What term describes the way language expresses a speaker's attitude to what is said or written?

What term describes the way language expresses a speaker's attitude to what is said or written?

• A. Appraisal
• B. Tone
• C. Intonation
• D. Connotation

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how language encodes the speaker’s attitude toward what is said or written. Appraisal is the term for evaluative language—how we express affect (emotions), judgment (opinions about people or actions), and appreciation (evaluation of things)—that signals our stance toward the content. This directly captures the attitude conveyed in the statement or text. Tone and intonation relate to delivery and vocal quality rather than the linguistic system of expressing stance, while connotation deals with implied or suggested meanings beyond the literal sense. So appraisal best describes the way language expresses a speaker’s attitude.

The main idea is how language encodes the speaker’s attitude toward what is said or written. Appraisal is the term for evaluative language—how we express affect (emotions), judgment (opinions about people or actions), and appreciation (evaluation of things)—that signals our stance toward the content. This directly captures the attitude conveyed in the statement or text. Tone and intonation relate to delivery and vocal quality rather than the linguistic system of expressing stance, while connotation deals with implied or suggested meanings beyond the literal sense. So appraisal best describes the way language expresses a speaker’s attitude.