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Group 5 Script
Group 5 Script
DISCOURSE ANALYSIS
MID-TERM ASSIGNMENT: DISCOURSE AND GRAMMAR
Hanoi, 2023
GROUP MEMBER
Nguyễn Kiều Trinh
This requires a deep understanding of grammar and the ability to apply this knowledge in a
flexible manner, which is an essential skill for effective communication in diverse social and
professional settings. In this paper, we will justify our points with the following examples in
both spoken and written forms and provide in-depth analysis based on the knowledge of
Discourse Analysis.
In terms of collocation types, there are two main categories: open and restricted. Open
collocations allow for a wide range of word combinations, while restricted collocations are
fixed, like idioms. Additionally, collocations can be classified as either grammatical or
lexical. Grammatical collocations involve prepositions used with nouns, verbs, or adjectives
(e.g. "by accident," "at night," "good at, "fall for", "amazed at"). Lexical collocations include
five subcategories as follows:
Using appropriate collocations can help speakers to create a more engaging and memorable
speech by using familiar word combinations that resonate with the audience. This can help
to capture the audience's attention and make the speech more relatable.
In addition, collocations can also convey a sense of expertise and authority on the part of the
speaker. The correct use of collocations can demonstrate a deep understanding of the
language and the topic being discussed, which can increase the audience's confidence in the
speaker's knowledge and credibility.
In this paper, we will analyze the use of collocations in two famous speeches: “Ivanka
Trump Speech” and “I have a dream - Martin Luther King”
A. Transcript
Due to the length limitation of this paper, we decided to extract only the indispensable parts of
the speech as follows:
“...This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be
guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens
of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given its
colored people a bad check, a check that has come back marked “insufficient funds.”
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there
are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to
cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and security of
justice.
We have also come to his hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now.
This is not time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of
gradualism.
Now it is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of
racial justice.
Now it is the time to lift our nation from the quicksand of racial injustice to the solid rock of
brotherhood.
There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the colored citizen is granted
his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of
our nation until the bright day of justice emerges …”
B. Context of speech.
"I Have a Dream" is a historical oration that was publicly delivered by the prominent
American civil rights activist and Baptist minister, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on August 28,
1963, during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which was one of the most
significant and iconic events in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The speech is
considered one of the most notable and memorable moments in American history, and is
widely regarded as a masterpiece of oratory and rhetoric.
During this monumental address, Dr. King passionately advocated for the realization of civil
and economic rights, social justice, and equality for all citizens, irrespective of their race or
color. In particular, he spoke out against the systemic racism and discrimination that African
Americans had experienced for centuries in the United States, and called for an end to these
oppressive practices. He also expressed his belief in the power of peaceful protest and civil
disobedience as effective means of bringing about social change and achieving racial equality.
The use of the adjective "citizenship" before the noun "rights" highlights the importance of
full membership and participation in a society, as opposed to simply having certain individual
freedoms. The phrase "Negro" is also significant, as it was commonly used during the Civil
Rights movement to describe African American individuals who were often denied their full
rights and freedoms.
Another notable lexical collocation lies in the following sentence: “This note was a promise
that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the inalienable
rights of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The three words "life," "liberty," and
"happiness" are often associated with each other in political discourse and are commonly
referred to as the "inalienable rights'' or "unalienable rights'' in the United States Constitution.
The use of this phrase in the sentence emphasizes the idea that these rights are fundamental
and cannot be taken away by any government or individual. Additionally, the use of the
adjective "inalienable" further emphasizes the unchangeable nature of human rights.
For example, a debater is arguing in favor of gun control measures. They could use the
collocation "gun violence" and “fatal firearm injuries” to justify their argument. By using this
collocation repeatedly throughout their speech, they are able to create a strong association in
the audience's mind between guns, violence and deaths, which can be a powerful persuasive
tool.
They might say something like, "The devastating effects of gun violence are all around us.
We see it in the news every day, in the lives lost and families torn apart. Many victims of fatal
firearm injuries die immediately at the scene. It's time to take action to prevent these tragedies
and protect our communities." By using the collocations such as "gun violence" and “fatal
firearm injuries”, the debater is able to convey their message in a concise and impactful way,
making their argument more persuasive. In this way, they can maximize the chances of
defeating their opponents.
2. The practice of Discourse Grammar in writing essays, especially IELTS Writing Task
GAME (Lan)
Now, before analyzing the practice of Discourse Grammar in writing essays, especially
IELTS Writing, let’s star with a game called the Matching Game
*Point to slide
I will divide the class into 2 teams, you are gonna be team 1 and the remaining is team 2
*hand gesture.
