Yamin Thethtar Htun Module 1 Assignment 1

Module 1

Assignment 1

What is meant by appropriateness

in language use?

By;
Yamin Thethtar Htun
Yamin Thethtar Htun Module 1 Assignment 1

Table of contents

Introduction

Language variations in the aspect of Sociolinguistic Appropriateness

Style

Social Variations

Registers

1) Participants
2) Topic
3) Setting
4) Mode

Genre

Conclusion

References
Yamin Thethtar Htun Module 1 Assignment 1

Introduction

Noam Chomsky said “A language is not just words. It is a culture, a tradition, a unification
of a community, a whole history that creates what a community is. It’s all embodied in a
language.” People use languages to communicate, to convey messages within societies. There
are many variations in the sociolinguistics as there may be a variety of social dialects, situations
or settings. For example, although we can use slangs when talking to friends, we have to use
formal business language in business meetings. This is called appropriateness in language. The
ability to use language appropriately according to the situations is called competency.
Appropriateness in language use means that using a language which is optimal for a specific
context, participants, situation and setting. It also includes choosing the right style, registers
and genres.

Language variations in the aspect of Sociolinguistic Appropriateness

Frank Smith said “Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift.” Language variations
reflect on the different ways or styles that people use to communicate with one another in the
same society or with a different one. People don’t always use the same styles, registers and
genres.

Style

In order to have stylistic appropriateness, knowing the level of formality is fundamental. The
formality is based on the circumstances and situations. The scale of formality is divided into 5
styles. The intimate style is for family or close friends, casual is for colleagues or equal status,
informal is for strangers, formal is for public speaking and frozen is for religious ceremonies,
etc.

Social variations

Social variations are marked by special sets of vocabularies, usages or terms which are used by
different professionals, working classes and social groups. The language used by each type of
professionals is called a jargon which needed concepts to understand. Gangs and other secret
groups use their own jargon or slangs to mark their memberships. As Bernstein stated
“Students from higher social classes tended to perform better at language-based subjects
Yamin Thethtar Htun Module 1 Assignment 1

than those from lower social classes,” the working-class children use more restricted
language rather than elaborated language.

Registers

People often switch between registers: e.g.; a person can be a teacher, a patient, a mother, etc.
Registers help people to make an identification at a specific time or place. Participants, topic,
settings and mode must be put into consideration.

1) Participants

Language varies according to participants are: age, sex, status and role.

Age: the language used by children are only about toys, stories and games while adults talk
more about work, lifestyles, etc.

Sex: Although women interest in the topics of cosmetics, bags, fashion and recipes, men talk
more about sports, business and games.

Status and Role: The status of a speaker restricts the use of expressions and he can play many
roles in a daily basis. The usages must not be the same for the discourse between friends -
friend, employee - stranger/ colleague, customer – shopkeeper, doctor – patient, etc.

2) Topic

Every field has its own vocabularies and usages, the forms used in legal and religious fields
may be different from daily usages. There are terms that normal people would not understand
as in medical terms, chemical terms and so on.

3) Setting

Being appropriate in a setting is one of the most important factors. There are certain things
people are not allowed to talk in public such as someone’s privacy, religious discussions, and
gossips. There are a variety of things to discuss at work, in public, gatherings, events,
ceremonies, and funerals. People can share ideas about politics, hobbies, movies, books,
lifestyles, feelings and emotions. There are also certain gestures that are considered rude in
public such as crossing arms, chewing gums, spitting, not having eye contact, not smiling, bad
postures, etc. And respecting other’s cultures also important in society. When someone is in
Middle East Country, he should not ask for pork or alcoholic drinks. When in India, he should
Yamin Thethtar Htun Module 1 Assignment 1

not ask for beef. In other countries, crossing one’s arms is considered rude but in Myanmar, it
is polite when talking with elders.

4) Mode

It’s how people communicate for instance: face to face, phone calls, emails, zoom meetings,,
notes, notices, advertisements, online platforms, etc. Through those means of face to face
discourse, intonations, facial expressions, hand gestures, glances must be used appropriately.
Through emails, notices, notes, advertisements, online platforms, choice of words, usages,
modality, color theories and themes must be put into consideration to be stylistic appropriate.

Genres

Genres are the types of written communication for instance advertisements, newspapers,
recipes, business inquires, business reports, assignments, notices, signs and warnings, etc. The
appropriateness of these communication solemnly depends on the audience. The style must be
in formal as the audience is the public, superiors or academic personals. The tone of voice must
be influential in signs, warnings and notices. Recipes and how-to guides should be in neutral
tone using mostly imperatives. When writing business inquiries, the usages must be formal and
in business terms only.

Conclusion

As a saying goes “No man is island,” people have to communicate within societies to share
ideas, feelings, experiences, information etc. Getting the right level of formality in every
discourse in different situations is called socially competence. Therefore, being accurate
(grammatically correct) and fluent may not be the only the important aspects in
communication, being appropriate is as important as those aspects. In my point of view,
children should be given the awareness of the appropriateness in each type of discourse. Role
plays, creating news articles, presentations and listening audios or watching videos of different
situations can be done to meet the aim for this purpose.

References

Harold Rosen, Language and Class: a Critical Look at the Theories of Basil Bernstein, 1972

Chomsky, N. (n.d.). Noam Chomsky Quotes. BrainyQuote.

https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/noam-chomsky-quotes