Lesson 3

     Varieties and Registers of Spoken And Written Language

  
Learning Objectives:
          At the end of this lesson , you should  be able to:
1. discuss the importance of the varieties of English in both oral and
written  context ; 
2. distinguish the lexicon of some Asian varieties of English; 
3. use appropriate registers depending the communication situation;
4. display an ability to cope and adjust with communication breakdown.

     
 What makes communication easy when talking with foreign people?
 
       
Varieties Of English

          There are 3 concentric circles in English

    
1. The Inner circle  ( English as a native language)
2. The outer circle  (English as a second language)
3. Expanding Circle (English as foreign language)
       

              Bautista and Gonzales (2006) said , the structural characteristics of these

varieties differ.
                    
  3 varieties of Edulect
    
a. Acrolect- formal   (closest to the standard)
b.  Basilect -informal ( digresses and comes closest to the pidgin)
b.  Mesolect – neutral (midway bet. acrolect and basilect)

             Kachru and Nelson(2006) claim that these varieties of English are influenced by
the local language in various areas of their grammars and exhibit specific phonological ,
syntactic, lexical and discoursal characteristics.

             Note English varieties in Southeast Asia as seen in the examples:

            Singaporean English:
              
 Actsy – show off
 Missy - nurse
 Chop- rubber stamp
 Marina kids-  youngsters who spend their leisure time at or around
marina square, shopping centre

Philippine English:
        
 Deep -  hard to understand
 Stick – cigarette
 High blood – tense or upset
 Blow out – treating someone with a snack or meal
 Studentry- student body
 Pulot boy – a boy who picks up tennis balls in a game
 Balikbayan box -  box where Filipinos returning from abroad pit all
their shopping  

Malaysian English:
  Antilog – a male hated by a girl
 Popcorn - loquacious person
 Kachang  - peanuts, easy
 Slambar – relax

Language Registers/ Registers Of English

          A variety of language defined according to its use in social situations, register of
scientific religious, formal English according to  David Crystal (2008).

           According to Lee (2001) , genre is associated more with organization of culture,

register is associated with the organization of situation. Register is understood as the
context- specific variety of language to which the field- mode- tenor is important.

           Tenor - In terms of the role/s required of the writers and readers including the
cultural values shared by both.

            Field – may be analyzed  in terms of the social setting and the communicative
purpose.

            Mode – could be explained in the light of knowledge of other texts required of

speakers/ listeners and writers/readers as regards to genre including the formal texts
features

          Language registers refers to the formality of language which one speaks. 

The formal register then used in formal speaking and writing situations.

       Legalese or  legal language -highly characterized by archaic expressions, technical

jargon intrinsic only to the community of legal professionals

       Textese or language of texts -features of SMS and exactly the opposite use of
abbreviations, acronyms, slang words, and expressions.