LESSON 4

VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to:

1. Distinguish between formal and informal language registers;
2. Determine the situations which are appropriate for each of the five types of language
register; and
3. Use spoken, written, and visual language (conventions, style, and vocabulary) to
communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.

SPRINGBOARD ACTIVITY:

Please watch these TV commercials, and observe how language registers are used in the
situation.

Commercial 1: SM Sunday Tradition Commercial

Please refer to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lv9Rw59Gac

Commercial 2: Jollibee Entrance Exam

Please refer to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcMi80qKiNY

In Sociolinguistics, a register is a variety of a language used for a particular purpose or

in a particular social setting. It is a unique style or set of communication like a “lingo that is
commonly used to a specific profession, vocation, or intellectual pursuit. Living in a multi-
cultural world, we are encountering different people with manners of expressing themselves;
therefore, to cater inter-connection and understanding among/between individuals, we need
to be familiar with the different norms of communication in its varied registers.

A language register is choosing a variation of communication for an appropriate

context. It is a certain language variety which is used for a particular purpose or in a particular
social setting. It denotes the writer’s style of specialized discourse to convey his attitudes of
communication to his readers. It is then the reader’s responsibility to correctly interpret the
writer’s attitude, tone and level of formality. Thus, communicating to different people and
situation calls for different registers.

FIVE TYPES OF LANGUAGE REGISTERS

There are five language registers or styles. Each level has an appropriate use that is
determined by differing situations. It would certainly be inappropriate to use language and
vocabulary reserve for a boyfriend or girlfriend when speaking in the classroom. Thus, the
appropriate language register depends upon the audience (who), the topic (what), purpose
(why) and location (where).
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VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

You must control the use of language registers in order to enjoy success in every aspect
and situation you encounter.

1. Static Register
This style of communications RARELY or NEVER changes. It is “frozen” in time and content.
Examples: the Pledge of Allegiance, the Lord’s Prayer, the Preamble to the US Constitution,
the Alma Mater, a bibliographic reference, laws

2. Formal Register
This language is used in formal settings and is one-way in nature. This use of language usually
follows a commonly accepted format. It is usually impersonal and formal. A common format
for this register are speeches.
Examples: sermons, rhetorical statements and questions, speeches, pronouncements made
by judges, announcements

3. Consultative Register
This is a standard form of communications. Users engage in a mutually accepted structure of
communications. It is formal and societal expectations accompany the users of this speech. It
is professional discourse.
Examples: when strangers meet, communications between a superior and a subordinate,
doctor and patient, lawyer and client, lawyer and judge, teacher and student, counselor and
client

4. Casual Register
This is informal language used by peers and friends. Slang, vulgarities and colloquialisms are
normal. This is “group” language. One must be member to engage in this register.
Examples: buddies, teammates, chats and emails, and blogs, and letters to friends

5. Intimate Register
This communications is private. It is reserved for close family members or intimate people.
Examples: husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, siblings, parent and children

Rule of Language Use:

One can usually make transition from one language register to an adjacent one without
encountering repercussions. However, skipping one or more levels is usually considered
inappropriate and even offensive.

Source: Montano-Harmon, M. R. “Developing English for Academic Purposes” California State

University, Fullerton cited by http://genconnection.com/English/ap/LanguageRegisters.htm
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VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

What is the difference between formal and informal language?

Formal and informal language serve different purposes. The tone, the choice of words and
the way the words are put together vary between the two styles. Formal language is less
personal than informal language. It is used when writing for professional or academic
purposes like university assignments. Formal language does not use colloquialisms,
contractions or first person pronouns such as ‘I’ or ‘We’.

Informal language is more casual and spontaneous. It is used when communicating with
friends or family either in writing or in conversation. It is used when writing personal emails,
text messages and in some business correspondence. The tone of informal language is more
personal than formal language.

Examples of formal and informal language are shown below:

Contractions

Informal: The improvements canʼt be introduced due to funding restrictions.

Formal: Improvements cannot be introduced due to funding restrictions.

Informal: I donʼt believe that the results are accurate.

Formal: The results are not believed to be accurate.

Informal: The research project wonʼt continue next year.

Formal: The research project will not continue next year.

Phrasal verbs

Informal: The balloon was blown up for the experiment.

Formal: The balloon was inflated for the experiment.

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VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

Informal: The patient got over his illness.

Formal: The patient recovered from his illness.

Informal: The results of the study were mixed up.

Formal: The results of the study were confused.

Slang/Colloquialisms

Informal: The mob was very rowdy during the protest against cuts to university funding.

Formal: The crowd was very rowdy during the protest against the cuts to university funding.

Informal: Lecturers still count on students to use correct grammar and punctuation in essays.

Formal: Lecturers expect students to use correct grammar and punctuation in essays.

Informal: It was raining cats and dogs.

Formal: It was raining very heavily.

First person pronouns

Informal: I considered various research methods for the study.

Formal: Various research methods were considered for the study.

Informal: We believe the practice is unsustainable.

Formal: It is believed the practice is unsustainable.

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VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

Informal: During the interview, I asked students about their experiences.

Formal: During the interview, students were asked about their experiences.

Acronyms

TAFE Technical and Further Education

ANZAC Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

QANTAS Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services

Initialisms

UTS University of Technology Sydney

ISO International Standards Organisation

OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

The first time an acronym or initialism is used in an essay, it is acceptable to write the name
in full with the acronym or initialism in brackets after it. Every subsequent time it is used the
acronym or initialism can be used on its own. Commonly known acronyms such as ANZAC
and QANTAS do not need to be written in full. If an acronym or initialism needs to be made
into a plural, add a small ‘s’ to it without an apostrophe.

For more information on writing in academic style, please refer to the sources below:
Learning Lab 2013, Academic style, RMIT, viewed 29 November 2013
UniLearning 2000, Academic writing, UOW, viewed 29 November 2013

SOURCE: https://www.uts.edu.au/current-students/support/helps/self-help-
resources/grammar/formal-and-informal-language