Varieties of Spoken and

Written Language
Diversity in Culture, Language, and Communication

Diversity is reality. It greatly affects traditional and digital

media, trade, labor practices, and even casual conversations.
Changes in registers in one part of the world affect people
everywhere. There are many types of diversity where not every
person or group is equally treated because of them like socially
excluded groups, nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual
preference, social class, religious beliefs and practices, and
physical or mental disability. For some other reasons, these
types of diversity have given a great effect in the way individuals
communicate and use linguistic resources.
 Clark’s (2014) study suggests that people are increasingly
and deliberately using English in a way that identifies them with
a particular place. This is done through integration of a set of
linguistic features drawn from a particular variety of English in
their speech.

In the West Midlands, for example, people may pronounce

’you’ as ’yow,’ use ’Brum’ for ’Birmingham’ and ’Cor’ for 'cannot’
or ’can't.’ By using features in this way, people emphasize their
place of origin over other factors such as age, gender, social
class and ethnicity, education, style, family status, customs,
occupation, and socioeconomic status, among others.
 For Barry Tomalin, culture is the fifth language
skill in addition to listening, speaking, reading and
writing. Traditionally, culture is defined as a set or
collection of traditions, beliefs, values, and customs
of a particular community. This brings forth the
British and American traditions of pronunciation,
accent, spelling, and writing conventions. Yet such
traditions were all interesting and sometimes useful
knowledge and often included in textbooks.
 However, for Tomalin, there is another way of
understanding culture. This is how you develop
cultural sensitivity and cultural skill. This covers
how you build cultural awareness, what qualities
you need to deal successfully with other cultures,
and how to Operate successfully with people from
other cultures. This is often considered to be a
business skill for adults, such as international
sales managers or explorers. This is referred to as
“cultural competence.
 According to Wardhaugh (1998), variety of language is a specific set
of linguistic items or human speech patterns (sounds, words,
grammatical features) which can be associated with some external
factor. A language itself can be viewed as a variety of the human
language.

Speech variety, a concept of domain, is important because it

signifies the class situation where the certain speech variety is used. A
domain is also referred to as social situation. It may refer to as home,
school, employment, etc. (John T. Plat and H.K. Plat, 1975)

Spoken language is a language that is spoken. Spoken language

involves the actual use of speech or related utterances that convey
meaning to share thoughts or other information.
 There are two factors that distinguish spoken language from the written one: the actual
situation or context in which the language is used, and (2) the purpose of communication.
 
Characteristics of Spoken Language:
1. The situation in which the spoken variety of language is used and in which it develops
presupposes the presence of an interlocutor
2. Spoken language is mostly maintained in the form of a dialogue.
3. The spoken language utilizes the human voice and all kinds of gestures which give
additional information;
4. The spoken language is spontaneous but momentary. It vanishes after having fulfilled its
purpose which is to communicate the thought, no matter how trivial or important.
5. The spoken language cannot be detached from the user of it.
6. The spoken language widely uses intensifying words. These are interjections and words
with strong emotive, meaning as oaths, swear words and adjectives which have lost their
primary meaning.
7. The spoken language is characterized by the insertion into the utterance of words without
any meaning, which are call fill-ups or empty words (as well, and all, so to say, whatever.
Varieties of Spoken Language:
 
There are five types of spoken language. These are followed by situation that
illustrate each category:
 
1. Interactional – having a social function. This makes use of informal type of
speech which, aims to develop relationships between interlocutors.
2. Referential – providing the listeners some information referring to objects or
abstract concepts. The speakers assume that the listener has knowledge on the
matter at hand. In return, the listener has to know the context before they can
understand the references.
Ex. The mobile phone unit has been sent via door to door at 10 o’ clock.
Please notify our office once you have received it.
 
Here, the listeners are assumed to know that a mobile phone unit is expected
to be delivered. Also, the listener must know what a door- to- door service is, and
that the listeners must know the time of arrival.
3. Expressive. Showing speaker’s judgment or feelings about a person,
event, or situation.
 
