Emotive language

So how do you go about unpicking the language of a text? A lot of people have trouble answering questions on language, because it's hard to know where to start.

When the author of a text is trying to persuade you to believe an opinion, you'll often find they use language that appeals to your emotions. This emotiveemotive: Designed to make the reader feel something strongly. language can be extreme at times, but can also be deceptively subtle.

Emotive language can sound very convincing, but you have to decide if the writer is using it to twist the meaning and manipulate your response.

Ask yourself why the author is using emotive language. Are you being persuaded to form a particular opinion about a subject or agree with a particular point of view?

Have a look at this text and see if you can pick out any of the emotive language for yourself.

The sight has become all too familiar: drunken yobs, hunting in packs, degrading themselves and shaming the flag of their country. Heavy drinking, violence and racial hatred is all part of the culture of young Britain, and is generally followed by whines and bleats of self pity when those trusted with upholding the law are pushed to take action.

Now, just to ensure that you've spotted the emotive language above, look at this text and compare the two.

The sight has become familiar: drunken young men, travelling in groups, letting themselves and their country down. Heavy drinking, violence and racial hatred is all part of the culture of young Britain, and is generally followed by expressions of self pity when the local police take action.

The two texts say the same thing, on the surface. Yet the furious attitude of the first one comes over strongly. How?

• Did you notice how the emotive word yob has much more impact than young men? You may agree or disagree with the writer, but the words have certainly provoked a response from you.
• The phrase hunting in packs is much stronger and more emotive than travelling in groups, which is purely a phrase to describe what the men are doing. The writer's attitude is beginning to come over clearly.
• Degrading and shaming are much more pointed than letting their country down. We are being encouraged to share the writer's firm opinions.

Now spend a few minutes going back over the two texts you've just read and pick out other emotive language.