Final answer:
Tone, the writer's or speaker's attitude conveyed in writing or speech, is heavily influenced by audience and purpose, which align the language and style used to the intended message and target listeners or readers. The correct answer to how tone and its resultant meanings are influenced is d) Audience and purpose.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "Tone and its resultant meanings are heavily influenced by: a) Language and context b) Structure and style c) Theme and thesis d) Audience and purpose" relates to how tone is perceived in writing or speech. Tone, which is the writer's or speaker's attitude as conveyed through their work, can vary significantly depending on various factors. One of the key aspects that influence tone includes the writer's language choices and the overall context within which the communication takes place.
In addition to this, the audience and purpose are crucial in shaping tone. An awareness of the audience helps in choosing appropriate substance and language that is best suited for the readers or viewers, thus impacting the tone. The work's purpose, whether to inform, persuade, or entertain, also plays a critical role in the establishment of tone.
The style of the narration, which involves word choice, coherence, conciseness, and correctness, is another element that contributes to a piece's tone. For instance, an argumentative essay for an English composition class may require a formal and persuasive tone, while a personal email might use an informal or colloquial tone.
Ultimately, we can conclude that the answer to the question is d) Audience and purpose, as these fundamentally affect how tone is crafted and perceived, aligning the language and style of writing to the writer's intended message and the listeners or readers it is addressed to.