Lenguaje coloquial o informal

Desarrollo de habilidades oral

y auditiva en educación bilingüe
Index
1. Objectives

2. Introduction to the colloquial language

3. What the colloquial language is?

4. Colloquial language and swearing words

5. Colloquial language to promote

the listening comprehension

6. Summary

7. Bibliography
 Lenguaje coloquial o informal | 3

Objectives What is the colloquial

In order to understand what it means listening in the language?
real-life it should be necessary to face an approach to
As a general rule, when interlocutors use vulgar words
the type of message most listened in the daily life of the
in colloquial language, they should not change their
speakers of a language. So that, it will be possible to
informal register to a more formal word or expression
identify this type of everyday language with the colloquial
because would be provoke a modification of the meaning
register, whether spoken or written.
and purpose of the expression itself (Santos 2011: 4).
Throughout this text an expose will be tried to make about The transformation of colloquial language to a more
the possible influence of the cultural values of current formal one, out of context, results in an unnatural
societies, in a general and global sense, as conditioning expression without fulfilling the intention with which the
factors when using different linguistic elements message is addressed in its original informal version.
corresponding to less formal language, slang language
The colloquial language is not exclusive for the use of
or considered more vulgar, within the aforementioned
vulgar expressions, with an offensive purpose or negative
colloquial register of a language. These elements can
connotations. They can also be used to emphasize
be interpreted in one way or another according to the
a message of joy, to show solidarity with someone, to
origin of the speaker and within a specific context, so
convey feelings of joy, to verbalize pain, to give good
that, it would be appropiate to see how important is
wishes, to express surprise at something positive, etc.
when interlocutors are within a certain communicative
Therefore, it is possible to find the definition of colloquial
situation because it can determine the meaning of
language, by Beinhauer, as follows: “We understand by
the message.
colloquial language the speech as it springs natural
and spontaneous in the daily conversation, unlike the
Introduction to the consciously formulated linguistic manifestations. When
dealing with colloquial language we refer only to the
colloquial language conversational living language” (Beinhauer, 1968: 9).
The attenuations, neutralizations or circumlocutions In the moment that interlocutors are talking is the
to express what speaker want to say, without incurring moment when they have less time to think what they are
colloquial and even vulgar expressions, are sometimes going to say and therefore everything is more natural.
not so easy or possible to put into practice due to the However, when writting, they have more time to decide
immediacy of the colloquial language. If the interlocutors what kind of expressions are going to be used, having
are outside an academic and formal context, the most enough time to be aware of whether they want to use
logical thing is that they are expressed through the use vulgarism or not. Therefore, Santos (1994) adds:
of informal and colloquial words. This type of language
is so common and necessary that it is understood as the The oral language - in front of the written language - has
most dynamic and current language that is used daily morphosyntactic, lexical, phonetic, accentual, melodic
in almost any society. It is a language so necessary to and rhythmic resources that make up an idiosyncrasy of
explain what is listening in real-life that brings fluidity and not easy systematization. It is the oral manifestation that
naturalness to the speech of a message issuer. occupies 90% of our linguistic exchanges in its many and
varied possibilities, and of all of them, the colloquium is
This type of expressions usually fulfills a series of our usual means of communication (Santos, 1994: 437).
functions within the language, which make them
fundamental to provide realism and naturalness to Do not confuse this colloquial language, which is outside
human communication. People need to use colloquial the formal register, with the vulgar language associated
expressions (especially swearwords) because they with the low sociocultural level of the speaker, as
represent the verbalized expression of feelings: opposed to the standard language or cultured language.
On the contrary, the colloquial according to Seco (1973)
These functions include expressing positive emotions, and Briz (1998):
including showing surprise, promoting in group
membership, verbal emphasis to emphasize the speaker’s It’s a level of speech, a register or style. Undoubtedly,
feeling about something and negative emotions, such as vulgar traits (such as the use of profanity) may appear
aggression, which threaten a person’s positive and/or in the colloquial register, especially among speakers
negative face. Even though swearing is often considered of lower sociocultural strata, since personal linguistic
as uneducated, obscene, rude and profane language in characteristics (those associated with age, sociocultural
society, I do believe it is a valuable part of a speaker’s level and gender) reflect in the performance; but in no
language, because it enables people to have greater case should the colloquial be identified with the vulgar or
expression and variety within their speech that other the incorrect (Seco and Briz, cited by 2008:4).
linguistic means do not possess (Wang 2013:75).
 Lenguaje coloquial o informal | 4

