Language Analysis and Meaning

Assignment 2 for XXXXXX Training Course
November 3 – 28, 2008
Phuket, Thailand
A. Analysing a language item
B. Conveying and checking the meaning of
vocabulary
C. Conveying and checking the meaning
and form of structures

Presented to: XXXXXXX
By: Shelia A. Peace
Date: November 17, 2008

Written Assignment 2
Part A
Analysing a language item.
Focusing on the function of advice wit a low-intermediate class, I am
explaining two types / examples of giving advice:
1. Why don’t you . . . (talk to her about it), and
2. If I were you, I’d . . . (do something about it now).
In the first question, “Why don’t you talk to her about it?”
we use the bare infinitive (Parrot, 2000) talk with why to make a suggestion.
The meaning is to urge the subject (you) to talk to her about an
unnamed object / secondary subject.
“The infinitive is the simplest word form of the verb. It is exactly the
same as the base form that follows I, you, we¸and they in the present simple
tense of all verbs other than be.” These verbs are called infinitive, because
they aren’t “part of the tense of the verb.” (Parrot, p. 136)
We use infinitive after question words when the main verb don’t and
the verb in the infinitive talk have the same subject you. We say, Why don’t
you talk because you are the person who will talk. “Why not + infinitive
without to is used to make suggestions . . . Why don’t . . .? can be used in
the same way.” (Swan, 1996)
Form: Why don’t + subject + infinitive without to . . .”
OR
Why don’t / you / + infinitive without to.
A phonemic translation of the sentence is:

In this sentence, stress (emphasis) is placed on the word talk and the
second syllable of about.
Why don’t you talk to her about it?
~~~~~~~~~~~ ^^^^^^^^^^^

Why don’t you talk to her about it?

The wavy line pattern shows

intonation tunes (pitch change) for this sentence. (Harmer, 1998).

This

pattern would be used as a solution for anticipated problems for this CELTA...