0 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:16,720 Now, I'd like you to think about something. In an average day, how often do you see signs? 1 00:00:16,890 --> 00:00:24,739 On the way to work or school, in the car or on public transport, or just doing some shopping, 2 00:00:24,739 --> 00:00:31,279 we are surrounded by signs. And signs can be very useful, can't they? They can help us to 3 00:00:31,279 --> 00:00:36,580 avoid getting lost, or they might prevent an accident, or they could even help us to 4 00:00:36,580 --> 00:00:40,180 find a bargain. 5 00:00:40,180 --> 00:00:45,520 Signs are used in academic talks, too, and you will see them in the talk in Section 6 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:51,250 4 of the IELTS Listening Test. The speaker uses special language, which we 7 00:00:51,250 --> 00:00:59,079 call signpost language, to organise the talk and help you follow the argument. This signpost 8 00:00:59,079 --> 00:01:05,509 language can have a number of different functions. In this presentation, I’ll give you just 9 00:01:05,509 --> 00:01:07,060 a couple of examples. 10 00:01:07,060 --> 00:01:14,869 Let’s listen to our first example of signpost language. As you listen, think about the function 11 00:01:14,869 --> 00:01:21,639 of what the speaker says. Why is this language being used and what type of information is 12 00:01:21,639 --> 00:01:22,639 being given? 13 00:01:22,639 --> 00:01:27,549 "In the lecture today we’ll look at nuclear fusion reactions" 14 00:01:27,549 --> 00:01:35,259 So, what did you think? Well, the function of this extract can be described as giving 15 00:01:35,259 --> 00:01:37,829 the subject of the talk. 16 00:01:37,829 --> 00:01:42,829 A speaker could use this pattern of words at the start of a talk to let the audience 17 00:01:42,829 --> 00:01:49,850 know what the overall subject of the presentation will be. It makes the audience feel more sure 18 00:01:49,850 --> 00:01:55,139 that they are in the right room and listening to what they wanted to hear about. 19 00:01:55,139 --> 00:02:01,840 It also helps understanding by setting a context for the talk, so the audience may start predicting 20 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,469 some of the vocabulary and content that they might hear. 21 00:02:05,469 --> 00:02:09,100 Let’s look at one more example. 22 00:02:09,100 --> 00:02:11,240 "Now let’s turn to the question of...." 23 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:17,860 ‘Now let’s turn to..’ is one of the many ways in which a speaker can signal that 24 00:02:17,860 --> 00:02:22,420 they are moving on to a new point or topic. 25 00:02:22,420 --> 00:02:27,010 This would be used in the middle of a talk, to tell the listeners that a new topic or 26 00:02:27,010 --> 00:02:32,780 point about the overall lecture subject is going to be introduced and talked about from 27 00:02:32,780 --> 00:02:33,700 now. 28 00:02:33,700 --> 00:02:41,040 So, in terms of the lecture content, the listeners know exactly where the talk is going. If you 29 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:46,930 can understand a wide variety of signpost language you will be able to follow the speaker 30 00:02:46,930 --> 00:02:53,030 more easily and not lose your place. Also, you will be able to predict what is 31 00:02:53,030 --> 00:02:58,510 coming next, which makes understanding a lot easier in the IELTS Listening Test.