An Investigation Into the Language Used in Childrens Advertising

An Investigation into the Language commit in Childrens Advertising Contents Hypothesis Introduction Methodology Analysis Conclusion paygrade Bibliography Appendix Hypothesis In my investigation I am going to lose it the spoken communication employ in kidskinrens picture referising t one(a) specific completelyy at whether the phrase apply is aimed in general at the small fryren or their p atomic second 18nts. Introduction I contain chosen to look at the address utilize in kidskinrens noneising beca subprogram I am interested in how the talking to of discoerising fundament be intentd to influence small fryren and their p arents and am specifically interested in trying to analyse this for misss.I promise that I send away similarly draw on my deliver early experiences to help me with some of my conclusions. When I was 4 years old I wanted the new child Born snort truly badly and kept asking my mum until I got it. When I did get it, I p balladed with it a lways and gradually lost the different accessories that came with her. I record distinctly that when my piddling sister simulated military operationed with her Barbie dolls when she was young that she would use an American accent when do the dolls speak.I was never sure why she did this that I did have over it amusing. I am aiming to find out whether linguistic process in liftising is manipulative, whether it reinforces traditional gender categories and whether I believe it to be a lordly force or non. The use of language in television markising is influenced by other circumstanceors such as whether articulates apply are that of a man, woman or child. The studies I have read indicate that voiceovers surpassn by men are far to a greater extent(prenominal) effective for successful marketing than those by women.The 1979 depicted object found that quite often even if the return was seen as fe male, approximately fille ranked ads used men for the voice-overs and t hat where women voice-overs were used they were only for girls wares which would come out to imply that these fruits didnt warrant the recommendation of a man. Studies found that people respond better to male voices than female voices. I have read some studies on childrens advert and a concur on advertising (see Bibliography) and the findings of these do me interested in finding out whether modern advertising supports the findings of these studies. Children look out personality and behaviour patterns through the imitation of their own parents attitudes and behaviours and go out acquire the patterns of behaviour more quick where in that respect is an taking model whose behaviour is rewarded (Smith, 1994). As purpose of my work I am look at whether my adverts support traditional gender roles. Methodology I impart watch ads on childrens television channels. The channels I am going to be watching are knapelodeon and Nick Junior.To carry out my investigation I needed in fo and the only way for me to collect this was to watch childrens TV, record the advertisements, transcribe them and then analyse my findings. My transcriptions have been included in my Appendix. To ensure that my selective information and any conclusions drawn from analysing it are valid I have used actual adverts and transcri chicane them carefully, and not made up any of my findings. I must not over generalise as it is behind to assume that what I find from my transcriptions is true of all advertisements and this is incorrect as all adverts are different.To analyse my data I am going to look at pragmatics and grammar. I whitethorn also curb observations on lexis and semantics. I decided to analyse my data this way because I am looking at the language of advertising, i. e. the actors line and how they are used and also how it influences and this will help me answer my key question. My data is organised by transcript and I am going to analyse each of my transcripts separately. I apprehend that this will give me common results that I can include in my conclusions. Analysis likeness 1 Syllables amount of money emergence of words 1 41 2 16 3 3 4 0 I was interested in seeing the daedality of the words used in these adverts and I looked at the bod of syllables in each word in each advert.The carry over to a higher place shows the add up of words with 1, 2, 3 and 4 syllables and clearly shows that easy(a) words of 1 and 2 syllables comprise the study part of this advert. Only one of the 3 syllable words is used in the main part of the advertisement which is aimed at the child, the other twain are in the end part which is delivered by and directed at adults. This advert is for a bread Chou doll that has bruises that dis step to the fore when the area is warmed up. This is going on the idea that parents take up their children all better if they are hurt.This will appeal to young girls as not only is it a doll that they can antic with but it i s also something they can care for and constrain better themselves, just as their parents do for them. The sing form voice used in the advert mirrors the way a good deal of adults talk to their babies and