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| Public Notice |
Public Notice
a. Definition of Notice
A notice is a very short piece of writing which is usually formal in style. It is widely used by individuals and organizations to announce events and celebrations, births and deaths, occasions like inaugurations or sales, to issue public instructions, to make appeals and to extend invitations besides issue notices of termination to the employees or another way round ie notice of leaving the job from the employee to the employer. (Source: targetstudy.com).
b. Social Function of Public Notice Text
A notice is a formal means of communication. The purpose of a notice is to announce or display information to a specific group of people. In social communication, there are many functions or purposes of Notice text, they are used:
- To give an instruction / to instruct people to….
- To give information / to inform people to….
- To give direction
- To ask people to….
- To advice/to suggest / to recommend people to….
- To remind people to….
- To warn / to give warning
- To ban / to forbid / to prohibit people to…
The purposes of notice text are based on the message written in the notice. Because of the above functions, that’s why in the notice, people use a simple word with a simple font which is written in a placard or notice board.
c. Generic Structure of Public Notice
As stated by Nurdiono (2016), there are three parts of generic structure of public notice: attention gather, information, and closure. The description of each part is depicted below.
d. Attention gather (optional)
Attention gather means using expressions or phrases that can attract readers’ or people’s attention such as Notice, Warning, or Caution.
Example:
- Notice - Turn Cell Phones Off In This Area
- Caution - Do Not Enter
e. Information
Information here can be defined as the messages or information of the text that want to be delivered to people.
Example:
- Notice - Keep Door Closed
f. Closure (optional)
Can you see the closure part in the notice below?
| Please Close The Door When You Exit! Thank You. |
If you can’t see the closure part of the notice above, you should read the short description about what closure is. Closure is an act of closing: the condition of being closed. Closure in notice text can be defined as a closing statement of notice. As its optional characteristic, closure can be omitted or it can be written in the last part of the text. The function of closure is to close the statements of notice. After you read the description of closure, can you now find the closure of notice above?
g. Language Features of Public Notice
1) Using Imperative mood (imperative sentence)
The imperative mood is a verb form which makes a command or a request. For example:
a) Empty the bin, John. (This is a verb in the imperative mood.)
b) b. John empties the bin. (This verb is not in the imperative mood. It is in the indicative mood.) The main verb (i.e., the finite verb) in an imperative sentence will be in the imperative mood. In other words, it will be a command or a polite request.
c) Here are some more examples of verbs in the imperative mood (shaded):
d) Run!
e) Get out!
f) Stop the bleeding.
g) I am going to cross the field. Shout when you see the bull. (I am going is the indicative mood (i.e., just a statement). However, shout is in the imperative mood. {alertInfo}
2) Using Declarative reference
The typical form (structure) of a declarative sentence is:
| Subject | + | Verb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ram | speaks | Chinese. |
The final punctuation is usually a full-stop/period (.).
Declarative sentences can be in positive or negative form, and in any tense as well as notice.
3) Spoken / written language features
In writing notice text, we can use spoken or written language style.
The differences between both features are presented in the following charts.
| Spoken | Spoken and Written | Written |
|---|---|---|
| Use of personal pronouns | Logical structure | Infrequent use of personal pronouns |
| Shorter thought units that are easy to follow | More complicated sentence structures | |
| Greater repetition of words and phrases to emphasize ideas | Cohesive, fluid argument | Repetition of ideas through precise and varied language |
| Colloquial words and contractions create a lively, conversational tone | Formal tone and infrequent use of colloquialisms | |
| Familiar words used to ensure audience understanding | Rich and varied evidence | Rich and precise vocabulary used, regardless of audience |
| Fewer references to previously stated information, i.e. "as mentioned above" | May refer to previously stated information, i.e. "as in the former" |
The chart above describes about the difference between spoken and written language features in writing notice.
• The use of personal pronouns
In spoken language, personal pronouns are often used, yet for written language, they are infrequently used.
• Sentence structure
The sentence structure of spoken language is shorter and easier to follow than the sentence structure in written language.
• How to emphasize ideas
In spoken language style, to emphasize ideas words, repetition and phrases occur more than written style in which the ideas delivered through precise and varied language.
• Tone
Conversational tone is applied in spoken language, whereas in written language it applies formal tone.
• Vocabulary
Familiar words are mostly used in spoken style in order to ensure readers’ understanding, while in written style rich and precise vocabulary is implemented.
• Reference to previously stated information
Fewer references to previously stated information are as the feature of spoken language style such as “as mentioned above”. Yet, in the written style previously stated information may be required such as “as in the former”.
h. Characteristics of Notice Text
Below are the characteristics of notice text:
- Short text (simple words, phrases, or clauses)
- Easy to understand
- Written in capital font
- Mostly use images/pictures
i. Kinds of Notice and their examples
Below is the description of kinds of notice and the examples.
1) Command
Command sentences are used when you are telling someone to do something. Commands usually start with an imperative verb, also known as a 'bossy verb', because they tell someone to do something. Look at the example 1, the word “keep” is an imperative verb, and it tells someone or people to do something.
Example:
- Keep The Door Closed.
- Slow Down.
- Keep the Room Clean.
2) Caution
A caution is a formal warning that is given to a person who has admitted the offence. It is usually used to remind person or reader to be more careful.
Example:
- Caution Wet Floor
- Caution Hot Surface
3) Information
Information means giving information. Information notice provides or gives information or material contained in the notice texts to the readers/people.
Example:
- For Staff Only
- Rest Area
- Bike Route
4) Prohibition
Prohibition is the action of prohibiting or inhibiting or forbidding (or an instance there of) to do something. Therefore, people or readers are not allowed to do the things written in the notices.
Example:
● Pedestrians Prohibited
- No Smoking
- No Parking
- No littering
5) Warning
Warning usually refers to a message informing of danger. It can be in both written and spoken form. It is usually intended to make readers or people becoming aware about the danger condition near them.
Example:
- Warning High Voltage
- Warning Keep Out of Children Reach
- Beware of Pickpockets