English for Academic and Professional

Purposes

Lesson 1:
INFORMAL VERSUS
FORMAL LANGUAGE
Presented by:
Ms. Andrea M. Ibanez, LPT
Lesson OUTCOMES:
At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to:

1) differentiate formal from informal language;

2) distinguish academic texts from non-academic sentences,
and;
3) determine the basic structure of an academic text.
 INFORMAL AND
FORMAL
Language
Choosing the right kind of language for your
 What is
INFORMAL
LANGUAGE?
 INFORMAL LANGUAGE

Informal language is used for more casual and

less serious purposes. Slang words and chatty
language can be used.
INFORMAL Language

We use Informal Language when we talk

to:
● Friends
● Family members
● People our own age
● People we know well
INFORMAL Language

Informal Language includes:

● Contractions
● Colloquial Words / Slang
● Abbreviations
● Idioms
INFORMAL Language

Informal Language includes:

● Contractions
A contraction is a word made by shortening and
combining two words.
INFORMAL Language

Informal Language includes:

● Contractions
 INFORMAL Language

Informal Language includes:

● Colloquial words / Slang
Colloquial words are those terms used in everyday
conversations to ease communication. These statements are
“chatty” in nature and are informal. Also called “slang”
language, colloquialism is often used in informal language
rather than in written academic texts.
INFORMAL Language

Informal Language includes:

● Colloquial words / Slang
Slang is vocabulary that is used between people
who belong to the same social group and who know
each other well.
INFORMAL Language

Informal Language includes:

● Abbreviations
An abbreviation, simply put, is a shortened form of a
word.
INFORMAL Language

Informal Language includes:

● Idioms
expressions whose meanings cannot be inferred from
the meanings of the words that comprise it.
 What is
FORMAL
LANGUAGE?
 FORMAL LANGUAGE

Formal language is used for more official and

serious purposes. The correct grammar and
standard English should always be used.
 FORMAL LANGUAGE

Is used when you want to make a good impression on people

in respected positions.
You speak in a more traditional way and use longer forms of
words when you want to be formal.
 FORMAL LANGUAGE

No contractions, slang, or text language is used (it’s, yeah!, or

OMG, etc).
Is used when asking or requesting something.
Is used when making a formal complaint.
FORMAL Language

We use Formal Language when we talk to:

● People we don’t know
● People in positions of authority
● People older than us
● People we want to impress
FORMAL Language

What makes Formal Language?

● Formal language does not use contractions
● Includes more polysyllabic words—BIGGER words
● Uses complex and/or complete sentences
● Avoids using colloquial or slang vocabulary
 Thanks!
Do you have any
questions?

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