The channel or medium of communication (spoken vs written) is described by which term?

• A. Mode
• B. Field
• C. Tenor
• D. ESL

Answer: (A)

Mode is the term that describes how a message is conveyed—the channel or medium, such as spoken versus written. This concept captures how the form of communication shapes language choices: spoken mode tends to be more interactive, with shorter sentences, interruptions, and cues like intonation and pace, while written mode favors more formal structure, longer sentences, and explicit cohesion. In systemic-functional terms, mode sits with field (what’s happening) and tenor (the relationships and roles of participants) as fundamental dimensions that influence how language is used. The other options don’t refer to channel: field is about the topic or situation, tenor about social relationships and power, and ESL is a label for English language learning, not a linguistic category of discourse.