ENG2601
ASSIGNMENT 2 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 24 JUNE 2025
, Title:
How Genre, Register, Context and Meaning Are Manipulated to Persuade: An
Analysis of “The Big Lie About Speed Limits in South Africa”
Introduction
In persuasive or argumentative writing, authors use specific techniques to influence
readers’ understanding and opinion. These techniques are often interwoven with
elements of genre, register, context, and meaning, forming a coherent text aimed at
shaping public discourse. The article “The Big Lie About Speed Limits in South Africa”
by Rob Handfield-Jones is a compelling example of how a writer constructs an
argument against speed limit reductions by manipulating these linguistic and structural
elements. In this essay, I will analyse how the article’s genre and register, as shaped by
its social context and intended meaning, are deliberately manipulated to persuade
readers. The analysis will focus on the writer’s use of persuasive devices such as
emotive language, repetition, rhetorical questions, generalisation, quoting experts,
specialist vocabulary, anecdote, hyperbole and euphemism.
Understanding the Genre and Register
The genre of the article is opinion-based argumentative journalism, as it aims to
challenge prevailing narratives about road safety and government policy. This genre
allows for subjective interpretation, persuasive argumentation, and emotionally charged
language. The register is semi-formal and accessible, mixing technical terminology with
conversational tone. For instance, terms such as “delta-v” and “contributory factors”
point to a specialist vocabulary, while phrases like “shock-horror” and “easy money”
invoke a more casual, emotive tone. This blending of registers broadens the appeal of
the article to both technical audiences and general readers.
Contextual Influences on Meaning
The context of the article is South Africa’s ongoing struggle with high road fatalities and
the government’s attempts to address this through speed limit regulations. The writer
ASSIGNMENT 2 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 24 JUNE 2025
, Title:
How Genre, Register, Context and Meaning Are Manipulated to Persuade: An
Analysis of “The Big Lie About Speed Limits in South Africa”
Introduction
In persuasive or argumentative writing, authors use specific techniques to influence
readers’ understanding and opinion. These techniques are often interwoven with
elements of genre, register, context, and meaning, forming a coherent text aimed at
shaping public discourse. The article “The Big Lie About Speed Limits in South Africa”
by Rob Handfield-Jones is a compelling example of how a writer constructs an
argument against speed limit reductions by manipulating these linguistic and structural
elements. In this essay, I will analyse how the article’s genre and register, as shaped by
its social context and intended meaning, are deliberately manipulated to persuade
readers. The analysis will focus on the writer’s use of persuasive devices such as
emotive language, repetition, rhetorical questions, generalisation, quoting experts,
specialist vocabulary, anecdote, hyperbole and euphemism.
Understanding the Genre and Register
The genre of the article is opinion-based argumentative journalism, as it aims to
challenge prevailing narratives about road safety and government policy. This genre
allows for subjective interpretation, persuasive argumentation, and emotionally charged
language. The register is semi-formal and accessible, mixing technical terminology with
conversational tone. For instance, terms such as “delta-v” and “contributory factors”
point to a specialist vocabulary, while phrases like “shock-horror” and “easy money”
invoke a more casual, emotive tone. This blending of registers broadens the appeal of
the article to both technical audiences and general readers.
Contextual Influences on Meaning
The context of the article is South Africa’s ongoing struggle with high road fatalities and
the government’s attempts to address this through speed limit regulations. The writer
