MODULE 3 VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE This section presents the concept of language variation through examining the different features of everyday registers and academic registers with examples from everyday life and academic contexts. Leaming Outcomes: This section will enable students to: 1. Distinguish the differences between formal and informal registers; 2. Provide/cite examples of formal and informal registers; 3. Identify the different types of spoken language registers; 4. Distinguish between formal and informal registers in writing; 5. Compose formal and informal letters; and 6. Perform a mock speech accurately and proficiently in the context of language registers, Lesson 1. Formal and Informal Registers Imagine that you are going to be introduced to a very important person who you have Never met. Maybe it is the President of the Republic of the Philippines. When you meet him, would you say: ‘Hey, dude! What's up?" Probably not. You would say something more formal such as ‘It is an honor to meet you, Your Excellency.’ On the other hand, you would not call your best friend "His Royal Highness.’ instead, it would be fine using the informal address, “dude.” {n every situation you encounter, you use speech appropriate to the persons to whom you are speaking and the context. The language you use when talking to your friends is not the same language you use when meeting someone as important as the Queen. This difference in language formality is called register. There are formal and informal registers in spoken and written language. Formal registers can include everything from an academic essay to wedding vows. The academic essay is formal because it includes polished speech, complex sentences, and precise vocabulary. The wedding vows are an example of extremely formal language that must be said the same way each time as part of a ritual. ‘There are also varieties of informal registers. informal language occurs between people who know each other well and who speak without trying to be ‘proper’. Sometimes this includes, speaking in slang and other times it is simply a more casual delivery. For example, you might say, ‘Could you bring us more coffee, please?’ to a waiter at an expensive restaurant, but at your favorite hangout you might say, ‘Can | get a little more coffee here?" when you have reached the bottom of your cup. 19The difference between informal and formal language. Julie and her friend Nat were sitting together under @ tree after having a very yummy and filling lunch. As Julie stretched, she accidently let out a very loud burp, “Burmrp"! Nat looked at her, surprised, and giggled. Embarrassed, Julie giggted back at him. Then Nat said, “That one was pretty g00d. but i can burp even louder!” Not proceeded to let out a very Jong and loud bu: Ond they both laughed very, hard for a tong ts. Formal language The next dav same tree. eat very full. Julie reached and again and realized thotDifferences - Foam Mot looked al her, sw prised etkiat: ho bac tver '. and gaged 4 re tmbavarwmd Julie gaged buck al Mat lonked and tel vary moaraned FF She said to the teacher omer penars That one wav pretty goed -gxeyse mel didn woke but tcan bup even lovded ercaa ak Orsond: ofnerpetore hat perverse Jong an oud burp and hea the woted on - buped: ts | More examples Activity 1. Make dialogues of five (5) exchanges on the following relationships. Use a separate sheet. A. Wife to Husband B. Friend to Friend C. Subordinate to Superior - at work D. Superior to Subordinate - at work E, Man Speaking to StrangerLesson 2. Spoken and Written Language Varieties A. Spoken Language Varieties Everyone speaks differently in different situations. Those ways of speaking are called registers of language. One changes his/her language behavior depending on which language community he/she engaging. Types of Language Registers 4. Frozen. Itis a language that does not change like prayers and pledges, "set" speech which is often scripted. Examples: Welcome to the Huge Brothers industrial Center. Where tomorrow's world meets today's. Please remember that no flash photography is allowed during this tour. (Greeting) This is a complaint for damages and injunctive relief arising out of manipulative activities in the gold market from 1994 to the present time ... (Complaints) offer You all my prayers, works, joys and suffering of this day ... (Encouragement) 2. Formal. It observes complete sentences and specific word usage. Formal English is often used to show respect; itis used in places such as work, school and public offices. Examples: Good moming. May | speak to the director, please? (Greeting) Thope you don't mind my stating that the service is unsatisfactory. | would like a refund. ... (Complaints) Thank you for applying for this position. We'll let you know within a week if you have been chosen for an interview. (Encouragement) 3. Consultative. It is a formal register used in conversation with colleagues, peers, etc. Hello, Mr. Smith. How