small children and little children learn by copying or imitating their parents so this advertisement could influence little girls by letting them behave like a openhanded up on a doll that gives them a reaction.They want the responsibility of looking after something and this doll pretends that they are responsible for making it better. Dep finish on how old the child is, they may believe that they are truly making the doll better. Every time the sing song voice is used it is delivered in the equal way, in the same tone of voice and is to the same tune. This shows prosodic features the effect of the sing song voice followed by the childs statement is almost one of versification, in the pattern of 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 4, 1, 5.The language used in the advertisement along with the visu al triggers are belike to create desire for the product and if the parents intuitive feeling that it will instigate their children to be lovingness and responsible then their purchasing decisions are likely to be influenced. It does encourage caring as the child playing with the doll take shapes the doll better and also strengthened caring by the use of caring language such as Mummy be your mendelevium, Mummy gift me better, Heres your euphony (sing song voice) and I love you (little girl).The language in this is not openly manipulative but the constant repetition of the appoint of the doll, Mummy make me better will ensure the child remembers the abduce of the product even if they are quite small, and will want it. By casting the little girl as the Mother figure, and using the sing song voice to indicate the little girls role i. e. Mummy make me better, Mummy loves her female child, it encourages the child to want to take on that role. I feel that this advertisement rei nforces the traditional gender behaviour patterns because the little girl playing with the doll is being encouraged to behave like a traditional caring mother.There would be a very different impact if the sing song voiceover was that of a man because traditionally the parent that looks after sick children is the woman. I think that the language in this advert is primarily aimed at children. However because it encourages caring behaviour it can influence the parents Grammar This advertisement uses short sentences in the beginning which are aimed at the child watching the advert and at the end it says bruises disappear with warm Chou Chou Mummy Make Me Better from Zaph Creation, this is aimed at the parents as it is a longer and more complex sentence.The words used are more often than not one or deuce syllables, with the exception of three which are three syllables, medicine, disappear and Creation. The use of simple words with a small number of syllables shows us that it is primaril y aimed at children. The sing song voice featured in the advert uses repetition, mama make me better, mummy be your doctor, mummy make me better, mummy loves her daughter and mummy make me better. This emphasises the name of the product and helps whoever is listening to store the name in their memory. Pragmatics The language is simple and active rather than passive i. . shows the child doing mummy make me better here is your medicine. Active language is involving and shows doing rather that watching. Transcript 2 Syllables Total number of words 1 45 2 7 3 1 4 0 Once again I looked at the complexity of the words used. The remit above shows the number of words with 1, 2, 3 and 4 syllables and clearly shows that simple words of 1 and 2 syllables comprise the major part of this advert, with most of these being one syllable. This advert is for a digital house where the 6 pixelated girls living in it can earn points and get the beat out room in the house if they have the most point s. Every pre-teen wants the outdo room with the best things and this is kindly to their interests. Im Queen of the house implies that the girl with the best room is the best and most popular out of them all. The fact that this advert is delivered mostly in song and in an American accent exaggerates its appeal because a lot of pre-teens use an American accent when they are playing because they imitate the role model in the advertisement, which in the case of this advert, is a teenage American girl. The language in this advert is aimed solely at children.It appeals this instant to the interests of pre-teens. Grammar The slogan pick pick pixel chick roomies emphasised the name of the product by tell the prime(prenominal) sound of the product name twice before it and also by using alliteration. This advert mainly comprises of a single long sentence punctuated by one second pauses which help give the advert impact. The viewer has time to absorb one part of the advert before the next part is delivered. Pragmatics There are lots of games to play yeah the fun never stops. This will appeal to pre-teens as it is an environment over which they have full control and there are no adult figures involved, and what pre-teen hasnt imagined or even fantasised about the fun they would like to have in a house with no adults and how late they would go to bed It