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C3 Lecture

Chapter 3 discusses the three common language registers: formal, informal, and neutral, detailing their appropriate contexts and characteristics. Formal language is used in professional settings, while informal language is suited for personal communication, and neutral language conveys facts without emotion. The chapter also touches on sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and discourse analysis, emphasizing the importance of understanding language variation in effective communication.

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Angel Nichole Valencia
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22 views20 pages

C3 Lecture

Chapter 3 discusses the three common language registers: formal, informal, and neutral, detailing their appropriate contexts and characteristics. Formal language is used in professional settings, while informal language is suited for personal communication, and neutral language conveys facts without emotion. The chapter also touches on sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and discourse analysis, emphasizing the importance of understanding language variation in effective communication.

Uploaded by

Angel Nichole Valencia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 3

What about
language in the
whole gamut of
Communication?
Three most common language
registers:

• Formal
• Informal
• Neutral
Formal register

• Appropriate for professional


writing
• Most challenging type of
writing
Samples of formal
writing
• Business letters
• Letters of complaint
• Reports
• Official speeches
• Announcements
• Professional email messages
Observe the following in
using formal language:
• Do not use contractions
• Spell-out numbers less than one
hundred
• Avoid using too much passive voice
• Avoid using slang, idioms,
exaggerations and
cliches
• Avoid abbreviations and acronyms
• Use good transition words
• Write in sentences
• Write longer, more complex sentences
Informal Register

- Register used to communicate with friends


and family
- In writing to someone we know very well
Informal register accepts:

• Slangs& cliches • Jokes


• Figurative language • Personal opinions
• Symbols & • Active & passive voice
abbreviations • Extra punctuation
• Acronyms
• Incomplete sentences
• Short sentences
Informal writing includes:

• Text messages • Chat messages


• Short notes • Diaries & journals
• Tweets • Personal mails
• Facebook posts • Friendly letters
• Blogs
Neutral language register

Used when expressing facts devoid of emotions


• Reviews
• Articles
• Some letters
• Some essays
• Technical
Language Register

- tenor, tone or style


- Register considered language variation
based on the use and not with the user
Thomas Bertnam Reid

- First used the term register


- 1956
- A person or a user of a language register
possesses a range of register to suit him at
different times with different types of
audience
Language based on content:

• American English
• Australian English
• Black English
• British English
Is there a correct variety of
English?
• What is more important is we are able
to recognize the many varieties of
English including that of standard, and
pick one variety that we are
comfortable with and will be
comfortable using it
Who then should teach
English?
- Already insignificant
- Successful communication is not a question
of who uses it but rather a question of
understanding.
- If you are able to engage successfully in your
given context at a point in time using your
variety of English then you will have fullfill the
essence of communication.
Sociolinguistics

• The study of relationship between language


and society
• Focuses on how language is used by the
individual speaker and groups of speakers in
its social context
Sociolinguistics

The study of :
• how people use their language in their
everyday lives
• how identities are shown more vividly
through the words you use
• How you intentionally or
unintentionally create, maintain or
disrupt relationships with others
Pragmatics

• Focuses on how speakers utilize


language to convey information
Discourse Analysis

• Focuses on the text and its context


Language register,
linguistics , and
communication affect the
concept of globalization

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