Language of Advertising - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages The entire goal of an advertisement is to inform someone of a product or service. Advertising also tells a reader something that they do not already know and through the use of design, captures attention. Advertising is primarily used, however, to create a cause and effect relationship between the company or business that placed the advertisement and then a reaction that is done by someone that saw the advertisement. O'Neill acknowledges that an advertisement will not work unless, “it captures our attention,” (O'Neill, 2006, 125). Advertising attempts to get people to do something or consider something that they normally would not without the additional information. Language in advertising is very important. The wording, as well as the design, can make or break the advertisement. In the case of a print advertisement, it is generally the aesthetic design and appeal of the visual advertisement itself which captures the attention of the reader. Next, it is the message that must captivate and compel the reader into taking action. That is why language is so important. In some ways, it can manipulate and in others it can persuade. The message makes the whole difference. O'Neill said that there were types of languages that were usually displayed in an advertisement such as a promise, a headline, sex appeal, a testimonial or a payoff statement (O'Neill, 2006). . None of these descriptions really tell how the language of the advertisement in question works. It makes a claim that it is “better” at something but that is it. Wording must be simple is the first part of the thesis. First off, words must be simple enough and grammatically correct so that a person can read them. A person needs to keep their advertisement simple so that it appeals to the reader. If the reader has to look up a word in a dictionary just to determine the meaning of the advertisement, then the ad is completely a lost cause. While looking at the advertisement of choice, it says, “No other gasoline protects better. The Shell Nitrogen Enriched Advantage.” This simply states that the Shell petroleum products are better than the others. They seem to have a project that they want to promote to sell the nitrogen enriched segment. The way that this is worded is easy. There is nothing to look up and it is obvious what company is promoting the advertisement and does not provide any other information. Saying less words is more is another segment of the thesis at hand. Clearly, “No other gasoline protects better. The Shell Nitrogen Enriched Advantage,” statement clearly sums it up. In fact, it sums it up so much that it really does not do anything compelling. There is no description. There is no reason why and there is no instruction as to what the Shell Nitrogen Enriched Advantage is. Most people are to take action when a statement like this is offered but in this case, they would need to know what that means. The name Shell is a petroleum and fuel company that provides gasoline. Nitrogen enriched makes it sound as though the product is environmentally friendly. However, the details are almost too vague. As a reader, there is nothing about it that makes a clear memorable statement. The third part of the thesis would be to use call to action phrases. This is another area where this advertisement fails miserably. All it does is state a fact. “No other gasoline protects better.” So what? This is more of a branding technique style advertisement than it is an urge for someone to jump to action and actually do something. One thing that the advertiseme ...Download file to see next pagesRead More