Linguistic Text Analysis Example

Linguistic text analysis example.

When Tyrion Lannister stood trial for the assassination of his nephew king Joffrey, he remained stoic and silent until his lover betrayed him and lied to the court. That is when Tyrion lost his temper, giving the speech to end all speeches.

Nothing but this: I did not do it. I did not kill Joffrey but I wish that I had. Watching your vicious bastard die gave me more relief than a thousand lying whores

I wish I was the monster you think I am. I wish I had enough poison for the whole pack of you. I would gladly give my life to watch you all swallow it.

I will not give my life for Joffrey’s murder. And I know I’ll get no justice here, so I will let the gods decide my fate.

The manner conveys a message with the authorial intention to deliver to the reader what’s been building up inside Tyrion his entire life – he was born a midget, a disgrace to the royal family; always underestimated; accused of killing his mother at birth; he has never received any gratitude for his deeds, even when he overtook the command at war and saved the city, and so on. Accusation of a king’s murder is the breaking point that triggers his speech.

The author chooses first person narrative. The character’s thought are ordered (interior monologue).

The words are simple, colloquial, evaluative and archaic, which is appropriate for the setting.

The writer uses non-standard language (bastard, ser).

The naming of characters is important – Tyrion’s frequent addressing to his father conveys Tyrion’s anger for his family’s unjust attitude towards his entire existence. Linguistic text analysis.