And each team will receive cards with the name of references *raising cards
[Do you guy all know about the references?]
Members of team will take turns to go to the board and stick the cards to their definitions
*hand gesture
The fastest and most correct team will answer my extra question. If you can answer correctly,
you will receive a gift
Thank you for 2 teams, let check the answer from team 1 first. Well, it is all correct the team 1
is also the the fastest. How about team 2? let’s see
Now, because team X is the fastest and the most correct team, so you will answer my extra
question on the slide. Please identify the types of references in the following examples
Can I invite the student in last desk to answer for the first sentence. …
How about the second, …
Let’s see the answer on the slide. Well, you guys all did do great, in the first sentence, we
have “her” and “she” refer back to “cook”, while “it” refers back to the “apron”. In the second
sentence, we have “her” refers forward to “my mother”.
We have done a game about reference, especially about the anaphora and cataphora which are
also our analysis today. We all know that Endophoric reference comprising Anaphoric and
Cataphoric references. They are all describe the items referring to the word mentioned earlier
and later in the text correspondingly.
Now, let’s analyze the IELTS Writing essay task 2 with Trinh
(Trinh)
2.1. IELTS
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the world’s most popular
English language proficiency test jointly owned by the British Council; IDP IELTS; and
Cambridge University Press & Assessment. for higher education and global migration. This is
designed to help test-takers work, study or migrate to a country where English is the native
language. This includes countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the
USA.
Candidates’ ability to listen, read, write, and speak in English will be assessed during the test.
IELTS is graded on a scale of 1-9. There are two IELTS tests available – IELTS Academic or
IELTS General Training. In this assignment, IELTS Academic, which measures whether
takers' level of English language proficiency is suitable for an academic environment, will be
the focus of the study. It reflects aspects of academic language and evaluates whether they are
ready to begin training or studying.
https://www.ielts.org/about-ielts/what-is-ielts
https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/what-ielts
2.2. IELTS Writing Task 2
IELTS Writing Task 2, which is a formal essay, requires candidates to write an essay in response
to a statement, or premise.
According to Task 2 Descriptors (public version), papers will be marked according to 4 different
categories namely Task response, Coherence and cohesion, Lexical resources and Grammatical
range and accuracy. However, this study will only focus on the second category of the test.
https://ielts.idp.com/vietnam/prepare/article-ielts-writing-task-2-7-steps-to-band-7/en-gb
https://www.ielts.org/-/media/pdfs/writing-band-descriptors-task-2.ashx
2.4. The use of Endophoric Reference in IELTS Writing Task 2 as a representative for
formal essay
A. Endophoric Reference
Endophoric reference includes both Anaphoric and Cataphoric references, which describe
items referring to the word mentioned earlier and later in the text correspondingly.
B. Simon’s Sample
“Some people say that music is a good way of bringing people of different cultures and
ages together. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?”
It is often said that music has the power to unite and connect people, regardless of their
cultural backgrounds or ages. I completely agree with this view, and will give my reasons
below.
Music can certainly reach across cultural and national boundaries and bring people together.
Perhaps the best example of this would be the Live Aid concerts that took place back in the
1980s, and which were broadcast to a global audience. Two live events were held
simultaneously in the UK and the US, and the objective was to raise funds for famine relief in
Ethiopia. The concerts were a huge success, both in terms of the number of people around the
world who watched them and their impact on international public awareness of the famine.
They demonstrated, I believe, that music truly is the planet’s global language.
Just as it transcends cultures, music also has the ability to connect people from different
generations. Regardless of age, we can all enjoy a memorable melody, a strong rhythm or a
beautiful singing voice, and the best songs seem to have the same magical effect on all of us.
This would explain why televised music competitions, such as ‘The X Factor’ or ‘The Voice’,
are such popular prime-time shows. These programmes attract incredibly broad audiences
because singing and popular songs appeal to children, parents and grandparents alike. I would
argue that no other form of entertainment can bring families together in this way.
In conclusion, I believe that music is unique in its capacity to create shared experiences
between people, irrespective of culture and age.
Thank you so much for listening. We hope that our presentation is informative enough for you
to understand more about the relationship between discourse and grammar and its applications
in authentic situations. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask us,
we are always pleased to answer.
Below are the references that we have used to make the presentation.
References
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6. Paul, Owen. (2016). The greatest asset Trump has': Ivanka gets rave reviews for
Cleveland speech. The Guardian.
7. Spencer, L. (2021). What Is Public Speaking? & Why Is It Important? (Definition +
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