee I do ask what their relationship status is and what gender they are interested in. From experience I know this benefits my company as my takings are high and consistent.

Promoting same sex relationships in ways such as using them on the TV and in adverts isn't setting a good example for the future generations, they should be taught that the norm is to marry the opposite sex and that is the only/right thing to do. By putting this in the media (which has a big influence on younger children these days) they would become so familiar with this then it would seem right for them to do it, when it isn't and should be prevented.

Article analysis

‘Banksy's Dismaland in Weston-super-Mare closes its doors for final time’
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-34364808 (BBC news)



‘People queue for last day of Banksy's Dismaland’-BATHCHRONOLOGICAL
  http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/Pictures-People-queue-day-Banksy-s-Dismaland/story-27877388-detail/story.html Visitors to Banksy's Dismaland have toured the pop-up "bemusement park" for the final time.

This article describes the park in detail with lots of adventurous vocabulary and exaggeration. Although it does focus on some facts, like that it captured ‘150,000 paying visitors and £20m to the seaside town’ which gives the readers an insight to how it is benefiting their local are this differs from the other article as it uses more formal language which is also fact based in the introduction but goes on to get a lot of quotes from visitors ‘Mr Sanks said:’, ‘Rachel said:’ this gives the readers primary evidence of how other visitors found the experience. Both articles said positive things about the temporary attraction with their words being backed up by delighted visitors. Both articles used statistics ‘50 artists from around the world’ and ‘£20m’ to prove how bus and how much of a success this was for Weston which was Banksys plan for this project, as it is his local area and he has said to have used the old ‘Tropicana’ a lot when he was a young boy.