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Module 3: Communication in The Multicultural World: Central Luzon State University
Module 3: Communication in The Multicultural World: Central Luzon State University
Objectives
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COMM 1100 (Purposive Communication)
Like for example, in the US, English has lots of language varieties-we have the
American English and the British English, to name a few. Although, the main
language is the same, still it is not entirely similar in terms of the intonation,
pronunciation and even its vocabularies. The use of the English language depends
on the geographical location of a certain group of Americans.
Same goes to the Philippines. Although we speak the Filipino language, there
are still terms that has different meanings in other regions/places. Also, our
country, which has a very rich culture and is consists of many ethno-linguistic
groups, we speak a variety of dialects-Ilocano, Kapampangan, Bisaya, Pangalatok,
etc.
The term “variety” is coined to avoid the use of the term “language”, which
general refer to one’s standard language.
The language register on the other hand, is the way how the speaker uses the
language depending on the situation/circumstance. It may be formal or informal
depending on the person whom the speaker is talking to. As mentioned earlier,
the way you communicate with the elderlies, your professors and high-profiled
people should be highly different from the way you communicate with your friends
and classmates.
Of course, there are still more about language varieties and language registers.
This will be presented later in this module.
Language Varieties
In sociolinguistics, language variety also called lect is a general term for any
distinctive form of a language or linguistic form of a language or linguistic
expression. Linguists commonly use language variety (or simply variety) as a cover
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COMM 1100 (Purposive Communication)
Dialect
The word dialect—which contains "lect" within the term—derives from the
Greek words dia- meaning "across, between" and legein "speak." A dialect is a
regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar,
and/or vocabulary. The term dialect is often used to characterize a way of
speaking that differs from the standard variety of the language. Sarah Thomason
of the Linguistic Society of America notes:
"All dialects start with the same system, and their partly
independent histories leave different parts of the parent system
intact. This gives rise to some of the most persistent myths about
language, such as the claim that the people of Appalachia speak
pure Elizabethan English."
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COMM 1100 (Purposive Communication)
There is limited knowledge about and little regard for linguistic study
showing that all varieties of a language display systematicity and that the
elevated social position of standard varieties has no scientific linguistic basis."
There are also different types of lects which echo the types of language.
These are the following:
Slang
For certain other kinds of varieties, especially those referred to as slangs
and jargons, the set includes only a relatively small set of vocabulary items.
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COMM 1100 (Purposive Communication)
kerb crawler Noun. A person who drives slowly to view street
prostitutes, with the intention of procuring their services. {Informal}.
khyber (pass) Noun. Buttocks, anus. Cockney rhyming slang on 'arse'.
kiddie fiddler Noun. A paedophile. Derog.
kipper Noun. The face. E.g."Did you see the miserable kipper on that
idiot stood at the back?" [Liverpool/North-west use.]
kisser Noun. Mouth. Origins in boxing.
knocking shop Noun. A brothel.
kooky Adj. Crazy, eccentric
We can observe that some of the expressions contain ordinary words in the
language, only with a special meaning attached to it, like kisser and knocking.
These words have acquiered new meanings in their polysemy networks. The new
meanings are usually based upon fanciful and creative metaphors and
metonymies.
In other cases the expressions contain special words that do not have any
«non-slang» meanings, like kooky.
Jargon
As Sohn (1999 : 407) points out, language has essentially two functions –
transmission of information and knowledge on the one hand and establishment
and maintenance of human relationships on the other. It is the latter function that
is relevant to linguistic politeness. For example, Korean has two words meaning
‘I’: na and ce, and they are characterized as plain and humble, respectively. The
plain form is used when talking to a child or a younger adult, while the humble
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COMM 1100 (Purposive Communication)
form is used when talking to a senior or an adult equal. While Standard English
has the one pronoun you to refer to the addressee(s), Sohn (1999 : 207) presents
no less than 14 different forms.
In fact, Korean has not less than six politeness levels, that are realized inter
alia in the pronoun system and in verbal inflections. Sohn (1999) defines the
politeness levels as follows (some details are left out):
• The plain level, which is the lowest level, is used, in general, by any speaker
to any child, to one’s own younger sibling, child, or grandchild regardless
of age, and to one’s daughter-inlaw, and also between intimate adult
friends whose friendship began in childhood.
• The familiar level is slightly more formal than the intimate level, typically
used by a male adult to an adolescent such as a high school or college
student or to one’s son-in-law, or between two close adult friends whose
friendship began in adolescence.
• The blunt level, which is gradually disappearing from daily usage probably
due to its authoritative connotations, is sometimes used by a boss to his
subordinates or by an old generation husband to wife.
• The polite level is the most popular level towards an adult, and is used by
both males and females in daily conversations. It is less formal than the
deferential level.
• The deferential level is used in formal situations such as news reports and
public lectures.
Language Registers
Categories of Registers
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COMM 1100 (Purposive Communication)
• Casual Register: This register is used among friends and peers, and
includes informal language including slang and colloquialisms. Casual
register is often used among friends, teammates, etc.
• Intimate Register: This register is reserved for close family members such
as parents and children and siblings, or intimate people such as spouses.
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COMM 1100 (Purposive Communication)
Examples:
Grammar
Informal Formal
Joe and Charles attended the and Charles.
meeting.
The meeting was thought to have
Joe and Charles thought the meeting been a success.
was a success.
The house was built in 1789 by
Robert Mortimer built the house in Robert Mortimer.
1789
The formal dance was attended by
Mary and Ryan went to a formal
dance on Saturday. Mary and Ryan.
Thank you for your letter we Thanks for your letter. We got it on
received on the 14th of September 14 Sept.
2018.
We’ve sent a copy to comp. H.Q.
A copy has been sent to company along with a memo re. your financial
headquarters in addition to a situation. I’ve set a meeting for 3
memorandum concerning your
financial situation. Oct at 11 am to talk about another
bank loan.
A meeting has been scheduled for
the 3rd October 2018 at 11 am to So, please let us know if you can
discuss your request for a further make it a.s.a.p. But, we might ask
bank loan. Therefore, please inform you a few things to do with your inc.
us of your availability for this and exp. before giving you a loan.
meeting at the earliest opportunity.
The meeting was attended by Joe
However, a number of issues concerning your income and expenditure may be queried prior to
a loan being granted.
Furthermore, the General Manager needs to be contacted in order to authorise bank loans of
this nature.
Moreover, your previous failure to meet payment arrangements will first have to be considered.
Nevertheless, in the interim, you are required to complete the enclosed business plan, which
should be brought to the meeting.
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Vocabulary
Also, I need to get in touch with the G.M. to okay it.
Plus, we’ll first have to think about the last time you didn’t keep up with your payments.
Anyway, in the meantime, you need to fill in this business plan. Bring it to the meeting with
you.
Informal Formal
To get To receive
To buy To purchase
To set up To schedule
So Therefore
But However
And Furthermore
Punctuations
Example:
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COMM 1100 (Purposive Communication)
References
Hickey, R. (n.d.). Variety Studies. Retrieved from
https://www.uio.no/studier/emner/hf/ikos/EXFAC03-
AAS/h05/larestoff/linguistics/Chapter%207.(H05).pdf
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