FINAL EXAM REGISTER Flashcards
refers to the different ways we use language depending on the situation and who we talk to.
It is the scale of formality we use when we write and speak — how formal or informal our language is.
It describes the way a person speaks in relation to their audience. Different situations and people call for different registers
REGISTER
ny type of spoken or written communication uses a language register because register is a type of
LANGUAGE VARIATION
Describes the complex ways speakers modify their language use according to social cues, communication context, and personal expression. Language register, therefore, can be defined as the type of linguistic variation that indicates level of formality and speaker-audience relationship.
LANGUAGE VARIATION
What are the factors that influence the use of language register?
AUDIENCE
TOPIC
PURPOSE
LOCATION
is the individual or group listening to the speaker
AUDIENCE
describes what is being discussed.
TOPIC
refers to the intentions of each speaker.
PURPOSE
tells where an exchange is taking place
LOCATION
TYPES OF LANGUAGE REGISTERS
FROZEN
HIGH FORMAL
FORMAL REGISTER
CONSULTATIVE REGISTER
INFORMAL OR FORMAL REGISTER
INTIMATE REGISTER
NEUTRAL REGISTER
FAMILIAR REGISTER
Used for very old pieces of discourse where the language hasn’t changed for a long time, and it will continue to remain the same even though that language is no longer used today.
Tends to use standard grammar and vocabulary, and full sentences.
Can include also more informal elements and non-standard language ( such as abbreviations or slang), archaic language, and old-fashioned words or phrases commonly found in in poems, songs, and other literary pieces .
Examples: wedding vows, readings from the bible, The Lord’s Prayer, the right to silence, Shakespearean sonnets and plays
FROZEN REGISTER
The level of language that you would use in spoken English on formal occasions to address the Queen, an archbishop, president, or prime minister.
Also often used in legal correspondence, proceedings, solemn spiritual conferences, and in a court of law.
It uses more formal, more elaborated language, and complex structure throughout.
HIGH FORMAL
It is often associated with standardized versions of English and is used in formal situations. Less rigid but still constrained, the formal register is used in professional, academic, or legal settings where communication is expected to be respectful, uninterrupted, and restrained. Slang is never used, and contractions are rare.
It is most commonly used to address people in positions of authority and individuals that merit respect, such as headteachers, police officers, and people who work in the services.
Examples: a TED talk, a business presentation, the Encyclopedia Brittanica, business correspondence, official speeches
FORMAL REGISTER
Usually used when there is an expert-novice relationship between the two people engaging in the conversation, i.e., someone who knows a certain subject and someone who doesn’t.
Often in conversation when speaking with someone who has specialized knowledge or who is offering advice. Tone is often respectful (use of courtesy titles) but may be more casual if the relationship is longstanding or friendly. Slang is sometimes used, people may pause or interrupt one another.
Examples: the local TV news broadcast, an annual physical check-up, a service provider like a plumber.
CONSULTATIVE REGISTER
Typically refers to informal speech used between people who know each other well.
It often contains slang, contractions, swear words, and features of speech from local dialects, or everyday language.
It’s probably the one you think of when you consider how you talk with other people, often in a group setting.
Use of slang, contractions, and vernacular grammar is all common, and people may also use expletives or off-color language in some settings.
Examples: personal letters and email, texting, notes, diaries, bio-journals, storytelling, social media chats
INFORMAL OR CASUAL REGISTER
The informal language used when talking to close friends, family members or romantic partners.
Frequently used in private and can be used when discussing personal issues, sharing secrets, telling inside jokes, or when being flirty! No clear boundaries.
Reserved for special occasions, usually between only two people and often in private. Intimate language may be something as simple as an inside joke between two college friends or a word whispered in a lover’s ear.
Too much intimacy may become vulgar, sometimes.
INTIMATE REGISTER
