What can pronouns tell us about the meanings and representations in a text?

Pronouns are a useful starting point when structuring an essay, because they provide an immediate focus on the attitudes within a text. Though they may appear insignificant, pronouns provide important clues about how the author is positioning their audience. Consider how the writer wants you to view them: are they using first person plural pronouns like “we” and “us” to indicate inclusive language, engaging their audience by inferring that their viewpoints are the same? Or are they using the second person plural “you” to create synthetic personalisation, making an audience member feel personally sought out? This sort of analysis immediately indicates that you are considering the way language is used to represent both an author and their audience. And remember that examiners are often looking for buzz words- the more specific you can be about the word class, the better. The best thing about pronouns is that they are a simple way to combine knowledge about language with context. Remember that much depends on the issues discussed and the position an author takes. For example, in a statement like “we hate ham and pineapple pizza”, the traditionally inclusive pronoun “we” also becomes exclusive, discouraging anyone who likes ham and pineapple pizza from participating in the discourse. Similarly, in a statement like “I don’t understand why they hate pickled onions”, the traditionally exclusive pronoun “they” could be interpreted as partially inclusive, designed to invite those who like pickled onions to empathise. These contexts are crucial, especially when you’re short on time. It’s important to consider what is most important or interesting about the way a language feature is used. Ask yourself what pronouns tell you about the attidues of the author or audience connected with the text. If the answer is “not a lot”, move on to a different language feature.