is not openly manipulative but it plays on the (rather attractive) idea of having as much fun as you want in your own house and will thence encourage pre-teens to want this product.This makes it subtly manipulative. Transcript 3 Syllables Total 1 29 2 11 3 1 4 1 The language used is simple and comprises mostly of one or two syllable words. The table above shows the number of words with 1, 2, 3 and 4 syllables and clearly shows that simple words of 1 and 2 syllables comprise the majority of this advert, with most of these being one syllable. This is an advert is for a glittery improvised tat withal set. It openl y reinforces traditional gender categories as it is clearly aimed at young girls, and girls trying to make themselves pretty and girls that are looking for the drunken revelry factor.The language in this advert is aimed at children. Grammar This advert does use manipulative language everything you need indicated to the watcher that they need the product instead of just wanting it and wow get these great glitter tattoos makes them more desirable and is almost acting as a neglect by using an imperative get it, get it, get it They look so cool all children want to be cool and will want a product that they think will make them cool. express your style gives the burden that this product will allow the user to be stylish by indicating that they have style and that this product will help them to express it. It is almost elliptical because it is economical with the number of words used and relies heavily on the visual accompaniment. Pragmatics It is delivered by a mature woman and shows the passage of choosing and applying the tattoo. This makes the children watching the advert think that it is easy to use, fun, pretty and makes them want it.I dont believe that the language used is a despotic force because it is openly encouraging young children to want and use tattoos at an age when they are not mature enough to understand the difference between temporary and perpetual tattoos. It could influence a rash decision in later life to get a fixed tattoo because they had a cool glittery one when they were young. Children are a very easy brand for advertising and so are very vulnerable to suggestion. They then use their parents as an easy target for pester power.Transcript 4 Syllables Total number of words 1 34 2 9 3 1 4 2 The language used is simple and comprises mostly of one or two syllable words.The table above shows the number of words with 1, 2, 3 and 4 syllables and clearly shows that simple words of 1 and 2 syllables comprise the most of this advert, wi th a lot of these being one syllable. Both of the 4 syllable words are used in the end of the adverts which is aimed specifically at parents This is an advert for a doll that has over 80 sounds and recognises her accessories and the name you give her. This advert is delivered as if the doll already belongs to the child you can name My Baby.This makes the child want it as it. Generally the language used is not manipulative but by saying you can name My Baby it is making the statement personal to the viewer and is likely to create desire for the product. The majority of the language in this advert is aimed at children with the ending aimed at parents. Grammar The use of the word can in this advert is makes the naming of the muck up modal because it is allowing the child to choose the name of the baby.Personal pronouns play a great part in this advert as the word you is used 3 times and is always referring to you as the child. This involves the child and is likely to make them want th e product more as they feel a sense of ownership. Pragmatics The doll makes over 80 sounds which would also appeal to the child as real babies make more than 80 sounds and the child wants a doll that is as real and life-like as possible. The doll also comes with accessories that it recognises.This is appealing as most parents want to spoil their child and the little girl will want to spoil her baby. I believe that this product will be attractive to parents as it encourages the child to be responsible as they can look after and interact with the doll. This makes the advert a positive force as it is teaching the child to be caring. This is stereotypical as there is the voice of a woman featured in the advert which acts like the mother figure of the child. The girl with the doll acts as the mother figure of the doll.Transcript 5 Syllables Total number of words 1 44 2 7 3 8 4 0 The language used is simple and comprises mostly of one or two syllable words.The table above shows the n umber of words with 1, 2, 3 and 4 syllables and clearly shows that simple words of 1 and 2 syllables comprise the most of this advert, with a lot of these being one syllable. Both of the 4 syllable words are used in the end of the adverts which is aimed specifically at parents This is an advert for a Baby Annabel accessory set consisting of a sheep toy that plays a soothing melody and a beautiful quilted bed set. It definitely reinforces traditional gender categories with the little girl mother place the baby to bed, playing a lullaby.I think that this is a positive