Ex. It’s truly unbelievable! How could she do such a terrible thing?
4. Transactional. Getting information or making a deal. It has a specific
purpose and is driven by needs and wants rather than sociability. Unlike
interactional language, transactional spoken language has its intentions
to achieve a give and take relationship between speaker and the
listeners.
5. Phatic. Engaging in small, plain talk. The speaker and listener use
minimal amount of language to engage in the conversation. This
spoken language variety poses familiarity of topic and context between
speaker and the listener.
Characteristics of Written Language

1.The written variety presupposes the absence of interlocutor

2.The written language is mostly maintained in the form of
monologue.
3.Written language is more carefully organized and more
explanatory. Most often, the word choice is more deliberate.
4.Written language is able to live forever with the idea its expresses.
5.Written language can de detached and objectively look at. The
writer has opportunity to correct and improve what has been put
on paper.
6.The written language bears a great volume of responsibility than
its spoken counterpart.
 Both varieties, however, maybe different in terms of
their phonetics, morphology. lexicon and syntax. Yet
the most striking difference between the spoken and
written language is in the vocabulary used.
There are words and phrase typically colloquial, on
the other hand, and typically bookish, on the other
hand. If colloquial words and phrases find their way in
the written language, they immediately produce a
marked stylistic effect and be used for the speech
characterization.
 Element of Communication Definition
A source creates and
1. Source
communicates a message.
A receiver receives the
2. Receiver
message from the source.
The message is the stimulus or
3. Message meaning produced by the
source for the receiver.
A channel is the way a
4. Channel message travels between
source and receiver.
Feedback is the message the
5. Feedback receiver sends in response to Heather says yes.
the source.
The environment is the physical Heather is traveling by train on
6. Environment atmosphere where the
communication occurs.
The context involves the
7. Context psychological expectations of
the source and receiver.
Also known as noise,
interference is anything that
8. Interference
blocks or distorts the
communication process.
Oral Application Written Application
Jay makes a telephone call to
Jay writes an e-mail to Heather.
Heather.
Heather listens to Jay. Heather reads Jay’s e-mail.
Jay’s e-mail asks Heather to
Jay asks Heather to participate
participate in a conference call
in a conference call at 3:15.
at 3:15.
The channel is the telephone. The channel is e-mail.
Heather replies with an e-mail
saying yes.
Heather is at her desk when
a business trip when she
she receives Jay’s e-mail.
receives Jay’s phone call.
Heather expects Jay to dial and
Heather expects Jay to send an
connect the call. Jay expects
e-mail with the call-in
Heather to check her e-mail for
information for the call. Jay
the call-in information so that
expects to do so, and does.
she can join the call.
Heather calls in at 3:15, but she
Heather waits for a phone call
has missed the call because
from Jay at 3:15, but he doesn’t
she forgot that she is in a
call.
different time zone from Jay.
Colloquial Neutral Literary
Kid Child Infant
Daddy Father Parent
Chap Fellow Associate
Get out Go away Retire
Go on Continue Proceed
Teenager Boy (girl) Youth (maiden)
Young
Flapper Maiden
girl
Go ahead Begin
Get going Start Commence
Kinds of Language Varieties:

Pidgin: A pidgin is a new language which develops in situations where speakers of different
languages need to communicate but don't share a common language. The vocabulary of a pidgin
comes mainly from one particular language (called the 'lexifier'). An early 'pre-pidgin' is quite restricted
in use and variable in structure. But the later 'stable pidgin' develops its own grammatical rules which
are quite different from those of the lexifier.

Once a stable pidgin has emerged, it is generally learned as a second language and used for
communication among people who speak different languages. Examples are Nigerian Pidgin and
Bislama (spoken in Vanuatu).

Creole: When children start learning a pidgin as their first language and it becomes the mother
tongue of a community, it is called a creole. Like a pidgin, a creole is a distinct language which has
taken most of its vocabulary from another language, the lexifier, but has its own unique grammatical
rules. Unlike a pidgin, however, a creole is not restricted in use, and is like any other language in its
full range of functions. Examples are Gullah, Jamaican Creole and Hawai`i Creole English.

