Hierarchy & Power
English Language: AQA A Level, topic 3.3.4
Hierarchy and Power - Studies
The last part of occupational language is all to do with a workplace hierarchy and distribution of power.
Thornborrow
- Thornborrow argues that the workplace is built with asymmetrical power. This means that different people have different amounts of power.
- In a school, the following (or similar) power structure exists:
- Headteacher → Deputy headteacher → Assistant headteachers → heads of departments → teachers → support staff → students.
Drew and Heritage
- Drew and Heritage argue that special rules come into play in these hierarchal settings. They say that things work very differently in a workplace than in normal conversation.
- For example, a teacher is more likely to take orders and commands from the headteacher in a workplace environment than if the two were in conversation in a non-workplace environment (like the pub).
Atkinson
- In certain workplaces, the asymmetry is accentuated.
- For example, Atkinson notes that there is hyper-formal turn-taking order in parliament.
Holmes and Stubbe
- Holmes and Stubbe argue that those in higher-power position can downplay or assert authority to alter their status.
Blank
- Blank argues that we change our language in an attempt to fit in with the social situation and to exert influence.
Hierarchy and Power - French and Raven
French and Raven proposed a model of five ‘bases of power’. In this model, there are five distinct types of power used in the workplace. These are as follows:
Legitimate
- A genuine power that someone has.
- For example, a teacher has a legitimate power of a student because the student is a subordinate of the teacher.
Coercive
- A power with the ability to force (or coerce) someone into doing something.
- For example, a headteacher can coerce a teacher into marking in a certain way or to make a student behave.
Reward
- A power with the ability to offer some form of reward in exchange for compliance (or to withhold the reward for a lack of compliance).
- For example, a teacher may give a student a sweet for correctly answering questions.
Referent
- A power based on rapport with people – you may do something because you like that person.
- For example, a teacher may cover another teacher’s lesson because there is a sense of friendship/loyalty between them. To take that the other way, a teacher may agree to cover a lesson to gain referent power.
Expert
- A power formed from superior knowledge.
- For example, you listen to your teacher because they have the knowledge which you need.
Test yourself on Hierarchy & Power
Power Structure Within a School
Where does Atkinson note that there is hyper-formal turn-taking order?
A teacher giving a student a sweet for correctly answering questions is an example of what type of power according to French and Raven?