ABSTRACT
If teacher choose to base their teaching around the idea of investigating texts rather than using a textbook approach, they will need to give their students the critical tools with which to investigate. This chapter considers the linguistic methods/frameworks that are used at A level. These methods are only really useful if we approach the determiners of language transaction: audience, purpose and context. Whenever anyone sets out to communicate using language there will be a purpose in mind. Time, place, author and purpose are important to an understanding of the language skills that have been employed. Students need to be taught that there is very rarely a single purpose to a language transaction. On the face of it, Keith Arthur is giving out information that will help the listener appreciate the needs of fishing for Pike. He is speaking directly in response to an inquiry from Chip.
