§-English Language syllabus
VIC · VCAA← English Language
English Language syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the VIC English Language syllabus, with a focused answer for each. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions and links to related points.
Unit 3: Language variation and social purpose
Module overview →What makes a text hang together, and how do coherence and cohesion work across spoken and written discourse?
the features of discourse that create coherence and cohesion, including reference, conjunction, lexical chains and conversational conventions
What are face needs, and how do speakers use politeness strategies to protect and threaten face in informal and formal language?
the concepts of positive and negative face, face-threatening acts and politeness strategies in informal and formal contexts
Which features mark formal language, and how does Standard English relate to formality and prestige?
features of formal language across the subsystems, and the role of Standard English as a prestige variety
Which linguistic features signal informality, and how do you describe them precisely across the subsystems?
features of informal language at the phonological, morphological, lexical, syntactic and discourse levels
What are the prosodic features of spoken language, and how do they signal meaning, attitude and register?
prosodic features including stress, intonation, pitch, tempo, volume and pause, and their role in spoken texts
How does formal public language clarify, but also manipulate, obscure and mislead?
how formal language can clarify, manipulate, obfuscate and persuade, including through jargon, euphemism, nominalisation and doublespeak
What is register, and how do situational and social context move a text along the formality continuum?
the concept of register and how situational and social context shape the formality of a text along a continuum
Why do speakers and writers select formal language, and what social purposes does it serve?
the social purposes and contexts of formal language, including reinforcing authority, expertise, social distance and politeness
What social and personal functions does informal language perform, and how do speakers use it to build closeness?
the social purposes and contexts of informal language, including the functions of encouraging intimacy, solidarity and equality
What are the subsystems of language, and how do they give you a precise metalanguage for analysing any text?
the metalanguage needed to discuss language across the subsystems of phonetics, phonology, morphology, lexicology, syntax, discourse and semantics
Unit 4: Language variation and identity
Module overview →What is Aboriginal English, and how does this systematic variety construct and sustain Indigenous identity?
the features and functions of Aboriginal English as a systematic variety that constructs and maintains Indigenous identity
What attitudes do people hold toward different varieties of English, and how do those attitudes affect speakers?
public attitudes towards language variation, including prescriptivism, linguistic prejudice and the social consequences for speakers
How does Australian English reflect and construct a national identity, and what features make it distinctive?
how Australian English reflects and shapes national identity through its distinctive lexicon, accent and cultural values
What is an ethnolect, and how do ethnolects construct cultural identity across the subsystems?
the features and functions of ethnolects in Australian English, including transfer, borrowing and the construction of cultural identity
How do individuals and groups construct identity through the language choices they make?
how language is used to construct individual and group identities, including identities of region, age, gender, occupation and culture
How does language build social cohesion and signal who belongs to a group?
how language is used to build and maintain social cohesion and to mark group membership through in-group features
What is political correctness, and how do inclusive language, euphemism and taboo reflect changing social values?
the role of political correctness, inclusive language, taboo and euphemism in reflecting and shaping social attitudes and identity
What distinguishes Standard from non-standard Australian English, and what status and identity does each carry?
the distinction between Standard and non-standard Australian English, including overt and covert prestige and the social meanings of each
What characterises teen speak, and what social and identity functions does adolescent language serve?
the features and functions of teen speak, including slang, innovation and the construction of youth identity and solidarity
What varieties of English are spoken in Australia, and how do they reflect the country's social and cultural diversity?
the varieties of English used in contemporary Australian society, including Aboriginal English, ethnolects and migrant varieties