BILL BRYSON - NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND

Bill Bryson's 'notes from a small island' is an adjective packed piece of travel writing. Bryson uses subject specific language to convey his knowledge of travelling and to entice the reader. He doesn't use colloquial language as he wants to come across as professional to the reader and when giving opinions slang is rarely used. This tells us that his audience is mainly adult as this type of text is unlikely to appeal to a younger audience, especially if a formal register is used throughout. Bryson uses words such as 'dazzling' and 'wobbling' to paint an image in the readers minds. This is also used to create a closer relationship between the reader and writer as the reader can feel as though they are they experiencing things with the writer.

Another way Bryson makes the audience feel personally included is through his anecdotes and reflections. 'I went to Chancery Lane' is an example of this as it makes the audience feel like they're on a journey with Bryson himself. His use of phonology also makes the reader feel included as they can imagine the sounds as he describes them, 'painfully noisy street'. 

Complex and extended sentences are used frequently to convey as much information as possible. As travel writing is opinionated and used to almost give a review on a place, structure is used in the most efficient way to pack in as much knowledge as possible. This text doesn't feature any short sentences for effect as the purpose isn't to be dramatic but it is to inform and entertain.