English Language

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This subtopic examines how language varies according to social factors such as class, ethnicity, and peer groups, and how individuals use linguistic features to construct and project their social identity. It explores the interplay between language and society through empirical research and theoretical models, fostering critical analysis of real-world language use. Students apply sociolinguistic frameworks to analyse transcripts and data, preparing them for Paper 2 ‘Language in the Media’ and the non-exam assessment.

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Exploring Language

Component 01 - Exploring Language focuses on the linguistic analysis of authentic texts and original writing for a real-world purpose on a topical language issue. It consists of three sections: Language under the microscope, Writing about a topical language issue, and Comparing and contrasting texts.

Language under the microscope (lexical and grammatical analysis of written texts)

Component 01, Section A: Language under the microscope, focuses on the linguistic analysis of unseen written texts. Learners must identify significant lexical and grammatical features, explore their effects, and consider how contextual factors influence meaning. The section requires the systematic application of language levels (lexis, semantics, grammar, morphology, pragmatics, and discourse) to a range of genres and modes, demonstrating an understanding of social and individual varieties of English and aspects of language and identity.

Writing about a topical language issue (original writing for a real-world purpose)

Component 01, Section B requires learners to produce a short piece of original writing for a real-world purpose, form, and audience, focusing on a topical language issue or concept. This task assesses the ability to apply critical and creative skills to produce texts that demonstrate an understanding of language use, attitudes towards language, and the shaping of discourse across different genres and modes.

Comparing and contrasting texts (spoken and written modes, varieties of English)

Component 01 Section C focuses on comparing and contrasting texts to explore linguistic connections and variations across different modes of communication. Learners analyze how language features, effects, and contextual factors differ between spoken and written texts, including spontaneous and crafted speech, and various social and regional varieties of English.

Dimensions of Linguistic Variation

Component 02, Dimensions of Linguistic Variation, explores language use in specific contexts across time and place. It consists of three sections: Child Language Acquisition (0-7 years), Language in the Media (focusing on discourse, power, gender, and technology), and Language Change (historical varieties of English).

Child language acquisition (spoken language development, ages 0–7)

This topic focuses on children’s acquisition of spoken language between the ages of 0–7 years. It involves the linguistic analysis of authentic children’s spoken text samples, including the use of phonemic transcription (IPA). Learners must apply their knowledge of language levels (phonetics, phonology, prosodics, lexis, semantics, grammar, morphology, pragmatics, and discourse) and theoretical concepts of child language acquisition to interpret the data.

Language in the media (language and power, gender, and technology in multi-modal texts)

Component 02, Section B: Language in the media focuses on discourse in multi-modal media texts. Learners apply language concepts and theories to analyze linguistic and graphological features, specifically exploring language and power, language and gender, and language and technology.

Language change (historical varieties of English, 1600s to present)

Component 02, Section C focuses on the analysis of historical varieties of English. Learners are required to draw connections and comparisons between two texts from different time periods, ranging from the 1600s to the present day, while applying linguistic methodologies to explore language change.

Language levels framework: Lexis and Semantics

Phonetics, phonology and prosodics involves the study of how speech sounds and effects are articulated, analysed, and used in communication. It is a core language level within the OCR A-Level English Language specification, applied to the analysis of spoken data, including child language acquisition and historical varieties of English.

Language levels framework: Grammar including Morphology

Phonetics, phonology and prosodics involves the study of how speech sounds and effects are articulated, analysed, and used in communication. It is a core language level within the OCR A-Level English Language specification, applied to the analysis of spoken data, including child language acquisition and historical varieties of English.

Language levels framework: Pragmatics

Phonetics, phonology and prosodics involves the study of how speech sounds and effects are articulated, analysed, and used in communication. It is a core language level within the OCR A-Level English Language specification, applied to the analysis of spoken data, including child language acquisition and historical varieties of English.

Language levels framework: Phonetics, Phonology and Prosodics

Phonetics, phonology and prosodics involves the study of how speech sounds and effects are articulated, analysed, and used in communication. It is a core language level within the OCR A-Level English Language specification, applied to the analysis of spoken data, including child language acquisition and historical varieties of English.

Language levels framework: Discourse

Phonetics, phonology and prosodics involves the study of how speech sounds and effects are articulated, analysed, and used in communication. It is a core language level within the OCR A-Level English Language specification, applied to the analysis of spoken data, including child language acquisition and historical varieties of English.

An independent investigation of language (report writing, methodology, analysis)

Component 03: Independent language research is a non-exam assessment (NEA) worth 20% of the A Level. It consists of two parts: an independent investigation of language (2000–2500 words) and an academic poster (750–1000 words) presenting the research findings. Learners choose a topic of personal interest, apply linguistic methods and concepts, conduct data analysis (including quantitative), and evaluate their findings.

The academic poster (presentation of research)

Component 03: Independent language research is a non-exam assessment (NEA) worth 20% of the A Level. It consists of two parts: an independent investigation of language (2000–2500 words) and an academic poster (750–1000 words) presenting the research findings. Learners choose a topic of personal interest, apply linguistic methods and concepts, conduct data analysis (including quantitative), and evaluate their findings.

Component 03: Independent language research

Component 03: Independent language research is a non-exam assessment (NEA) worth 20% of the A Level. It consists of two parts: an independent investigation of language (2000–2500 words) and an academic poster (750–1000 words) presenting the research findings. Learners choose a topic of personal interest, apply linguistic methods and concepts, conduct data analysis (including quantitative), and evaluate their findings.