LANGUAGE REGISTERS

Register is defined as the level of formality in language that's determined by the context
in which it is spoken or written. It can be formal or informal. Formal speech is proper, while
informal speech is conversational or casual.

Factors affecting the use of LANGUAGE REGISTERS

1. Audience
- describes the group listening to the speaker.
- when it comes to this we need to understand that different audiences required
differing types of language.
2. Topic
- describes what is being discussed
- different subject areas in school and differing topic require different styles of speech
and writing.
3. Purpose
- describes the intentions of each speaker (both what they intend to communicate
and how they intend to communicate it).
- To inform, argue, persuade, describe, narrate, and share cause and effect.
4. Location
- can and often thus dictate the appropriate register to use.

Language Registers in Spoken Language

 Frozen/ Static

- it refers to historic language or communication that is intended to remain unchanged, like a

constitution or a prayer. This register rarely or never changes.

- This style of communications RARELY or NEVER changes. It is “frozen” in time and content. e.g.
the Pledge of Allegiance, the Lord’s Prayer, the Preamble to the US Constitution, the Alma
Mater, a bibliographic reference, laws .

Examples:

The Holy Bible, The United States Constitution, The Bhagavad Gita, and Romeo and Juliet

 Formal
- is used in professional, academic, or legal settings where communication is expected to be
respectful, uninterrupted, and restrained. Slang is never used and contractions are rare.

- This language is used in formal settings and is one-way in nature. This use of language usually
follows a commonly accepted format. It is usually impersonal and formal. A common format for
this register are speeches. e.g. sermons, rhetorical statements and questions, speeches,
pronouncements made by judges,  announcements.

Examples:

a TED talk, a business presentation, the Encyclopedia Brittanica, and Gray's Anatomy by Henry
Gray

 Consultative

- is used in conversation when they are speaking with someone who has specialized knowledge
or who is offering advice. Tone is often respectful (use of courtesy titles), but may be more
casual if the relationship is longstanding or friendly.

This is a standard form of communications. Users engage in a mutually accepted structure of

communications. It is formal and societal expectations accompany the users of this speech. It is
professional discourse. e.g. when strangers meet, communications between a superior and a
subordinate, doctor & patient, lawyer & client, lawyer & judge, teacher & student, counselor &
client,

- It is in between formal and casual

Examples:

the local TV news broadcast, an annual physical examination, a service provider like a plumber

 Casual

- is used when they are with friends, close acquaintances and co-workers, and family.

- Conversational in tone
- This is informal language used by peers and friends. Slang, vulgarities and colloquialisms are
normal. This is “group” language. One must be member to engage in this register. e.g. buddies,
teammates, chats and emails, and blogs, and letters to friends.

Examples:

a birthday party, at a club with friends

 Intimate Register
- is reserved for special occasions, usually between only two people and often in private.

This communications is private. It is reserved for close family members or intimate people. e.g.
husband & wife, boyfriend & girlfriend, siblings, parent & children.

Examples:

an inside joke between two college friends or a word whispered in a lover's ear.

LANGUAGE REGISTERS IN WRITTEN LANGUAGE

Formal Language Register

- is more appropriate for professional writing and letters to a boss or a stranger -is impersonal,
meaning, it is not written for a specific person and without emotion.

Examples:

 Business Letters
 Letters of complaint
 Some essays
  Reports
 Official speeches
 Announcements
 Professional emails

Rules of the formal language register:

1. Do not use contractions

- Contractions are not usually used in formal writing, even though they are very common in
spoken English. In formal writing, you should spell out contractions.

2. Spell out numbers less than one hundred

3. Write in third person point of view

- In formal writing, we usually do not use first person or second person unless it is a quote.
( that way it would seem more objective)

4. Avoid using too much passive voice

- In formal writing it is better to use an active voice.

5. Avoid using slang, idioms, exaggeration (hyperboles) and clichés

-Slang is common in informal writing and spoken English. Slang is particular to a certain region
or area.

6. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms

If you use an acronym or abbreviation, write it out the first time

When using acronyms, write the entire name out the first time it appears, followed by the
acronym. From then on, you can use the acronym by itself.

Examples:

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT)

Examples of slang:

awesome/cool

okay/ok

check it out

in a nutshell
7. Do not start sentences with words like and, so, but, also

8. Always write in complete sentences.

9. Write longer, more complex sentences.

Informal Language Register

- is conversational and appropriate when writing to friends and people you know very well.

Informal writing is written in the way we talk to our friends and family. We use informal
writing when we are writing to someone we know very well.

Examples:

a. personal e-mails e. most blogs

b. phone texts f. diaries and journals

c. short notes

Neutral Language Register

- is not necessarily formal or informal.

- is used to deliver facts.

Examples:

a. reviews

b. articles

Two Factors that distinguish spoken from written language:

1. the actual situation or context

2. the purpose of communication

Let's look closely at the three most common language registers used in the English language.
FORMAL LANGUAGE REGISTER

Formal writing is probably the most difficult type of writing. It is impersonal, meaning it
is not written for a specific person and is written without emotion.

Some kinds of writing are always written in formal English.

Formal writing includes:

Business Letters

Letters of complaint

Some essays

Reports

Official speeches

Announcements

Professional emails

There are many rules for writing in formal writing. We will discuss some of the most common
rules here..

