Tenor describes which aspect of a communicative event?

Tenor describes which aspect of a communicative event?

• A. Field
• B. Tenor
• C. Mode
• D. Context

Answer: (B)

Interpersonal relations drive how language is chosen in a communicative event. Tenor focuses on the social relations between participants—their status, power, formality, distance, and attitudes toward each other. Because of that, it best describes the social dimension of the exchange rather than what the talk is about (field) or the way the message is produced and delivered (mode). For example, a teacher–student email typically signals formality and power distance, while a casual chat among friends signals closeness and informality. That’s why Tenor is the correct descriptor. Field would be about the topic or activity being discussed, and mode about the channel and spontaneity of the communication.