are you this moming? (Greeting) Excuse me Ms. Anderson. As | understand the task, we need to focus on improving our delivery times rather than blaming our suppliers. ... (Complaints) Thanks for following-up on the Jones account. Great job! (Encouragement) 4. Casual - Language used in conversation with friends. - idiomatic and often full of siang, used to signal belonging to a given group Hey, Jack. What's up? (Greeting) Oh, Bob. Just a moment! Listen, you know... well... what was with that off-key comment last night? (Complaints) Whoa, way to go! Nice catch! (Encouragement)5. Intimate - Language between lovers (and twins). - "private" language full of code words only known to the two. How's my little snuggy wuggy? (Greeting) I'm sick and tired of your crap! (Complaints) You're so good. I'm crazy about you, Honey. (Encouragement) B, Written Language Varieties Register in the written language refers to the level and style of your writing task. It should be appropriate to the situation you are in. The following are the varieties and registers of English language. Formal writing Formal English is used in ‘serious” texts and situations — for example, in official documents, books, news reports, articles, business letters or official speeches. Informal English is used in everyday conversations and in personal letters. Examples: 4. Scholarly papers: research reports, review articles, critical essays 2. Professional writing: reports; proposals; memos; essays, articles, and instructions for a lay audience; letters to the editor; editorials; brochures; critiques and reviews. 3. academic paper: term papers, seminar papers, essay exams. Informal Writing Informal writing may include slang, figures of speech, broken syntax, asides and so on. Informal writing takes a personal tone as if you were speaking directly to your audience (the reader) like in personal emails and text messages. Rules in the Formal Language Register in Writing 4, Formal Language does not use contraction. 2. Formal language does not use colloquialisms. 3. Formal Language focuses more on vocabulary choice. 4, Formal language makes use of the discipline-specific vocabulary. 5, Formal language spells aut numbers less than one hundred 6. Formal language observes the use of capitalization and avoids abbreviation 7. Formal Language makes use of complex sentence structures.Name: — YriCourse/Sec Exercise 2A. Choose an appropriate letter to the phrases spoken in conversations below. ‘Answer A for colleagues, B for staff 'o management, C for management to staff, and D if itis inappropriate in the workplace. ____1. Im afraid we're having some problems with your performance. | would like to see you in my office this afternoon. 2. What did you do last weekend!? ___3. Hey, get over here now! ___4. Excuse me, do you think it would be possible for me to go home early this aftemoon? Ihave a doctor's appointment. ___5. Well, we went to this wonderful restaurant in Yelm. The food was excellent and the prices were reasonable. 6. Listen, 1'm going home eatty, so | can't finish the project until tomorrow. 7. Excuse me Bob, would you mind lending me $10 for lunch. 'm short today. ___8. Give me five bucks for lunch. I forgot to go to the bank. ____8. You are an extremely handsome young man, 'm sure you'll do well at our company. ___10. Excuse me Ms. Brown, could you help me with this report for a moment? Exercise 2B. Choose the best statement for the situations below. Encircle the letter of your choice. 1. Company director to employee a. Hey, get over here. b. Ms. Brown, could you come here for a moment? c. Jane, | need to talk to you. 2, One colleague to another a. Excuse me, do you think you could possibly give me a hand? b. Excuse me, could you give me a hand? c. Give me a hand. 3. Stranger to a man in the street a. Could you possible tell me the time? b. The time, please. c. Hello there, how are you? 4. Waiter to customer a. What do you want? b. What would you like today? ¢. Do you think you could possibly tell me what you would like to eat today? 5. _ Employee to department manager a. Mr. Brown, could ! have a word with you this aftemoon? b. Frank, | need to talk to you c. Mr. Brown, do you think it would be possible for me to speak with you this aftemoon? 24Exercise 3. Mock Speech Delivery: Group and Individual Activities For Group: The class will be divided into groups. They are given a mock speech card which contains a topic. Then, they decide among themselves what language register each of them will have to work on. Remember, they need to determine their audience. For Individual: Deliver a mock speech for one minute on any topic the student is comfortable to talk about. Exercise 4: Consider this situation: The University will hold its intramural next month. Now, write a letter to your friend inviting her to witness the opening ceremonies of the upcoming event. On the other hand, write also a letter to your high school principal inviting her to be one of the judges in the opening ceremonies.