CHAPTER 4: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN
AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
Eng 3A - Purposive Communication
Archi 2C | 1st Semester | 2022
VARIETIES OF ENGLISH
● refer to the different
kinds of English used
around the world based
on geographical
locations. There are
over a hundred varieties
of the English language,
but two of the most
prevalent varieties of
the English language are
British and American
English.
American English (AmE)
● It is a variant of the
English language which is
spoken mainly in the
United States. About
two-thirds of the
world's native speakers
of English live in
America and speak this
variant.
British English (BrE)
● It is a variant of the
English language which is
spoken in the United
Kingdom.
● Along with American
English, British English
is one of the main
variants taught in
English as a second
language or English as
foreign language
programs.
Australian English (AuE)
● It is another variant of
the English language
which is spoken in the
Australia.
● Australian English began
to diverge from the
British English shortly
after Australia was
settled in the late 18th
century. This variety is
similar to New Zealand
English and bears
resemblance to dialects
of South East England.
Its spelling corresponds
to British English
spelling.
New Zealand English (NZE)
● It is the variant of the
English language spoken
as the first language by
my most people in New
Zealand.
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CHAPTER 4: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN
AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
Eng 3A - Purposive Communication
Archi 2C | 1st Semester | 2022
● New Zealand English is
most similar to
Australian English in
pronunciation, with some
differences.
Philippine English
Black English (African American
Vernacular English)
● It is a broad term used
to refer to American
English and British
English as spoken by the
black communities in the
United States and the
United Kingdom.
● It is also used to refer
to black communities in
Caribbean and Africa.
There are different
varieties of this variant,
but its two major
sub-varieties are
African American
Vernacular and British
Black English.
Singapore English (SingEng or
Singlish)
● Singapore English is a
language variant which is
considered the most
popular medium of
communication in the
academe. There are two
main forms of this
variant: Singapore
English and Singapore
Colloquial English.
● It is another variety of
the English language
related to American
English in terms of
spelling and grammar.
Besides the Filipino
language, the English
language is native to the
Philippines and is
considered an official
language.
● Non-native
pronunciations abound in
the spoken language, and
grammatical flaws are
oftentimes inevitable.
Hence, code-switching is
prevalent in formal and
more likely in informal
situations.
REGISTER
● is described as a
variety according to use
in the sense that each
speaker has a range of
varieties and chooses
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CHAPTER 4: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN
AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
Eng 3A - Purposive Communication
Archi 2C | 1st Semester | 2022

between them at ex:

different times. ● Reviews
Register refers to the ● articles
level of formality of the ● some letters
speech. ● technical writing

FORMS OF LANGUAGE BIAS - FREE LANGUAGE

REGISTER ● Sometimes the language
we use reflects our
1. FORMAL REGISTER stereotypes. While in
▪️ is appropriate in professional speech our facial
and business writing. expressions or even
ex: gestures may convince
● A TED talk, a business our listeners that we are
presentation, the not being offensive, in
Encyclopedia Brittanica, writing it is a lot harder
and Grey’s Anatomy by to do.
Henry Gray ● To avoid confusion and
2. INFORMAL REGISTER needless anger on the
▪️ is the way we talk to our part of the reader, use
friends and family. language that is clear,
ex: objective, and
● Personal E-mails stereotype-free. Avoid
● Phone Text generalizing when talking
● Friendly Letters about gender, ethnicity,
● Diaries and Journals race, sexual orientation,
or people with
3. NEUTRAL REGISTER disabilities.
▪️ not specifically formal or
informal, positive or negative. It AVOID GENDER BIAS
is used with non-emotional topics ● Avoid using masculine
and information. pronouns when the
gender of the person is

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CHAPTER 4: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN
AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
Eng 3A - Purposive Communication
Archi 2C | 1st Semester | 2022
not known. When a word
has the suffix -man or
-woman, check to see if
it reflects the gender of
the person described.
Use more neutral
alternatives when
gender is not important
to the idea you are
getting across.
● For example, use
chairperson or chair
instead of chairman, fire
fighter instead of
fireman, or salesperson
instead of salesman.
AVOID RACIAL AND ETHNIC
BIAS
Racial or ethnic information
should only be indicated if the
context demands it. Take note of
the following:
✔ Both black and African
American are generally
acceptable (although some
members of this community
prefer one or the other). The
phrase people of color is
sometimes used to include other
racial groups, particularly for
political purposes. The labels
Negro and colored are generally
not acceptable.
✔ Depending to some extent
on regional preference, people
with roots in Latin America refer
to themselves as Hispanic,
Latino/Latina, or
Chicano/Chicana, or by place of
origin (Cuban American, Puerto
Rican). Except for specific
audiences or individuals, Latino is
generally acceptable.
✔ The preference is for Asian
or Asian American rather than
Oriental. Again, specific groups
may prefer labels based on
country of origin (Japanese
American, Korean).
✔ Native American has gained
favor over Indian. Depending on
context, you might more
accurately refer to a specific
tribe or tribes.
AVOID AGE BIAS
● Age should only be
specified if it is
relevant. Avoid
expressions that are
demeaning or subjective.
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CHAPTER 4: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN
AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
Eng 3A - Purposive Communication
Archi 2C | 1st Semester | 2022

AVOID DISABILITY BIAS Conversational

● Do not refer to an ● Criticize
individual’s disability ● Nerve
unless relevant. When ● Line of Command
necessary, use terms ● Upset
that do not offend ● Inform
disabled individuals. Unprofessional
● Avoid phrases like ● Badmouth
"confined to a ● Guts
wheelchair" and "victim" ● Pecking order
(of a disease), so as not ● Ticked off
to focus on differences ● Rat on
and disability. Instead,
write or say, "someone
who uses a wheelchair"
and "a person with (a
disease)."

Appropriate Diction
● refers to the choice of
words especially with
regard to correctness,
clearness or
effectiveness.

LEVELS OF DICTION

Formal
● Denigrate
● Courage
● Dominance Hierarchy
● Provoked
● Betray

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CHAPTER 4: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN
AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
Eng 3A - Purposive Communication
Archi 2C | 1st Semester | 2022