PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION
REGIONAL DIALECT
VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN
LANGUAGE
LANGUAGE VARIETIES
A specific set of linguistic terms or human
speech pattern (sound, words, grammatical
features) which can be associated with some
external factors (geographical area, social
group).
DIFFERENT KINDS OF LANGUAGE VARIETIES:
• Pidgin
• Creole
• Regional Dialect
• Minority Dialect
• Indigenized Variety
PIDGIN
Pidgin is a new language which develops in
situations where speakers of different languages
need to communicate but don’t share a common
language. The vocabulary of a pidgin comes
mainly from one language.
example:
conyo – it has a colloquial meaning that differs
from its Spanish origin, and isn’t vulgar at all.
AS said in the definition above, it refers to the
way of speak Taglish and/or with an English
accent, usually associated with upper-dass
citizens because such is the stereotype in Filipino
pop culture.
CREOLE
When people and children start learning a pidgin
as their first language and it becomes the
mother tongue of a community, it becomes a
creole.
It is a distinct language which has taken most of
its vocabulary from another language, but has
its own unique grammatical rules.
example:
Chavacano or Chabacano [tfaẞa'kano] refers to
several Spanish-based creole language varieties
spoken in the Philippines. Chavacano. Chavacano
or Philippine Creole Spanish is a Spanish-based
creole spoken in parts of the Philippines,
especially in and around the city of Zamboanga,
by over 600,000 people. There are also speakers
of the Zamboanga dialect of Chavacano in
Sempornah, Malaysia.
GE 105
It is not a distinct language but a variety of a
language spoken in a particular area of a
country.
Some regional dialects have been given
traditional names which mark. them out as being
significantly different from standard varieties
spoken in the same place.
MINORITY DIALECT
Sometimes, members of a particular minority
ethnic group have their own variety which they
use as marker of identity, usually alongside a
standard variety.
INDIGENIZED VARIETY
These are mainly spoken as second languages in
ex-colonies with multilingual populations. The
differences from the standard variety may be
linked to English proficiency, or may be a part
of a range of varieties used to express identity.
LANGUAGE REGISTERS
• The perceived attitude and level of
formality associated with a variety of
language
• A variety of language used in a particular
social setting, using certain words,
phrases, and contractions that are not
normally used in other settings (or if they
may sound strange or out of place)
• We all speak differently in different
situations. These ways of speaking are
called registers of language. You change
your language behavior depending on which
language community you are engaging.
MAJOR DIVISIONS OF LANGUAGE REGISTER
1. Formal
2. Informal
FORMAL REGISTER
Appropriate for professional writing such as:
• Business Letter
• Complaint Letter
• Reports
• Official speeches
• Announcements
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION GE 105
RULES OF THE FORMAL LANGUAGE REGISTER IN
WRITING
• Chatting with friends and family
FORMAL LANGUAGE DOES NOT USE CONTRACTIONS • Diaries and journals
— Contraction refers to the shortening o a • Friendly Letters
word, syllable, or word group by omission • Personal e-mails
of a sound or letter • Phone texts
— Instead of using “don’t” in a sentence, • Messenger conversations
use “do not”, spell out the words • Short notes
• Blogs/ vlogs
— Contractions can be use if you are
quoting someone’s exact words in your COMMON INFORMAL REGISTERS
writing
FORMAL LANGUAGE DOES NOT USE COLLOQUIALISMS • Slangs and clichés
• Figurative language
— Colloquialism refers to local or dialect • Symbols and abbreviations
expression or language which is common
to spoken English • Acronyms
— As much as possible use the appropriate • Incomplete sentences
and formal words in formal writing • Short sentences
• Personal opinions
FORMAL LANGUAGE FOCUSES MORE ON • Jokes
VOCABULARY CHOICE
for example: JARGON
(Informal) The research assistant checked out — refers to the specialized language of a
the incident and got back to him the next day. professional or occupational group. Such
(Formal) The research assistant investigated language is often meaningless to
the incident and reported to him the following outsiders.
day COLLOQUIALISMS (PAMBANSA)
FORMAL LANGUAGE SPELLS OUT NUMBERS LESS — The everyday use of language,
THAN ONE HUNDRED commonplace parlance or vernacular
for example: language that lends people their identity
Nineteen, twenty-two — The informal use of language consisting
words or expressions used by common
FORMAL LANGUAGE OBSERVES THE USE OF people
CAPITALIZATION AND AVOIDS ABBREVIATION — Ex. Kano, Ewan, Teka
for example: SLANG (PABALBAL)
Commission of Higher Education
Department of Education — The usage of language, especially by
certain groups of people such as
FORMAL LANGUAGE MAKES USE OF COMPLEX teenagers, and specific fields or
SENTENCE STRUCTURES professions
for example: — More informal than colloquial Language
— Used in any culture or society
(Simple Structure) In 2001, the bridge was built.
This was good politically. Two countries united. — Ex. Yosi, Omsim, Syota
(Complex Structure) The bridge was completed Colloquial Slang
in 2001, which resulted in a positive political Informal language Informal use of
move that united two countries. used by people in language by certain
everyday speech groups of people,
specifically
INFORMAL REGISTER teenagers, etc.
Use conversational language and appropriate Vocabulary may last Vocabulary is created
when writing or talking to friends and people longer by the users; thus, it
you know very well such as: is most likely to
change with time
 PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION GE 105
Used by ordinary Used by certain
people in their daily groups such as
speech teenagers
LEVELS OF THE REGISTERS OF LANGUAGE
INTIMATE REGISTER
— This communication is private.
— It is reserved for close family members or
intimate people.
— Ex: husband and wife, siblings, and parent
CASUAL REGISTER
— This is informal language used by peers
and friends.
— Slang, vulgarities and colloquialisms are
normal.
— This is "group" language. One must be a
member to engage in this register
CONSULTATIVE REGISTER
— Used for the purpose of seeking
assistance
— May use a standard or non-standard
variety of English yet a level of
detachment is maintained.
It is a professional discourse:
Communications between a superior and
subordinate.
FORMAL REGISTER
— This language is used in formal settings.
— This use of language usually follows a
commonly accepted format.
— It is used in impersonal and formal
settings.
— Ex. sermons, speeches, and
pronouncements made by judges
STATIC REGISTER/ FROZEN REGISTER
— This style of communications rarely or
never changes. It is "frozen" in time and
content.
— Ex: The Lord's Prayer, Philippine
Constitution