VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN
LANGUAGE
INFORMAL REGISTER
FROZEN REGISTER (CASUAL)
The language is laidback
∙ The most formal register, the
and conversational, the
language use is fixed and
language uses slangs,
constant and the nature of
jargons and contractions.
the language do not require
Examples are friendly
feedback.
letters, diaries and
∙ Examples are national
journals, chat with friends,
anthem, The Lord’s Prayer,
most blogs and text
preamble to the constitution.
messages.
FORMAL REGISTER INFORMAL REGISTER
∙ The language requires formal (INTIMATE)
English because it is used in The language is casual and
official and ceremonial personal and uses terms of
setting and the language is endearment, slangs and/or
written without emotion. terms understandable only
∙ Examples are essays, official to the person.
speeches, court proceedings, Examples are lovers,
swearing in ceremony and mother giving pet names
an interview. to their children and best
friends formulating slang.
CONSULTATIVE REGISTER NEUTRAL REGISTER
∙ The language is used The language sticks to
specifically for the purpose facts and deals with non-
of soliciting aid, support, or emotional topics and
intervention. In the setting, information.
one person in an expert Examples are technical
and the other person is the writing, reviews, article
receiver of expertise. (news article).
Examples are client and
doctor consultation,
teacher and student
conversation and
employee and employer
conversation.
FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
The non-verbal used by people from different countries and by
people from different cultures may vary. The following factors can help
you understand better these variations.
1. Cultural Identity
- Filipinos in general value the importance of close family
ties while Westerners strongly believe in individuality.
2. Racial Identity
- Racial identity refers to the place or country where the
person was born or the race that has a greater influence
on his personality.
3. Social Class
- Refers to the status hierarchy of the person in the society.
4. Gender and Role Identity
- Gender refers to the perception of the roles of men and
women in the society. Role identity, on the other hand,
refers to the part or character you play in society.
An example of gender identity, You are a woman and you
perceive yourself as equal of man. While an example of
role identity, you are a student, a brother and a son.
5. Age
- Most of the Asian Countries pay great respect to their
elders and listen to their opinion.
6. Individual Personality
- Refers to the distinct personality of an individual.
7. Proxemics
- Refers to the use of space when communication with diff.
people.
8. Clothing and Physical Appearance
- An example of this an Indian women wear the Sari.
9. Paralanguage
- Refers to the factors of speech such as accent, pitch,
range, volume or articulation.
- Consider silence, when in Greece silence means you are
refusing something, while in Egypt silence means you are
consenting to something.
10. Facial Expressions and Eye Contact
- Refers to how we move our facial muscles to send
messages.
- In Western Countries like Australia and the US it is
important to maintain eye contact during conversation as
they see it as confidence, show of interest and honesty.
11. Gesture and Body Stance
- Refers to the body movements we use to send a message.
- In most countries, sticking your tongue out is taken as a
sign of mockery, while in Polynesia, this gesture is used to
greet people.