force as it is making bedtime appear to be fun instead of something that young children avoid as best they can. This will make it more attractive to parents for the same reason that it might make it easier for them to put their own children to sleep. This advert is exploiting bedtime as it can be used as a fun time. The parents may see buying the doll for their child as an easier way of getting them to go to sleep, as A nnabel is in bed, they should be too In a way this exploits the maternal desire to get children to bed as the advert implies that this product will help.The language used in this advert is aimed both at children and their parents. The majority of the advert targets the child but the ending targets the parents. Grammar The language is subtly manipulative as it says you can lay your Baby Annabel in her bed which will make any child that already owns a Baby Annabel want the bed to put her in. The language used here is elliptical because the pauses in the advert create sentences which arent complete in their own right but dont be sad and listen to the sheep The sentences are a confection of complex here comes the night but dont be ad you can lay your baby Annabel in her bed, time for sleep I wish you sweet dreams and compound the baby Annabel bed with soothing melody and a beautiful quilted bed set sweet dreams for your baby, sentences. Pragmatics Sweet dreams for your Baby Annabel suggests that if you have the bed to put your doll in she will have sweet dreams. If you dont have one of these accessories then your doll wont have sweet dreams. This brings up that everyone wants the best for their child and wants them to be happy and therefore makes this set a must-have for young girls and their Baby Annabel dolls.Transcript 6 Syllables Total number of words 1 37 2 10 3 1 4 1 The language used is simple and comprises mostly of one or two syllable words.The table above shows the number of words with 1, 2, 3 and 4 syllables and clearly shows that simple words of 1 and 2 syllables comprise the most of this advert, with the majority of these being one syllable. This is an advert for a beauty kit from Bratz and includes airbrush colour, lip colour, stencils and clay glitter. This advert is delivered as a set of instructions, and as instructions are meant to be followed it is manipulative in the way that it is telling the viewer how to apply the make-up to the do ll.There are only five instructions and not all of them are directing you to do something to the doll so it is attractive in the way that is simple. Parents may find this product appealing as if it is that simple it will keep the pre-teen safely occupied without parental assistance. The use of the word magic 4 times in this short advert reinforces how amazing the product is. Anything that is magic is very likely to appeal to pre-teens. There are clues of traditional gender rules, a giving one being that the advert is for a make-up product which is aimed at pre-teen girls.The Bratz products are a pre-teen adjustment of Barbie products and allow the girls to apply the make-up themselves in a way they want to do it. For the reason above I think that this advert is a negative force. The language in this advert is aimed only at children. Grammar This advertisement uses alliteration in the product name, magic make-up and this is repeated 3 times passim the advert. There are a lot of im peratives used, turn it up, draw it on and stencil it there. Generally pre-teens respond to commands and this may increase the influence of the advertisement.Rhyme is used in the middle of the instructions for the use of the product, stencil it thereglitter everywhere. Rhyme can make information more memorable which could increase the impact of this advert. Pragmatics Body image is an issue raised by this product as by glamorising airbrush techniques, girls may feel under pressure to look a certain way and to have matte skin. This issue is also big in the world of celebrities as women that girls look up to as role models never get seen without a perfect face as their pictures are airbrushed.The dolls face is going to look matte and perfect as airbrush make-up is used and if the pre-teens own skin doesnt look the same when she starts wearing make-up she may feel ugly. Transcript 7 Syllables Total number of words 1 37 2 11 3 2 4 2 The language used is simple and comprises mostly o f one or two syllable words. The table above shows the number of words with 1, 2, 3 and 4 syllables and clearly shows that simple words of 1 and 2 syllables comprise the most of this advert, with a lot of these being one syllable. I have found that it is uncommon to have words of 3 or 4 syllables that are not featured in the product name. This is an advert for a Polly Pocket product that is a nursery with 5 newborn Dalmatian puppies.The first thing that I noticed about this advert is the instant use of alliteration in the act of the product, Polly Pocket Puppy Playhouse. The language used by the young girl is delivered in rhyme this makes it easier to remember as it is more likely to stick in your mind. It uses young monosyllabic language such as lots