Emotive Language
Below are two examples of similar newspaper reports. However, one uses emotive language to stir up an emotional response to the reader and the other is impartial: it only tells the facts without evoking an emotional response. The emotive words are highlighted in pink and are there to make the reader side with the paper and sympathise with the girl whilst blaming the dog.
1. Girl, nine, has face ‘ripped to shreds’ in savage attack by 10-stone Rottweiler.
07 January 2008
A nine-year-old girl has been left scarred for life after being attacked by a savage rottweiler.
Chloe Grayson’s face was ripped to shreds by the 10-stone dog named Bully at a party in a neighbour’s house.
The Rottweiler was roaming freely around the house when it struck, plunging its teeth deep into the terrified youngster’s face and leaving her covered in blood and teeth marks.
Chloe Grayson was attacked by a neighbour’s 10-stone Rottweiler called Bully during a party.
2. Girl, 5, 'mothered and loved' pit bull that mauled her to death
Published Date: 05 September 2007
By JOHN FAHEY
ELLIE Lawrenson loved and mothered the pit bull terrier that mauled her to death, a court heard yesterday.
The five-year-old was killed by the dog, Reuben, on New Year's Day this year, when it inflicted 72 injuries over her body.
Yesterday, Ellie's aunt, Kelsey Simpson, 20, gave evidence against her mother, Jacqueline Simpson, 45, who is charged with the girl's manslaughter.
Miss Simpson, who had also been attacked by the dog, told Liverpool Crown Court: "At first everyone loved the dog - he was tiny and everyone mothered him, especially Ellie."
Under cross-examination, she said "Ellie loved [the dog]" and told the defence QC, John McDermott, that Ellie "put her arms around him, pulled his tail and gave him hugs and cuddles".
But she stressed that this was all before the dog turned six months old.