•Note that the words 'pidgin' and 'creole' are technical terms used by linguists, and not necessarily by
speakers of the language. For example, speakers of Jamaican Creole call their language 'Patwa'
(from patois) and speakers of Hawai`i Creole English call theirs 'Pidgin.'
Regional dialect: A regional dialect is not a distinct language but a variety of a
language spoken in a particular area of a country. Some regional dialects have
been given traditional names which mark them out as being significantly different
from standard varieties spoken in the same place. Some examples are 'Hillbilly
English' (from the Appalachians in the USA) and 'Geordie' (from Newcastle upon
Tyne in the UK).
Minority dialect: Sometimes members of a particular minority ethnic group have
their own variety which they use as a marker of identity, usually alongside a
standard variety. This is called a minority dialect. Examples are African American
Vernacular English in the USA, London Jamaican in Britain, and Aboriginal English
in Australia.
Indigenized variety: Indigenized varieties are spoken mainly as second languages
in ex-colonies with multilingual populations. The differences from the standard
variety may be linked to English proficiency, or may be part of a range of varieties
used to express identity. For example, 'Singlish' (spoken in Singapore) is a variety
very different from standard English, and there are many other varieties of English
used in India.
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).
 
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. e.g. 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. e.g. 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. e.g. when strangers meet, communications between a superior and a
subordinate, doctor & patient, lawyer & client, lawyer & judge, teacher & student, counselor & 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. e.g. 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. e.g.
husband & wife, boyfriend & girlfriend, siblings, parent & children.
 
Rule of Language Use:
One can usually 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.
 Culturally Responsive, Engaging and Appropriate Language
 
The choice of words is a powerful strategy in communication. When
Confucius said, “when words lose their meanings, people lose their
freedom” the control of language is an essential tool for an engaging and
responsive communication. Hence, cultural appropriateness of language
is conforming to a culture’s acceptable expressions and standards of
behaviors and thoughts. This is referred to as “politically correctness”.
However, “politically correct” is not about being right; it is more of being
respectful and considerate. Being politically correct means that you avoid
expressions and actions that may include, marginalize, or offend a
particular group of people.
Ways how to choose appropriate language (Hogan – Garcia, 1999)
 
1. Notice and reflect on disrespectful language, thoughts, and actions – If you educate
yourself and monitor your thoughts, this will help control and change your language and
behaviors. People may interpret and draw inferences from the language use. Avoid racist,
sexist, homophobic jokes because these are always hurtful and offending.
2. Respect people of different races. Recognize racist roots of words, whether they are
inflammatory as the n-word or as subtle as referring to immigrants as illegals. Many
common expressions have roots in discrimination caused by cultural arrogance and lack of
exposure to cultural diversity.
3. Use language that includes LGBTQIA+ Some people are bisexual, transgender, asexual,
genderfluid etc. and they deserve respect and inclusion. Work on substituting gender-
neutral language to include people of different sexual orientations and gender identities.
Ex. Do you have any partners rather than, do you have girlfriend/ boyfriend?
4. Avoid Exclusionary, gender-specific language. Gender- specific language can be
extremely harmful. Sexism or discrimination against a person due to marginalized gender
identity, is used often and inadvertently. Ex. Use gender neutral jobs i.e chairperson instead of
chairman
5. Avoid using explicitly religious terms in mixed religious company. The limit the amount of
religious terms in your language, especially when speaking in groups of people. Avoid
referencing “God/god” Every religious group has different names for and rules for saying the
term.
6. Avoid expressions that devalue people with physical or mental disabilities. Some people
prefer identity-first language (disabled person) while others prefer person-first language
(person with disability)
7. Refrain from language that groups people into one large category. Avoid classifying people
together based on religion, sexual orientation, gender and ethnicity. This kind of language
reduces a person to that one category, when people are so much more. Ex. The deaf, the
gays, the poor, or the blacks.
 
Politically Words and Expressions

Political correctness has an important purpose. It promotes

equality by demonstrating an understanding that all people and
groups are valuable to society regardless of race, culture,
religion, gender or sexual orientation.
1. Criminal – Behaviourally challenged
2. Broken Home Dysfunctional family
3. Caretaker Site engineer
4. Fat  Metabolic overachiever
5. Slum area              Economically deprived area
6. Foreign food Ethnic cuisine
7. Housewife Domestic engineer
8. Jungle Rain forest
9. Natural disaster             Global warming incident
10. Sex change             Gender reassignment
11. Tramp Homeless person
12. Unemployed Economically inactive
13. Preferential treatment    Affirmative action
14. Racist –                               Someone who disagrees with the far-left
15. Nazi –                                   Someone who disagrees with the far-left
16. Fascist –                               Someone who disagrees with the far-left