Final answer:
The audience of a letter can be identified by understanding who the letter is intended for and who else might read it, such as secondary audiences. These can range from a company's human resources department to potential clients or even the general public, depending on the letter's purpose.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of this question revolves around determining the intended audience for a particular letter. When we speak of the audience in writing, it refers to the group of individuals for whom the content is being created and who are expected to read it. It's crucial to consider not just the primary audience but also secondary audiences that might encounter the text. This could include people outside of the formal recipient group.
For instance, in a college setting, the primary audience might be an instructor and classmates. However, one must also be aware of secondary audiences such as other students, teachers, and professionals in the field who might come across the work. In a broader context, like a speech given at a university commencement that is intended for national awareness, the intended audience extends beyond the immediate listeners to the general public or my fellow Americans.
Each option provided in the initial question could represent a different primary audience based on the content and purpose of the letter:
Human Resources department: likely for internal communication regarding company policies or employee matters.
Company executives: could be addressed in a report or proposal aimed at decision-making.
Potential clients: would be the audience for a sales pitch or business proposal.
General public: audience for public announcements or information campaigns.