VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

In linguistics, a register is a variety of a language used for a particular purpose

or in a particular social setting. The basic example of it is when speaking in a formal
setting. As with other types of language variation, there tends to be a spectrum of
registers rather than a discrete set of obviously distinct varieties-numerous registers
could be identified, with no clear boundaries between them. The term register was first
used by the linguist Thomas Bertram Reid in 1956.

In one prominent model, Martin Joos (1961) describes the five styles in spoken
language registers, they are as follows:

1. Frozen or Static Register – uses printed unchanging language, such as biblical

quotations, often contains archaism.
2. Formal Register – one way participation; no Interruption; technical vocabulary or
exact definitions are important.
3. Consultative register- two-way participation; background information is
provided- prior knowledge is not assumed.
4. Casual Register – in-group friends and acquaintances; no background
information provided. This is common among friends in a social setting.
5. Intimate Register – Non-public; intonation is more important than wording or
grammar. This is common among family members and close friends.

Language register is the level and style of your writing. It should be appropriate for
the situation you are in. The language register determines the vocabulary, structure,
and some grammar in your writing. We use different language registers for different
types of writing, just as we speak differently to various people. Three most common
language registers in writing are the following:

1. Formal Language Register

Formal Language register is more appropriate for professional writing and letters
to a manager or a stranger.
2. Informal Language Register
Informal writing is written in the way one talks to his family or friends. It is used
when one is writing to someone he knows very well. Informal writing includes
personal emails, phone texts, short notes, friendly letters, blogs, diaries, journals
and others.
3. Neutral Language Register
The Neutral Language Register is used with non-emotional topics and
information. Neutral writing is not necessarily formal or informal. It is not usually
negative or positive. A neutral register is used to deliver facts.
 QUESTIONS
1956. 1. The year the term register was first used.

Register 2. A variety of a language used for a particular purpose or in a

particular social setting

Thomas Bertram Reid 3. The linguist who first used the term register

Frozen or Static Register 4. uses printed unchanging language, such as biblical

quotations, often contains archaism

Intimate Register 5. Non-public; intonation is more important than wording or

grammar

Informal Language Register 6. It is written in the way one talks to his family or
friends. It is used when one is writing to someone he knows very well.

Consultative register 7. A spoken language register which is a two-way

participation; background information is provided- prior knowledge is not
assumed.

Formal Language Register 8. It is written in a more appropriate for professional

writing and letters to a manager or a stranger.

Casual Register 9. A spoken language register which is common among friends

in a social setting.

Formal Register 10. one way participation; no Interruption; technical vocabulary

or exact definitions are important.