Transcript: The Apprentice
The data I chose to investigate was based on a clip of The Apprentice, analysing the Language and Power the youtube clip includes. I chose to investigate this data as a significant amount of strategies are used to assert power by all participants throughout the transcript.
Throughout the transcript, Fairclough’s findings of unequal encounters can clearly be seen. Due to Sir Alan is the main character of the show where the winner receives a £250,000 business investment, he’s the most powerful participant as the others aim to compete for it. In the transcript, Sir Alan takes the longer turns, holding the floor when he chooses to with a lack of interruptions by the other participants. This emphasises his instrumental power over them as he holds the power to fire them or not.
In the transcript, Sir Alan uses face threatening acts “I’m sick of looking at you” when speaking to Claire, asserting his dominant status over her. He uses FTA’s to fulfil the dual purpose of the transcript to inform the candidates present, and entertain the viewers watching the TV show so the show increases in popularity. He uses taboo language “bloody house” to also possibly fulfil the purpose to entertain the audience, with the use of taboo expressing his anger.
Claire uses positive politeness strategies “may I say one thing please” to soften the possible FTA of interrupting Sir Alan. She tries to assert influential power over Sir Alan as a persuasion technique to stay in the competition for his investment. The candidates use direct address “Sir Alan” as politeness strategies to mitigate acts that may threaten Sir Alan’s face needs. However, Sir Alan uses second person pronouns “you” to address them, emphasising his higher social status than them, showing his lack of care of saving their face needs.
I really like what you said about how Sir Alan uses uses face threatening acts and taboo language as a show of demonstrating power.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you use humour in the title "Sir Alan Puts Claire In", We all know what you mean.
ReplyDeleteWhen collecting data on power, face threatening acts, interruption and overlapping are commingly found in transcripts where participants aim to assert power over one another. This data will be very useful if investigating language and power.
ReplyDeleteGood use of well-integrated theory. Slightly more explanation sometimes needed e.g. how taboo language entertains in this context.
ReplyDeletethis is good! :D it shows you've looked at why Alan may have done these things and how this shows power, maybe you could go into more detail of the reasons why he felt it necessary to use these techniques? :)
ReplyDeleteDecent, good theory techniques.
ReplyDelete