Colloquial language and Due to this naturalization of the colloquial language it is

possible to find the conditioning that can be exercised
swearing words in the context to which Santos (2011: 10) gives great
importance. For this author, the context is so significant
Throughout the history of linguistics, the colloquial for a misleading expression within the colloquial language,
language and the use of mispronouncing expressions which can turn the intentionality of the use of a malcontent,
have been approached as a delicate subject, related a priori offensive, just in the opposite resulting in a
to the taboo since the first bibliographical references positive connotation.
alluding to this aspect. Santos (2011) cites new
sources that are changing this vision in recent times Another author who also gives a high relevance to the context
and granting an academic character to its treatment. is Ainciburu. She leaves reflected in her work that “the force
of intentionality when we insult is not decided by ideological
The daily and real communication between interlocutors convictions but by the cultural context” (2004: 104).
is full of colloquial language that, as has been mentioned In addition, for this author: “the cultural context is the one that
previously, if interlocutors replace it with other more explains the intentional charge of insult” (2004: 104).
formal structures, it loses the original intentionality with
which it has been used. In spite of this, it does not have That is why, for Santos (2011: 10), the importance of
to be about people of low or vulgar sociocultural level, context is fundamental. This can mean the breakdown of
but that any native of a language is of the condition or the communicative process or not and clarifies that the
status that is, habitually uses of informal way these importance of the context in the teaching of languages, can
expressions with a lot of frequency. describe the functions that insults can have in the speech,
know the type of statement and describe the degree of
The colloquial language and the slang expressions are threat or of affection of these. According to the context,
considered as an element that gives dynamism and the author classifies the insults as very threatening,
realism to the conversations (Santos 2011: 6). This is threatening, little threatening and not threatening (Santos
translated therefore, to the presence of the same in 2011: 11). Focused specifically on these last two types
very diverse fields of the language. For example, they for analysis, establishes a usage behavior related to the
can be found very frequently in audiovisual adaptations proximity of the speakers when using them. The use of
of screenplays. swearwords that are litlle threatening or not threatening,
allows the complicity between the users or agents involved
in the conversation. The result is that these structures
become elements that allow emphasizing, for example
an expression of surprise. The slang language can also
be used to get someone’s attention, as well as reinforcing
ties of complicity among speakers who use this type of
mischievous expressions, within colloquial language.
 Lenguaje coloquial o informal | 5

Hypotheses are considered about the differences of As a compilation it can be considered that with the
use of swear words between different ages and gender. described naturalization of the use of swear words in
Although it seems that at the beginning of his study, colloquial language it is incriminated that “swear words,
Santos (2011) states that there are no differences in with permanent repetition, lose their ilocutory force and
use between different age groups of speakers, then it transform into a crutch that characterizes discourse as
indicates that young people make more abusive use of a sign of belonging to a group” (Ainciburu, 2004: 105).
insults and swear words than the adult students. The use As in the previous case, it is possible to find that this bad
of these expressions seems to be associated within the language and swear words for Brenes (2007: 208):
colloquial language, with the sociocultural integration
of the speakers destined to seek belonging to a specific They are considered not as deteriorating acts of the image
group. According to this theory, the previous idea about but as signs of affiliation to the group and, therefore, of
swearing can be linked to the one proposed by Brenes: reinforcement of social ties and group identity. Hence,
the interlocutors do not feel offended by this deal, but
The fact that these resources are used in prototypically rather, quite comfortable with it, since they indicate that
conversational conversations among young people with they are accepted as one more member of the meeting
the aim of reinforcing the feeling of group solidarity and (Brenes, 2007: 208).
the closeness between the interlocutors, demonstrates
the impossibility of considering language as a code
abstracted from its context, since that the situational Colloquial language to
factors play a crucial role when it comes to interpreting
the degree of courtesy, discourtesy or aggressiveness of
promote the listening
these linguistic elements (Brenes, 2007: 200-201). comprehension
In addition, as far as gender is concerned, it also In a lot of countries, there is a tendency to dubbing
mentions an equal use between both sexes for the curses the films from other original languages. According
constituting exclamatory expressions. But he returns to to this type of translation, let’s focus in the language
make a nuance, establishing a slight difference between used in these dubbing versions paying attention,
men, with the more widespread use of shorter swear especially, about the colloquial expressions, insults and
words, and women, who use longer swear words (or swearing words.
framed in phrases), when insulting. The swearing words
of men usually refer to objects, while the curse words There are a lot of roles interpreted by tough guys, bad
of women usually have the object of criticizing another boys and actors traditionally associated to these kinds
person (Santos 2011: 11). of characters who has created, among the years with
their characteriscs films, a picture of their personality
Ainciburu also reflects in her study the following in everyone’s minds. If someone can imagine Clint
assessment in relation to gender differences in the use Eastwood, Bruce Willis or Sylvester Stallone, fighting
of curse words: “In scientific studies focused on the against their enemies to the death it is not easy to listen
study of gender, it is postulated that men and women do a list of kind words coming from their mouths but just
not use the same curse words. Women use swear words the opposite. Most probably it they are not using such
less strong than men, who express their feelings more threatened swearing words anytime this situation could
emphatically” (2004: 104). provoke that the credibility of the scene is not as real as
the intention had.
Santos (2011) alludes to some swearwords that are
used very often in Western languages, which he calls From this point it would be appropiate to begin to highlight
“wild words”, to show their roots in the sociocultural and the importance of the use of slang language in everyday
linguistic customs of the speakers. The widespread use of communication between speakers of a language in any
these expressions by native speakers of a language is so language. If someone talked about the possible lack
present that they are used practically unconsciously and, of credibility of a scene from a movie, even if it were a
in most cases, not even as insults. In this way, they come fictitious situation, it is directly due to the fact that the use
to constitute, rather, elements that serve to complement of curse words is linked to the expression of emotions
and connect the words that make up conversations and, therefore, is not understood that in a context such
colloquial. It can be said then that swearwords are as the character of these actors, more neutral words are
strategies that give more dynamism to the dialogues, used to express that emotional charge that, a priori, is
when their original offensive meaning is relegated. understood to be his speech. But what would happen
This last, could summarize in a very superficial to the perception of those swear words if they were not
way, what is the role played by swearwords in the translated? Would listener feels the same when listening
colloquial language. to them in their own language? Will people who learn a
foreign language be interested in learning these words?
 Lenguaje coloquial o informal | 6

