SENSATIONSPEAK IN

AMERICA!!!Katie Newport and Stephanie

Carlson

WHAT IS SENSATIONSPEAK!?!? Sensationspeak is the art of making every event, person, place or idea seem much more exciting, horrifying etc. than it really is by using artful diction, syntax and punctuation.

WHERE IS SENSATIONSPEAK?!?!

Sensationspeak is probably best known as the language used in tabloid magazines such as the National Enquirer or Star Magazine.

These magazines are commonly found in supermarket checkout lines, and are colloquially known as ‘rags’.

SHOCKING NEWS!!! Sensationspeak is creeping into other forms of media, such as newspapers, magazines, internet and television!!!

Despite this fact, tabloid magazines are still the most frequent users of sensationspeak, though the conversion to other media is frightening.

HOW THIS AFFECTS YOU!!! News is less

‘pure’ and more prone to bias or misinforming readers.

Readers ‘know’ what the media wants them to know.

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!?!? Sensationspeak

writers use rhetorical strategies to draw the reader into specific frames of thought. Once the reader is drawn in, there is no going back.

WHERE DID TABLOIDS COME FROM?

In the 1960’s, tabloids were made public-friendly began to be sold in supermarkets, with whom the tabloids had established lucrative deals.

TABLOIDS DECREASING ATTENTION SPANS!!!

Tabloid Magazines often use catchy titles like this one to initially draw in readers.

Titles sound unbelievable and include excess punctuation to tell the reader to feel excitement/fear/ etc.

A PICTURE: WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!?!?

Sensationspeak writers include lots of pictures to draw the readers’ attention and give credibility.

TABLOIDS: KEEPING IT SIMPLE Tabloids keep

their language simple and their ideas concrete. They imply nothing. Each sentence has an absolutely certain meaning.

“In the long run only he will achieve basic results in influencing public opinion who is able to reduce problems to the simplest terms.”-Joseph Goebbels

YOU HAVE… THE GRIM!!! Tabloids often cite

the evidence of psychics, who accredited with numerous pieces of evidence to prove their story.

Experts are also brought in to agree with the psychics’ findings

TABLOIDS: ALL KNOWING!?!?

Sensationalists write as omniscient narrators, who know everything. This gives the reader trust in their narrator.

100% TRUTH Contrary to

popular belief, tabloid magazines are not all lies. The language they use contains true statements, but with false assumptions.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW INSIDE!!! Tabloids also

increased the readership by focusing on celebrities and public figures, publishing testimonials from celebrities as well as stories about them.

WHY DO WE READ THIS ANYWAY?

These work on the reader by making real life feel more exciting.

“A morsel of dessert after a bland meal.”

- Roy F. Fox

CELEBRITIES NOT PERFECT!!! The idea that

celebrities are not perfect, something that tabloids dwell on, makes readers feel good about themselves, and that their ways of life are justifiable.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE LANGUAGE

In the end, tabloids always use optimistic language, which receives better response from readers than negative language.

TABLOIDS HAVE A GREATER PURPOSE!?

The goal of tabloids is not to make you believe everything they say.

The goal of the tabloid is to give the reader an idea that will hopefully encourage a desired mindset.

SENSATIONSPEAK INVADES MEDIA!!!

Because Sensationspeak is being picked up by other forms of media, other forms of media are using the same strategy to encourage a certain mindset in their audiences.

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME??? Sensationspeak makes the audience

senseless. Acclimates them to sensational news so

that they will take the media interpretation immediately

This makes us more prone to believe whatever we are told by media sources.

Even if these ideas are contradictory.

DOUBLETHINKSurprised you there, didn’t we?

SENSATIONSPEAK IN 1984

1984 Sensationspeak

Citizens take the media’s word at full value, never questioning what the media says, even if the media makes two statements that are completely irreconcileable.

Sensationspeak trains us to believe what the media tells us, no matter how outrageous or unbelievable the claims may seem, or how outside of common logic they are.

EXAMPLE FROM 1984 The headlines

spoken by the telescreen, though often not quoted directly, often gives us the impression of Sensationspeak.

“Vast strategic maneuver- perfect co-ordination utter rout-half a million prisoners-complete demoralization- control of the whole of Africa-bring the war within measurable distance of its end-victory-greatest victory in human history- victory, victory, victory!”