Audience (AQA GCSE English Language): Revision Notes
Audience
When you read any text, one of the most important things to work out is who the writer intended to read it. This is called the audience, and understanding it will help you better analyse the writer's choices and techniques.
What is an audience?
The audience refers to the specific group of people that a writer has in mind when creating their text. Every writer thinks about their readers before they start writing, and this influences everything from the topics they choose to the words they use.
Understanding audience is essential for text analysis because it affects every aspect of how a writer constructs their work - from vocabulary choices to the complexity of ideas presented.
Types of audiences
Writers can target different types of audiences depending on their purpose and the message they want to convey.
General audiences
Some texts are written for broad groups of people. For example, a writer might target all adults, or all teenagers. These texts need to appeal to many different people within that general group.
Specific audiences
Other texts are written for much more particular groups. A writer might focus on parents with young children, car enthusiasts, or people interested in a specific hobby. These texts can use more specialised language and assume certain knowledge.
Multiple audiences
Many texts actually try to appeal to more than one group at the same time. For instance, children's books need to engage young readers, but they also need to appeal to the parents who will buy them. This means writers must carefully balance their approach.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't assume a text has only one audience. Many texts are deliberately written to appeal to multiple groups simultaneously, which affects how writers structure their content and choose their language.
How to identify the target audience
There are three main ways to work out who a text is aimed at. Think of them as clues that the writer has left behind.
Content clues
Look at the subject matter and ask yourself: "Who would be interested in this topic?"
If a text discusses high-performance cars and speed, it's likely aimed at people interested in fast cars or motorsport. If it explains basic football rules in simple terms, it's probably written for people who don't know much about the game yet.
Worked Example: Analysing Content Clues
Consider a text that discusses "mortgage rates," "first-time buyer schemes," and "property investment strategies."
Analysis: These topics would primarily interest adults who are financially stable enough to consider buying property. The content suggests the audience is likely adults aged 25-45 with steady income.
Conclusion: Content clues point to working adults, particularly those considering homeownership.
Vocabulary clues
The words a writer chooses tell you a lot about their intended readers.
Sophisticated vocabulary with complex sentence structures suggests the text is aimed at educated adults. Words like "elicit" instead of "bring out" show the writer expects readers to have a good grasp of language.
On the other hand, if a text uses modern slang and simple sentences, it's clearly targeting younger readers who prefer casual, direct communication.
Worked Example: Vocabulary Analysis
Text A: "The protagonist's behaviour elicits sympathy from the reader through the author's judicious use of literary devices."
Text B: "The main character is so relatable - you can't help but feel sorry for them!"
Analysis: Text A uses sophisticated vocabulary ("elicits," "judicious") and complex sentence structure, suggesting an educated adult audience. Text B uses simple, conversational language with modern phrasing ("so relatable"), indicating a younger, more casual audience.
Language clues
The complexity of the language reveals the audience's expected level of understanding.
Simple, general explanations suggest the text is for beginners or people unfamiliar with the topic. For example, if a text explains that "the object of football is to get the ball in the opposing team's goal," it's clearly written for people who don't know much about football.
Technical vocabulary indicates the text is for people who already have some knowledge. If a golf text mentions "par 3" and "bogey" without explanation, the writer assumes readers understand these terms.
Worked Example: Language Complexity Analysis
Text A: "Golf is a sport where players try to hit a small ball into holes using special clubs."
Text B: "After his approach shot landed in the bunker, he needed a sand wedge to execute a successful recovery shot onto the green."
Analysis: Text A uses simple explanations and general terms, suggesting beginners. Text B uses technical golf terminology without explanation ("bunker," "sand wedge," "recovery shot"), indicating experienced golfers.
Putting it all together
When you're analysing a text, always consider the audience because it affects everything else. The writer's purpose, their choice of techniques, and how successful they are all depend on how well they've matched their approach to their intended readers.
Remember to look for evidence in the text itself - don't just guess who the audience might be. The content, vocabulary, and language complexity will give you clear clues about who the writer had in mind.
Key Analysis Strategy: Always use the CVL method - examine Content, Vocabulary, and Language clues together. One type of clue alone might be misleading, but when all three point in the same direction, you can be confident about the intended audience.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Every text is written with a specific audience in mind
- Audiences can be general (like "all adults") or specific (like "parents with toddlers")
- Some texts target multiple audiences at once
- Use CVL to identify audience: Content, Vocabulary, Language
- Always find evidence in the text to support your ideas about the audience