to do, so sweet and fun for whelp and you so that the young girls understand merely what the advert is trying to say. It also uses some slang, teen-speak, for drill wow neatIt doesnt teach the child to be caring as it is just a to y, they are not looking after the baby Dalmatians, they are playing with them on the Ferris wheel and the see-saw. I wouldnt say that there is a positive or a negative force as the aim of the product is purely for fun. There is also no parental manipulation as there is nothing for them to gain or nothing for their child to learn by them having the product. The language in this advert is aimed purely at children. GrammarThe grammar used is elliptical, when I looked at the sentences in the light of where the pauses are I noticed that they are not complete in themselves, for example lots to do, look a ferris wheel, a see-saw thats a table too and dalmation babies. Pragmatics There is a change of register at the end of the advert. The major part of the advert is delivered in a child-like way. The end of the advert, which is delivered by a male voice-over, is a complete adult sentence puppy playhouse with 5 newborns other puppies sold separately.There is no audio proof that this product is aimed at girls but as there are only girls featured in the advertisement we get the impression that it is, although the voice over is that of a man. Conclusion The language used in the majority of my adverts is aimed at children. Where the language is also aimed at parents it is usually towards the end of the advert, with the majority still being aimed at children. The following table shows a summary of whether the language used in my adverts is aimed at children, their parents or both children and their parents. Advertisement Children Parents Children & Parents 1 X 2 X 3 X 4 X 5 X 6 X 7 X If I had chosen educational toys for my study of language in advertising I think that more of the language would be aimed at parents. I think this because the parents would make a purchasing decision based on the educational value of the product as opposed to the play value which is offered in my chosen adverts.Where my adverts are aimed at both children and their p arents, there seems to be some positive benefit for the child, from the product. An example of this is My Baby Doll, see Transcript 4. It encourages the child to be responsible and caring and therefore appeals to the parents as well. Transcript 5 Baby Annabels Bed Set, appeals to parents as well because it makes bedtime fun. The table on a lower floor shows the total number of words in all the advertisements I looked at and shows how many syllables are in each. This shows conclusively that the words used in childrens advertising are generally very simple as there is a huge predominance of monosyllabic words. Syllables Total number of words 1 267 2 71 3 17 4 6 Several of my advertisements were subtly manipulative, and appealed to the mercenary and buttoned-down side of the children.I found this interesting because the results of one of my studies showed that advertising directed to children made them more materialistic and acquisitive. This study found that because the childre n were more acquisitive, it encouraged conflicts with both their friends and their parents. This study said that as children have under-developed reasoning, they cant work out whether information is rational or realistic and that they could easily be deceived and influenced by advertising. nigh all of my advertisements definitely reinforce gender categories i. e. the traditional role of the female, whether this be caring for children or making themselves look pretty. One of the studies I looked at (Lois. J.Smith, 1994) showed that children learn a lot about sex-type behaviours from television and the characters used are attractive models to copy because they are generally good looking. Advertisements show children how to behave and they accept the images they see as real. Evaluation I think my study is quite effective in terms of looking at the language related to young girls. I think my study would have had more validity if I had used a much larger range of advertisements, and if I had covered both play value and educational toys. It would also have been interesting to have included an equal number of advertisements aimed at boys and at both sexes. This would have allowed me to compare the language used in different areas and would have made my results more valid.On its own my key question was a little vague and if I had only communicate this question my study would have been very short. By including whether the language was manipulative, whether it reinforces traditional gender categories and whether or not it is a positive force I made my study more effective. I collected my data by watching and recording advertisements and transcribing exactly the language used in them. I dont believe that there could have been a more effective way of collecting my data. I analysed my data by looking at grammar and pragmatics. This was interesting however I could have improved my study by making more specific observations on lexis and semantics. Appendix