Unit 4

4.2 Key concepts

Look at this table. What do you think an ʻexponentʼ is?

Context Exponent Function

A boy wants to go to the cinema ʻLetʼs go to the Suggesting / making a

with his friend tonight. He says: cinema tonight.ʼ suggestion about going to
the cinema

A girl meets some people for the ʻHello. My nameʼs Introducing yourself
first time. She wants to get to know Emilia.ʼ
them. She says:

A customer doesnʼt understand ʻSorry, what do Asking for clarification

what a shop assistant has just said. you mean?ʼ (asking someone to explain
The customer says: something)

A girl writes a letter to a relative ʻThank you so Thanking someone for a

thanking her for a birthday present. much for my lovely present
She writes: …ʼ

The language we use to express a function is called an exponent. The sentences in the
middle column in the table above are examples of exponents. In the third column, the
functions are underlined. You can see from the table that we use the -ing forms of
verbs (e.g. suggesting, asking) to name functions. The words after the function in the
third column are not the function. They are the specific topics that the functions refer to
in these contexts.

An exponent can express different functions at the same time. It all depends on the
context it is used in. For example, think of the exponent ʻIʼm so tiredʼ. This could be an
exponent of the function of describing feelings. But who is saying it?

from The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3 Online by Mary Spratt, Alan Pulverness and Melanie Williams
© Cambridge University Press 2011
Who is he/she saying it to? Where is he/she saying it?, i.e. what is the context in which
it is being said? Imagine saying ʻIʼm so tiredʼ in the following different contexts:

Context Possible function

A boy talking to his mother while he does his Requesting (asking) to stop doing
homework homework

A patient talking to his doctor Describing a physical state

One exponent can express several different functions because its function depends on
the context. One function can also be expressed through different exponents. Here are
five different exponents of inviting someone to lunch. In what different situations would
you use them?
   
Informal  
 
Lunch?
Coming for lunch?
Come for lunch with us?
Why donʼt you come for lunch with us?
Would you like to come to lunch with us?
 

We would be very pleased if you could join us for lunch.

   
Formal  
 
These exponents express different levels of formality, i.e. more or less relaxed ways
of saying things. Generally speaking, formal (more socially distant) language is used in
more official and important situations amongst people who do not know each other very
well. Informal (more socially casual) language often occurs in relaxed situations,
amongst friends, people who know each other well or treat each other in a relaxed way.
Informal exponents are sometimes colloquial, i.e. very casual and conversational, such
as Heʼs off his head, i.e. crazy. There are also neutral exponents which we use when
we want to show neither great respect nor too much casualness towards the person we
are talking to. They fall between formal and informal. ʻWhy donʼt you come for lunch with
us?ʼ is an example of a neutral exponent.

from The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3 Online by Mary Spratt, Alan Pulverness and Melanie Williams
© Cambridge University Press 2011
People usually choose to use the level of formality that suits a situation. This is called
appropriacy. A teacher greeting her class could choose to say ʻIʼd like to wish you all a
very good morningʼ or ʻHi, guys!ʼ. Both of these are likely to be inappropriate
(unsuitable) in many classroom situations, the first because it is too formal and the
second because it is too informal. It would probably be appropriate (suitable) for the
teacher to say ʻGood morning, everyoneʼ or something similar. Of course, we
sometimes use inappropriate language on purpose to create some effect, e.g. a shop
assistant using great formality with a customer may be signalling that he would like the
customer to leave. Language that reflects the situation in which it is used is often
referred to as register. ʻHiʼ is an example of informal register, ʻA very good morning to
youʼ an example of formal register.

from The TKT Course Modules 1, 2 and 3 Online by Mary Spratt, Alan Pulverness and Melanie Williams
© Cambridge University Press 2011