MODULE 3:

VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN

AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
 WR I TTE N TWO VARIETIES SPOKEN
L AN G UAG E OF LANGUAGE LANGUAGE
lacks immediacy of meaning
spontaneous & simultaneous
corrected and rectified
DIFFERENTIATED BY: form of dialogue
organized and word choice q SETTING
q PURPOSE momentary & ephemeral
is more deliberate
”the idea remains but the
lives forever with the idea it
language disappears”
expresses (?)
claimed to be “genuine”
can be detached from the
compared to written
user and can be viewed
from multiple perspectives
closer to thought
LANGUAGE VARIETIES

LANGUAGE VARIETY is a specific

set of linguistic items or human
speech patterns
q sounds
q words
q grammatical features
which can be associated with
some external factor
(geographical area or a social
group)
VARIETIES OF SPOKEN LANGUAGE
PIDGIN
q two or more speakers of different languages with no
common language
q makeshift communication bridge
q no formal grammatical structures can be established
q this is nobody’s native language (L1) but becomes the
group’s second language (L2)
q imperialism, colonialism, trade & business
q used in limited speech situations
CREOLE
q was once a pidgin; “nativized”; has become the group’s
native language
q distinct language with fully developed vocabulary and
patterned formal grammar from its chief lexifier
REGIONAL DIALECTS
q NOT a distinct language but different variations
of the same language
q regional/vernacular language is different from
regional dialects
q geography, population movement, diaspora
q dialects can soon evolve into a language
MINORITY DIALECTS
q a dialect of a language used as a marker of identity by
a particular ethic group

INDIGENIZED VARIETY
q are spoken mainly as second languages in ex-colonies
with multilingual populations
FUNCTIONS OF WRITTEN LANGUAGE

Written Language
It includes both reading and writing.
It serves as the point of reference for the spoken language.
It requires basic and advanced language abilities.

To keep records
To trade with property and owning, and taxation
To study mathematical, scientific, and astronomical knowledge
To perform ceremonial and religious beliefs
To appreciate literature
 WRITTEN LANGUAGE SPOKEN LANGUAGE DISTINCTIONS
EXTRA LINGUAL OF SPOKEN
INFORMATION deliberate and slow spontaneous and simultaneous AND WRITTEN
delayed feedback easier to decode and reckon LANGUAGE
FEEDBACK invisible nonverbal component visible nonverbal component

GRAMMATICAL rigid structures; well-punctuated incomplete structures

FEATURES concise and direct flowing and spilling ideas

prone to informal language, non-

formal and precise specific references, fillers, and
VOCABULARY code-switching
pauses, intonation, tone, mood is
PHONOLOGICAL conveyed through punctuations tone, intonation, pitch
FEATURE

controlled; serves as a substitute to involves more than just

spoken alternative communication functions
FUNCTION
LANGUAGE REGISTERS

LANGUAGE REGISTERS are sets of

vocabulary items associated with
distinct occupational or social groups.
The unique way one uses language
based on circumstances.
q physical context
q social occasion
q context
q audience
Stylistic Variation refers to the
degrees of formality used by
communicators i.e. codes.
SPEECH REGISTERS
FROZEN OR STATIC REGISTER
q literally “frozen” in time and form; remains unchanged
q does not change; memorized, repeated and ceremonious
q religious verses, prayers, rituals, incantations
FORMAL REGISTER
q structured; adheres to formal qualities of spoken and
written language
q formal speeches, pronouncements by judges, technical
reports
CASUAL REGISTER
q conversational in tone; uses slang, colloquial and informal
language
q free and easy participation
FROZEN:
Our Father, which art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done,
in earth as it is in heaven […]
FORMAL:
“Toyota’s sales bounced back in March as
substantial discounts helped to win back
customers who had been shaken by the firm’s
mass safety recalls.”

CASUAL:
“Did you see Toyota’s sales figures? Looks like
the discounts have actually worked.”
CONSULTATIVE REGISTER
q used when consulting an expert
q a certain degree of politeness is maintained

INTIMATE REGISTER
q used between participants of extreme closeness
q extensive shared background with one another
q economy of words, high incidence of nonverbal gestures
Identify the type of speech style
appropriate for the following situations.

1. Talking to a counselor or psychiatrist

2. Giving last-minute instructions to players
3. Delivering campaign speeches
4. Delivering a speech at the UN Summit
5. Reading news reports
6. Having a heart-to-heart talk with a loved one
7. Leading a prayer before meal
8. Talking to a superior
9. Talking to a stranger
10.Inquiring at a hotel
 SPOKEN REGISTERS WRITTEN REGISTERS

SPEECH

NEWS REPORTS

NEWS EDITORIALS
DIALOGUE MONOLOGUE

RESEARCH ARTICLES

TEXTBOOKS
1-1
PUBLIC UNSCRIPTED SCRIPTED
DIALOGUE
KEY TAKEAWAY:

As users of language, we are

constantly shaping and molding
language to achieve our intended
effect and respond to our needs. The
varieties and registers of language are
the proof of this human behavior of
language manipulation.

Language is a living and evolving

entity.