Far Eastern University

Section 38 Monday 9:00am-10:30am/GED0115

3rd Formative Assessment

Presented by:
Balanquit, Ryan Jr.
Bruel, Jayr
Co, Tom Anjelo Eda
Estrada, Faith Alexandra
Patropez, Alfred
Salazar, Gabriel Anthony
Sales, Arah
Idiolect/Speech Variety

Language is a very powerful medium of communication that each individual uses daily to
exchange information with one another. According to Global Recordings Network, speech
variety is a collective name and is represented by a unique speech variety code. It is classified
into three namely language, dialects, and undetermined speech varieties. 
All languages exhibit a hefty deal of variation which means to say that each language
exists in a number of varieties. As stated by the Ethnologue, there are various ways to determine
a language. For instance, when two communicating individuals understand each other, it means
that they are using the same language. 
According to The Virtual Linguistic Campus, we might have degrees of intelligibly so
many communications systems are classified as different languages even though the speakers
may understand each other. In order to define what language is, we cannot use the criterion of
intelligibly.
Dialects is a specific variety of a language that requires efforts to overcome barriers of
understanding (Global Recording Network).  It is a regional variety of language distinguished by
features of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation from other regional varieties and
constituting together with them a single language. (Merriam Webster, 2020)
We have levels of intelligibly, that is speech versus writing, lexis versus syntax. We
might have degrees of intelligibly so many communications systems are classified as different
languages even though the speakers may understand each other more or less. In order to define
what language is, we cannot use the criterion of intelligibly.
There are three main types of variety or dialects which are regional, social and
phonological dialects. For example, degrees of rhoticity is a distinctive criterion for the
identification of one’s regional background in English. On the other hand, when two people
speak with one another with respect to social dialects, their language is always influenced by a
number of social factors, for example, the relationship of two socially different organized people,
their varieties were influenced by social factors. And lastly, the phonological dialect, or we
might even call it the accent. 
As mentioned by Fatchul Mu’in (2008), a variety of speech may be a national language
but may also refer to a regional or social dialect or to specific varieties such as register, style,
speech levels, and lingua franca. This can be supported by Ammour (2012), wherein she stated
that language is used in various forms to convey information, thoughts, emotions and feelings, as
well as, to communicate messages between two different speakers, and to inform about their
social and geographical background. 

Register
This is a specific variety of languages in which the sets of vocabulary used by an
individual are associated with their respective social and occupational classes. Occupational
differences result in distinct linguistic variety. Registers are characterized primarily by the
vocabulary differences of individuals and not by some certain words. Just like how the varieties
of the language in law or in engineering and even in medicine. 
 Style
Style is another variety of languages that can be divided into two parts: formal and
informal and are based on different situations. Formal speech is used for ceremonial occasions
while informal speech is the communication that we use everyday in casual talks with
colleagues, friends, and schoolmates. The degree of formality selected to a number of factors
such as the different kinds of occasion, the various age, social, and other differences, specific
tasks involved, and emotional involvement.
Speech Levels
The two types of speech levels are honorific speech levels and the non-respective speech
levels. Speech levels are based on the speaker’s social background and speech situation. 
Lingua Franca 
As mentioned by Fatchul Mu’in, “lingua franca is a language which is used habitually by
people whose mother tongues are different in order to facilitate communication between”. One
example of a lingua franca today is English which serves as the means of communication for
those who have different native languages.

Idiolect Speech
While a variety of speech exists, there are also idiolects.  To further understand it, this
paper will first dissect the word itself. Wright D. (2018) states that it came from two morphemes,
“idio” meaning “private, own, personal, distinct” and “lect” meaning a “social variety of
language”. (Idiolect, Oxford Bibliographies) From this, we can deduce that while we as a
society/ country have a language that we all collectively use, idiolect is subjective. It is how you
tend to use that language in your own way as a speaker. Therefore, no idiolects are the same as
other people. That’s because idiolect is a sort of language repertoire for yourself only.  Like for
example, GMA Reporter, Mike Enriquez always regularly saying the words “excuse me po!”
Whenever he needed to cough or sneeze during a report. That is his idiolect. According to
Oxford Bibliographies (2018) , Idiolect is a unique individual language, from the level of
ideographs to the level of discussion. An idiolect includes the uses of appropriate language to
your various interests, pronunciations and such. The use of idiolect is within the individual. They
are the ones who are making their own “idiolects” like when a person uses “ganda” in his/her
pronunciations with a different distinction, it means that a person uses his/her idiolect.
 A well-developed idiolect can be a great tool for communication. Individuals have their
own way of speaking and we call it idiolects. It consists of words we tend to use including the
way we speak, the speed, and pitch of it. Since there exist different idiolects per individual, there
may be greater/lesser idiolects among them. There are greater/ lesser idiolect because Wright D.
(2018) states that idiolects derives from different sources like language encounters and life
experiences like education, the book you read, the song you listened to, talking with a teacher, a
parent, and many more. Without these life experiences and encounters, your idiolect would not
develop with how you use language. Idiolect is then unstable because as you gain more
experiences, your perspective of how you use language or your repertoire also develops. This
greater/ lesser idiolect may be the reason why there are miscommunications and
misinterpretations of language. Sometimes, it can be hard for some people who cannot
understand this idiolect because some of them don’t have enough knowledge that people might
misinterpret and misunderstood it.  Many reasons why communicating is hard when it comes to
this. We exposed too much to the different variety of sources such as in television, the internet,
family, and friends. For example, the media affects our idiolect without even realizing. TV
shows, music, commercials, etc. can affect us in so many ways. The way Mrs. Charo Santos
speaks, the way Gas Abelgas’ reports and many more that are commonly known for their tone
that became a trademark.
Having similar idiolect allows us for easier communication. But the most important thing
is to have wide knowledge about it including the expression and phrases in order to reduce
miscommunication. The purpose of idiolect is to distinguish how individuals speak in their own
way from one person to another. Idiolect is a language that is unique to individuals. Linguistics
use idiolects to study different speech from one person to another. Knowing these aspects can
help individuals to understand the way individuals speak. 
References
Ammour, N. (2012). DEMOCRATIC AND POPULAR REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA. Retrieved from
http://dspace.univ-tlemcen.dz/bitstream/112/2041/1/na3oum%20thesis.pdf

Callaghan, J. (n.d.). My idiolect. Retrieved from https://prezi.com/imbxrhgwhkjr/my-idiolect/

Merriam Webster. (2020, March 1). Retrieved from https://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/dialect: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dialect

Mu'in, F. (2008, October 31). Retrieved from English Dept of FKIP Unlam:
https://pbingfkipunlam.wordpress.com/2008/10/18/varieties-.Varieties of Language.English
Dept of FKIP Unlam.October31,2008.Access:02/01/2020.

Nordquist, R. (2019, April 1). Definition and Examples of a Lingua Franca. Retrieved from Thought.Co:
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-lingua-franca-1691237

The Virtual Linguistics Campus. (2012, March 3). Retrieved from youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji6vURnWfrk&fbclid=Iw AR0cr_E5Y9xexI4C-
rlmQ_w_yYm6yrtumMCh7StDPkXO-Neb6no2AfV40yM

Wright, D. (2018, November 29). Oxford Bibliographies. Retrieved from

https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199772810/obo-
9780199772810-0225.xml?
fbclid=IwAR2_fSodQ5pEBk0cfDJ96L8WChrns3FHEM_Ni1bcPel_63DHgxFj93wumJ0