Would it be useful to teach this content in the language Are multifunctional, pragmatic units which assume, in
classes? Can a non-native feel the same as a native in addition to the expression of emotional attitudes, various
the perception and production of this type of colloquial discourse functions. They contribute, for instance, to
language in a foreign language than in their own mother the coordination of the interlocutors, the organization
tongue? Will there be any difference in the reaction to of the interaction and the structuring of verbal
curses in a language that is being learned according to exchange; in that they are similar to discourse markers”
the (sociocultural) origin of the people who are exposed (Dewaele, 2004:205).
to it?
This is one of the most relevant statements to understand
The origin of the approach to these questions, among the importance of this chapter because it explains that
others, lies in the observation of a possible elusive the colloquial language favors the fluidity, naturalness
behavior on the part of non-native speakers when and interaction between speakers of a language.
translating curse words from a language into their For Dewaele the study of swear words and words
own mother tongue, as can happen with the films considered taboo contribute to research in bilingualism,
quoted previously. It is necessary to pay attention to psychology, pragmatics, second language learning and
some subtitles and check that there can be significant emotions. In his study, he investigates the relationships
differences when translating the referenced language between languages and emotions in bilingual and
elements between different original languages. multilingual people focusing on a specific field: the
These differences giving the keys to the beginning of this perception of the emotional force of swearwords and
theme and the usefulness of the colloquial language on taboo words.
favour to the development of listening comprehension.
In his research work, Dewaele denotes the absence of
There is no very extensive specific bibliography on this this type of words in the classrooms and the materials
subject, so it is important to highlight the contributions of language teaching which translates into a lack of
of Dewaele, J.-M. (2004 and 2010) and Caldwell-Harris, knowledge or infrequent use of them, by the language
CL & Aycicegi-Dinn, A. (2009 and 2014). Dewaele (2004) learners. As a possible consequence of this, it can inform
highlights the importance of curse words in the field of about the proliferation of web pages where it is possible
the expression of emotions and, within the linguistic to find different types of profanity and offensive language
interactions, compares them with the importance that in different languages and how there is an exchange of
discursive markers can have: information on this type of language, in order to facilitate
an approximation to these words that allow non-native
speakers to make use of them to “socialize” in public
events: “knowledge of swearwords and expressions in
a second language allows one to show off at cocktail
parties” (Dewaele, 2004: 205).
 Lenguaje coloquial o informal | 7

