Analysis of What’s in a Name?

Language Register
Purpose: This article is an article which aims to inform the reader of specific information
objectively. This is shown through its use of straight facts with no opinion or emotion and
also it’s detailed explanation of relevant terms (e.g. a first name called a praenomen.).

Speaker/writer: The writer of this article (Jeff Conroy) is clearly of a well-educated

background and is unbiased in his opinions. He does not appear moody through his writings
and his text is accurate and specific giving good examples.

Audience: The age group of ten to 17 would be most suitable for this article. This is the
schooling age and this article is used exactly for this reason. This can be seen through the
choice of words used, which are relatively simple compared to what they could be, and the
fact that he explains all technical words.

Publication Point: The publication point of this text is in the classroom. It is a perfect article
to analyse as it provides good examples of all the things an information report would
include. (e.g. topic sentences, technical words etc.).

Context: N/A

Genre: Using straight facts and unbiased opinions this article is immediately seen as factual.
These facts are presented detailed and clearly.

Text Form: The text form for this article is an informative report. It is shown by its detailed
facts and explanations of what the technical words are (praenomen, nomen etc.). It also
shows no emotive words and keeps it down to straight facts.

STYLE
Figures of Speech: As a strictly factual article no figures of speech are present.

Dialogue/Speech: N/A Word Types: The types of words in this article What’s in a Name? are
primarily objective or factual words. This is because the article uses pure facts and as such
uses factual words with no biased opinion. Some examples of these words include:
cognomen, praenomen, nomen and many more. Few emotive words are used such as
‘confusing’ but the majority are factual words.

Sentence Structure: All three main sentence structures (simple, compound and complex)
appear in this article as well as extras (topic sentences). The first sentence in this article
“Roman names can be very confusing and were often very long.” is a compound sentence.
This is seen through the fact that and is used to link the two ideas, that roman names are
confusing and the fact that they are also very long. Simple sentences such as “Roman
emperor Antonius Pius had one of the longest Roman names.” are simple sentences because

By Jonathon Seeto
they only have a subject verb and action. (subject being Antonius Pius and the verb had).
Complex sentences such as “Slaves usually only had one name, but if they gained their
freedom they took their master’s name and added it to their own as another cognomen.”
give specific details and ideas. Topic sentences give the main idea of a paragraph e.g. (Girls
names were much simpler.)

Types of Sentences: Statements are the make up of this article but a question is used in this
articles title itself “What’s in a Name?” This is followed by only statements as it is an
unbiased article.

Punctuation: After the title What’s in a Name punctuation is limited to full stops, comas,
brackets and dashes. Full stops are used at the end of each sentence (Each roman boy had a
first name called a praenomen.) and create the effect of the end of a sentence and a pause.
Commas are then used for short pauses or for lists (Rufus Redhead, Celer Swift and Calvus
Baldhead.) while brackets and dashes used for extra information (M(arcus), L(ucius),
Q(uintus) etc.).

Level of Language: The level of language is strictly formal using no colloquial or

inappropriate words.

Tone of the Text: The tone of the text is strictly factual, it presents and expresses almost no
opinions and almost all facts about the roman names.

Point of view: N/A

Sound: N/A

Body Language: N/A

Art work/ Graphics: N/A

Layout and Design: The layout and design of this article is based on logic. It is not meant to
catch the eye, it’s purpose is merely to convey and present it’s information in the most
efficient way. This is seen through the spaced out paragraphs simple title and plain clear
Arial black format.

By Jonathon Seeto