the transcript that I analysed was on the TV show the apprentice. the transcript consists of Lord Alan sugar and one of the aspiring apprentices - Clare. it is clear that when reading this transcript there is an unequal encounter between the pair. For example, Clare says "Sir Alan may I say one more thing please." the uses of the words "may" and "please" show that she needs to ask permission for Sugar to speak again and this clearly shows that he has some sort of authority over her. This links to power theory and how power is used in all different elements of language
if you were to use this data in an investigation you could possibly try and compare it with other transcripts from the apprentice and analyse how different candidates react and approach sugar in different ways. you could add up all different elements of their speech and perhaps see how sugar approaches different candidates whether it be gender or any other factors.
I like your thinking about what else could be explored within The Apprentice. I think you are right about the asymmetrical power dynamic and the features of the candidate's language that reveal this - can you identify which politeness strategy she was using and link this more closely to context?
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