The acquisition of this type of language by unreliable Then the recriminations followed, the negative
sources, such as the aforementioned websites, and positive words and, finally, the neutral words.
contributes to an inappropriate use of the same by these Although it was surprising that, when it came to testing
users when it comes to putting it into practice with native with the foreign language in English, it was also the taboo
speakers. Lacking the sociopragmatic competences words that caused a stronger reaction in native Turkish
necessary for the use of these words, non-native speakers speakers. This can add to the previous conclusion
may engage in vulgar and offensive behavior that is not that the taboo words, in each language, activate the
specific to the context in which the communicative act of receptors emotionally.
the chosen language is developed.
Native Turkish learners of English as a second language,
In spite of all this, the absence of swearing and the were studied by Ayciceği-Dinn and Caldwell-Harris
words considered taboo distort the real communicative (2014) for three years. In the course of this period
exchanges. According to Dewaele, the slang language of time, Turkish students were subjected to several
gives fluidity and daily appearance in what has been analyzes, among which were some motivation and
said. In that way, this language is necessary in a self-assessment tests on their learning of English.
language as much as any other type of words because The result of continuous exposure to emotionally charged
if they were not used the essence of it would be lost sentences is considered in this study as a fundamental
and could be considered incomplete. To reflect this element for the progressive improvement of the level of
situation, this researcher quotes the following Russian English. Also, it turns out that English has more strength
proverb: “Speaking without swearing is like a cabbage in the memory of emotionally charged expressions
soup without tomatoes”. As a clear example of this than Turkish.
situation it can be put for instance the use of swear
words with positive connotations, which is often done in Regarding the taboo words in English for the Turkish
Mediterranean languages, to emphasize a message of native speakers, these were more deeply assimilated than
admiration. other elements when they were recognized as something
newer since they do not seem to be taboo words of their
The other of the reference studies that serve as the own. The need to assess the emotional intensity of these
basis for arguing this proposal is the research carried words contributes to increase the interest and effort to
out by Ayciceği-Dinn and Caldwell-Harris (2009). In this process this information to later retain it (Ayciceği-Dinn
research, a series of studies is conducted with Turkish and and Caldwell-Harris 2009: 292). However, they conclude
English bilinguals residing in Istanbul (Turkey). In these the study with the statement that the taboo words in
studies, the theories that involve emotionally charged Turkish and English produce similar reactions, so it
expressions used in the mother tongue have a greater follows that curse words in a second language do not
affectivity than those used in a second language are always lack emotions for a non-native speaker.
confirmed. In the psycholinguistic experiments carried
out by these researchers, they determine that emotional Due to these previous studies there is the certainty of
language is better remembered by informants than the importance of swear words in the language, both
neutral words. In relation to the memories of emotionally in the mother tongue and in the learning of a second
charged expressions, they were similar in their mother language. That importance lies, clearly, in its connection
tongue than in the foreign language, being the elements with the transmission of emotions and hence the need to
used to repress someone the best remembered. continue researching to try to get closer to know what is
the perception that a language learner has regarding this
Then there are the taboo words, followed by the positive type of language, approaching their reactions and your
words, the negative words and finally, the neutral words feelings.
(Dewale 2010: 599). For this reason, it is said that the
mother tongue is perceived, generally, as more emotional
than the other languages that are learned later. Summary
Added to this, in another study conducted with electronic Making a review over the research works explained
devices to measure the bodily reactions of bilingual above is totally clear what the importance of
speakers of Turkish and English, Ayciceği-Dinn and the colloquial language is in the process to
Caldwell-Harris (2014: 3) citing Harris, Ayciceği-Dinn, teaching-learning a new language. It was found how
& Gleason (2003) exposed to these to sentences in the nature of this type of language, as well as dynamic
Turkish as a mother tongue and English as a second and active character, is giving a sense of reality to the
language. In these phrases you could find taboo words, message because using the colloquial language is the
recriminations, positive words and others that generate 90% of the daily communication. In sum the colloquial
rejection, and neutral words. The result was that language contributes to develop the student’s skills,
Turkish native speakers had a stronger reaction to the especially listening comprehension, because the input
taboo words in their mother tongue than to the others. of a language based on the real-life communication is
connected with the perception of the environment linked
to the culture where this language is coming from.
 Lenguaje coloquial o informal | 8

If teachers can connect the teaching-learning process 6. Castellano, A. El registro coloquial en la enseñanza
with the daily use of the language the students will be de la lengua materna. El Guiniguada, nº 17, pp. 1-13;
more motivated about the topic. 2008. Available from: http://www.webs.ulpgc.es/
canatlantico/pdf/8/10/registro_materna.pdf
Using the colloquial language in the classroom, as well
7. Dewaele, J.-M. ‘Christ fucking shit merde!’ Language
as in real-life, promotes the listening comprehension of
preferences for swearing among maximally
the students. It is not only because teachers can catch
proficient multilinguals. Sociolinguistic Studies, vol.
the attention of the students easily, with a real sample of
4, nº 3, pp. 595–614; 2010. Available from: http://
the language they are trying to learn, but because techers
www.equinoxpub.com/journals/index.php/SS/
are preparing them to be ready for the real life out of
article/view/7344
the classroom.
8. Dewaele, J.-M. The Emotional Force of Swearwords
and Taboo Words in the Speech of Multilinguals.
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