Rules of the formal language register:

1. Do not use contractions

2. Spell out numbers less than one hundred

3. Write in third person point of view

4. Avoid using too much passive voice

5. Avoid using slang, idioms, exaggeration (hyperboles) and clichés

6. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms

7. Do not start sentences with words like and, so, but, also

8. Always write in complete sentences.

9. Write longer, more complex sentences.

INFORMAL LANGUAGE REGISTER

Informal writing is written in the way we talk to our friends and family. We use informal
writing when we are writing to someone we know very well.

Some kinds of writing can be written in an informal style.

NEUTRAL LANGUAGE REGISTER

We use the neutral language register with non-emotional topics and information.

Neutral writing is not necessarily formal or informal. It is not usually positive or

negative. A neutral register is used to deliver facts.

Some writings are written in a neutral register. This means they are not specifically
formal or informal.

JARGON

Jargon refers to the specialized language of a professional or occupational group. Such

language is often meaningless to outsiders.

BIAS-FREE LANGUAGE

Here are some general principles to follow when referring to different groups or
categories:

1. Gender and Sexual Orientation

 To be inclusive of all people in general references, one should favor gender-
neutral words and phrases over gender-biased words

Gender-biased examples: Each student should submit his term paper by Monday.

Restatement: Each student should submit a term paper by Monday.

Plural construction: Students should submit their term papers by Monday.

Use of “you” : You should submit your term paper by Monday.

2. Race and Ethnicity

Racism is a form of discrimination against a person or persons of different

race. In general, it is best to avoid identifying people by race or ethnic group.

a) Words that reinforce stereotypes and that imply all people of a

particular race or ethnic group care the same should be avoided.

b) One should be attuned to the current terminology by which racial and

ethnic groups refer t themselves.

c) It is also important to be sensitive to religion when referring to various

ethnic groups.

3. Age

Ageism is a form of discrimination against other people because of their age, or

assuming that older people are less physically, intellectually or emotionally able than
other age groups.

4. Disabilities

When referring to people with disability, the focus should be on the person,
not the condition.

USING SPECIFIC AND CONCRETE DICTION

 Writing teachers often tell their students to "show--don't tell." To make your writing
effective, "show" something to readers that they can imaginatively experience; don't just "tell"
readers an abstract idea.

For example, the two sentences below, both conveying the same basic idea.

Abstract "Telling"

Even a large male gorilla, unaccustomed to tourists, is frightened by people.

Concrete "Showing"

"A four-hundred-pound male [gorilla], unaccustomed to tourists, will bolt

into the forest, trailing a stream of diarrhea, at the mere sight of a person."

1) Abstract and Concrete Diction

Abstract Diction

Abstract diction refers to words that do not appeal imaginatively to the reader's senses.

Concrete Diction

Concrete diction refers to words that stimulate some kind of sensory response in the
reader:

2) General and Specific Diction

General Diction

What do you imaginatively "see" when you read the following sentence: "The
dog jumped on top of the car"?

Specific Diction

Now, what do you imaginatively "see" what you read this sentence: "The Saint
Bernard jumped on top of the red corvette"?

3) Be Specific!

Specific diction will help ensure that the meaning you intend is exactly the meaning that
readers receive.

4) Use the Right Words, not the Almost-Right Words!

 Some composition and writing experts argue that writers should write with verbs and
nouns, avoiding the use of adverbs and adjectives (those words that "modify," or change, verbs
and nouns). If you use the right verbs and nouns, there should be no need to modify them into
something else.

Characteristics of Spoken Language

Spoken language is mostly maintained in the form of a dialogue.

Spoken language utilizes human voice and all kinds of gestures.

It presupposes the presence of an interlocutor

Spoken language is spontaneous but momentary.

It widely uses intensifying words.

Characterized by the insertion of “fill-ups”.

ex. “uhm”, “well”, “so”, “and”

Varieties of Spoken Language

Interactional - social function

Referential - objects or abstract concepts

Expressive -judgments or feelings

Transactional - driven by needs and wants ▪ Phatic - small, plain talk

Characteristics of Written Language

It presupposes the absence of interlocutor.

It is maintained in the form of monologue.

It is more carefully organized and more explanatory.

It is able to live forever with the idea it expresses.

The writer has an opportunity to correct and improve it.

It bears a greater volume of responsibility than its counterpart.

Language varies from one location to another, from one culture to another and from one
situation to another. We use different varieties and registers of language to suit different
communication context. In writing, we need to use specialized features of words to clearly
convey the message. It is now the responsibility of reader or the receiver on how he/she will be
going to interpret the message.

This is not possible when it comes to speaking. The receiver can easily understand the message
through the speaker’s level of voice, facial expression and body language. Therefore, varieties
and registers of language is about appropriateness and context in speaking and grammatical
correctness of words in writing. It is also important to use appropriate varieties and registers of
language in a certain communication context in order for us to determine the level of
‘formality’. We can now easily know on how we are going to approach and deal with a certain
person in a certain situation with a certain purpose with the correct expression and correct
manner.

References:

http://genconnection.com/English/ap/LanguageRegisters.htm

https://www.really-learn-english.com/language-register.html