LESSON 9:

VARIETIES AND REGISTERS

OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN
LANGUAGE
A. LANGUAGE VARIETIES
Refers to different forms of a
language that may exist within a
speech community. These can be
based on geographical, social,
cultural, or historical factors and can
be result in differences in
pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar,
and usage.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF LANGUAGE
VARIETIES
 PIDGIN- a new language which develops in
situations where speakers of different languages need
to communicate but don’t share a common language.
(Taglish/Barok)
FOR EXAMPLE:
American & Tagalog: You’re so funny talaga
Chinese & Tagalog: Mas galing ako sa iyo sayaw.
 CREOLE-when people and children start learning a
pidgin as their first language and it becomes the
mother tongue of a community.
FOR EXAMPLE: Tagalog & Espanyol (Chavacano)
 REGIONAL DIALECT- also known as a
regiolect or topolect, is a distinct form of a
language spoken in one particular area of the
country; or child’s vernacular.
FOR EXAMPLE: American(movie)holiday
British (cinema)vacation
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.
FOR EXAMPLE: Hillby English
(Appalachians) Geordie (New Castle)
INDIGENIZED VARIETY-these are mainly spoken as
second languages in ex-colonies with multilingual populations.
FOR EXAMPLE: Singlish (spoken in Singapore)

MAJOR DIVISIONS OF LANGUAGE REGISTERS

 FORMAL-appropriate for professional writing such as
letters to a boss or stranger.
FOR EXAMPLE: Reports and business letters.
 INFORMAL-uses conversational language and
appropriate when writing or talking to friends and people
you know very well.
FOR EXAMPLE: Phone texts, friendly letters and short notes.
 NEUTRAL-is not necessarily formal or informal. Non
emotional and based on facts.
FOR EXAMPLE: Research paper and written reports.
B. LANGUAGE REGISTERS
Refers to the formality of language
which one speaks. Different registers
are used in different situation.
It is through register that you are able
to determine the kind of lexicon or
vocabulary to use as well as the kind
of structure to be used.
LEVELS OF THE REGISTERS OF
LANGUAGE
 FROZEN/STATIC-it refers to historic language or
communication that is intended to remain
unchanged, like a constitution or prayer; rarely or
never changes.
FOR EXAMPLE: The Lord’s prayer, preamble of the
US Constitution and Laws.
o 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; formal type of
language in a formal situation.
FOR EXAMPLE: Speeches, job interview,
announcements.
 CONSULTATIVE-it is used in conversation when
they are speaking with someone who has specialized
knowledge or who is offering advice; process of
communication they are following.
FOR EXAMPLE: Doctor-patient, teacher-student, and
lawyer-client.
o CASUAL- it is used when they are with friends,

close acquaintances and family; daily conversation.

FOR EXAMPLE: buddies, teammates, chats and
emails.
 INTIMATE-it is reserved for special
occasions, usually between only two people
and often in private; language between
lovers; close relationship.
FOR EXAMPLE: Husband and wife, boyfriend
and girlfriend, siblings, parents and children.
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING
ATTENTIVELY! 