NHS Parking Text Analysis

NHS Parking Text Analysis

The sign’s purpose is to inform the receiver of the text of the legal obligations involved in parking in the hospital car park.  The receiver would likely be a visitor to the hospital, so they may be stressed or in a rush.   A large bold font is used for the title: “Terms and Conditions”, which lies on a coloured background; this is designed to attract the reader’s attention, and emphasise the importance of the text.  Below this there is a caption starting with the words “IMPORTANT NOTICE” in capitals, which is also intended to make the reader feel obliged to read the text.  However, it should be noted that this is not in the same large bold font that the title is written in, which could suggest that the author of the text did not want the audience to read it, as this would mean they would have to pay a monetary fine to the author’s organisation.

The lexical content is formal and often contains words related to the law concerning parking.  To accommodate for the audience, who may be stressed and hurried, the text is concise and utterances are shorter than they might be in a different type of text or context.  The author is also legally obligated to explain the legal obligations of the receiver, so they must maintain clarity and ensure that all of the necessary information is present.  At the foot of text there is a paragraph in a smaller font which details the conditions under which the company, Total Parking Solutions (TPS), can be held responsible for any damage to property.  This could be written in a smaller print because it is not necessary for the receiver to read this section unless they are under the circumstances it describes.  It could also be that TPS wishes to avoid legal action, which is less likely to happen if the receiver is ignorant of the law.

Several diagrams have been used to illustrate the points raised in each paragraph, which may be to improve the clarity of the text, which is beneficial to both parties in this context.  As mentioned previously, the receiver may be in a pressured situation, so using diagrams may serve to make the information easier to digest for them.  It should also be noted that several logos have been used, possibly for the purpose of making the text look more official and legitimate.  For example the NHS logo has been used, which may increase the trust the receiver places in the text, considering that the NHS is perceived to be a large, reputable organisation.