MODULE 6: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

SELF-ASSESSMENT

Instructions. Write your thoughts about the following questions:

1. Have you been immersed in a foreign land or culture? as a result of this

experience, what changes has it brought you?

- I have been immersed in the culture of Korea, and it’s absolutely obvious that I’m not
the only one. There are many changes that it has brought to me, starting from
supporting their music which is K-pop, copying their fashion style, watching different
shows that have been produced by Koreans, and even eating their own food.

2. Has there been a time when you have offended someone of a different linguistic
and cultural background? what was the situation? how it was resolved?

- So far there are no instances yet wherein I offended someone of a different linguistic
and cultural background, but if something like this happens, what I’m going to do is
apologize sincerely and tell him/her that I’m not aware that the gestures or thing that
made him offended is prohibited or not accepted in their culture.
3. What factors can increase your effectiveness in communicating with people from
other cultures?

- There are many factors that can increase our effectiveness in communicating with
people from other cultures. Firstly, it is best to study the culture of the country you will
visit for instance so that you can avoid doing things that are inappropriate in their
culture. Then in terms of speaking, of course we have to avoid slangs, speak slowly,
and keep your message simple. Lastly, we should maintain etiquette, and listen
attentively when the other speaks.

4. Using the scale below, how would you rate yourself as an intercultural
communicator? why? Excellent = 4; Good=3; Fair=2; Poor=1.

- I would rate myself 4 as an intercultural communicator. Since I’m an introvert person

there are times that I have difficulty in expressing my message making it for the
receiver to understand what I’m saying. In the contrary, I have the awareness to avoid
doing such things that are inappropriate in other culture. I can also maintain my
etiquette while talking to other people and so those who have different culture.
MODULE 6: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

BRITISH ENGLISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH

Instructions. Watch news on BBC and CNN International. Compare the 2 varieties of
English you listened to. Make a list of vocabulary items that each variety uses and provide
their counterparts.

Example: American English: Color British: Colour

CNN INTERNATIONAL (AMERICAN ENGLISH) BBC (BRITISH ENGLISH)

1. center centre

2. favor favour

3. canceled cancelled

4. defense defence

5. meter metre

6.apologize apologise

7. traveled travelled

8.analyze analyse

9. cozy cosy

10. organize organise

MODULE 6: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

LANGUAGE REGISTERS

Instructions: Analyze each utterance – its meaning, context and register. Fill in the table
with your answers.

1. Just a sec, please!

2. Could you please hold on for a while? I will just call her.
3. So sorry for my mistake.
4. Congrats, you made it!
5. Good morning, miss Wurtzbach!

EXAMPLE: Our sincerest congratulations on your forthcoming promotion!

Meaning: Greeting/Congratulating

Context: Attending a formal event

Register: Formal

MEANING CONTEXT OF REGISTER

SITUATION

1. Impolitely asking to Telling a friend to wait for Informal

wait a little while you in a hurry

2. Asking someone to
wait for a short period
of time, especially Conversation on a Formal
someone who you are telephone call
talking to on the
telephone.
Someone made a Informal
3. Saying sorry mistake (relational)

Congratulating someone Informal

4. Congratulating maybe because the
someone receiver got promoted on
a job
5. Casually Greeting (social) Informal
congratulating
someone