Text and Subtext
(Groups 2 & 5 )

Groups 2 & 5: Text and Subtext Discussion

Below are a few communication acts. The text is the obvious part. The subtext is a little trickier. Read them over and discuss with a neighbor their subtext.

The E-mail

To: Aaron
From: Older Sibling
Date: Around "the holidays"
Subject: Come visit

Aaron,

We'd love for you to come visit us over the holidays. We're thinking about going away for a weekend to a spa or maybe Vegas. Mom and Dad will be here, and the kids would love to see you. We've got space for you, so let us know when you're coming into town.

Love ,

Older Sibling

Professor to Professor

Professor #1: What do you of Jamie's work in the program.

Professor #2: She's good for an undergraduate.

The Racial Stand In

White Man to an African American:

I'm sure you voted for Obama. Could you tell me why all you people think he's a god?

The Radio Caller

Caller: Yes, I got a real big question. Corporations and rich people have had 10 years of very generous tax cuts. What do the American people have to show for that and why should we give them any more?

Congressional Candidate: You know, if the taxes are allowed to increase in January, we've seen statistics that will show the people of the 4th Congressional District will lose over $5,000 per household. The 4th Congressional District itself will lose nearly 1,800 jobs a year. And so what will we have to show for tax increases? We're going to have lower employment. We're going to have less employment, more people losing jobs in more American households, and like the 4th Congressional District, losing even more of their hard-earned dollars. And so that's the problem with increasing taxes.

Here's the link to the transcript if you want to know more. Scroll a little over halfway down.

Click here to return to the October 25th page.

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