Style and Register

(A) Style

In language, Style refers to the different ways we say the same thing depending on
different circumstances, this is what we may also call context. The following three
statements can explain language style.

(1) “Martin stole the car.”

(2) “Martin may have stolen the car.”
(3) “Martin is alleged to have stolen the car.”

The first sentence indicates that whoever says it, he or she is certain of what he or she is
saying. This means he may have seen Martin stealing the car.

The second statement creates some degree of uncertainty about the situation because
of the use of the word “may”.

The third statement does not say whether or not Martin stole the car.

The use of the word “alleged” in this case indicates this.This is also the type of language
that is usually used by media reporters about cases they are reporting about. This
means that someone said Martin stole the car but the reporter is not saying if it is true or
not. Normally people use this form of expression to protect themselves from being sued
for libel from saying things that have not been proven to be true.

Furthermore, language style can also be applied to accommodate individual knowledge

of language. For example, if you are an English speaker, but you are speaking to a
person who does not speak English very well, one tends to change the style of language
one normally uses, simply to suit the person one speaks to.

For example, if you are to show a direction of a local internet café to the tourists who
have less proficiency in the official language you may say “here, go straight; one fifty
meters turn left; big yellow building turn right – there the internet café.”

In this case one can find that we need to use a certain style of language, similar to that
used with children when we speak to people who are not fluent in the language.

(B) Register

Register is a variety of a language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social

setting. For example, it would certainly be inappropriate to use language and vocabulary
reserved for a boyfriend or girlfriend when speaking in the classroom.

Thus the appropriate language register depends upon the audience (who), the topic
(what), purpose (why) and location (where).

Furthermore, in English, not only do we have to learn the grammar, vocabulary,

pronunciation, etc. We also need to make sure we use it appropriately and in the right
context.

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Consider the following sentences:

(1) “Would you like a cup of tea?”

(2) “Jessica – coffee?”
(3) “Can I get you a coffee?

I’m sure that you can imagine the people to whom each of these question phrases are
being addressed to.

For the formality involved in the first question, one can say it is addressed to their boss.

While the second question is informal, it could be addressed to someone you are very
close to especially a friend.

But the last question could be the type of language we use for someone we don’t know
very well. That is how formal, informal and neutral play a major role in our everyday
language use.

Moreover, look at the following scenario: Your close friend has just bought a brand new
sport bicycle and you’d like to borrow it. Which one of the following would you use?

(1) “Lend me your bicycle, will you?”

(2) “I was wondering if I might use your bicycle.” And
(3) “Could I borrow your bicycle?”

The first (informal) will probably get the answer ‘no’ (or worse) - remember the bicycle is
new and special.

The last (neutral) request might be more appropriate in this situation.

If your friend is unlikely to want to lend it then you may need to try the second which is
the most formal.

The three things to consider here are: The relationship, the nature of the request, how
difficult it would be for the person to agree, offer, perform etc.