Purposive Communication

Varieties and Registers of English

Text and Context Analysis for Purposive Communication
Communication Aids and Strategies Using Tools of Technology
One day a Filipino teacher from Iloilo and an
Indian teacher from Kerala were conversing
with each other in English.
Their talk began with the Indian complimenting
the Filipino.
In a heavily accented voice, she said, "You have
a lovely frock."
Leaning forward, the Filipino lady responded,
"Huh?"
Her Indian friend slowly repeated what she
said but this time emphasized the word,
"frock" while pointing to her friend's floral
printed black dress.
"Oh, thanks," the Filipino promptly replied a
bit embarrassed for not understanding right
away what her friend meant by what she said.
Language Variety
In sociolinguistics, language variety or a lect refers to the distinctive
form of a language.
It can have two broad types:
(1) user-related varieties
(2)use-related varieties
User-related variety
The first type is associated with the
specific people who use it and
naturally with the places where
they live.

Example: English spoken by

people in Australia is often called
Australian English and most people
are aware that when the word
‘ Today ’ is said as “ To die,” the
speaker must be an Australian.
Use-related variety
It is associated with function such as literary English (the language
used in literary texts) or business English (the language used in
business and corporate communication) and many others.
Varieties of English
üEnglish is widely used in the world, and thus it has gained the
reputation of being an international language.
üIts spread may have been brought about by colonization, migration,
and globalization among others.
üThe language with many varieties such as American English, Korean
English, Filipino English, etc.
In 1990’s, Braj Kachru, an
Indian linguist, developed
the concentric circle model
representing the spread of
World Englishes.
 Filipino English and American English
üAs a former colony of the United
States of America, the Philippines
belongs to the outer circle of the
World Englishes model.
üIt has continued to place a high
premium on English as it occupies a
privileged position of being one of
the official languages of the country
as stated in the Philippine
Constitution.
• English has been used in the Philippines for more than a hundred years,
and it has evolved into a variety which is uniquely Filipino.

• For instance, spoken Filipino English often disregards the ‘schwa' sound
in the word, ‘bicycle.' Thus you will hear it said either as ‘bysikel’ or
‘bysikool.'
üSince the 1900s, the English
taught to Filipinos has been the
variety that the United States of
America has brought to the
country.
üThus, the grammar, spelling, and
pronunciation of English by
those who successfully learn the
language approximate the
American English (AE) variety
Differences between American and British English
üAmerica and Britain “are two nations divided by a common
language.”
üIf you look closely the two English varieties, there are more
similarities than differences.
The most noticeable difference between American and British English are
vocabulary and spelling.
Examples:
...an American lives in an apartment while a British lives in a flat.
...the American baby wears a diaper while the British wears a nappy.

... Americans usually spell these words without a ‘u’ – color, labor,
favor, savor unlike the British who spell them as colour, labour, favour,
savour.
...Americans spell as ‘judgment’ and ‘acknowledgment’ while British
also prefers these spelling for ‘judgement’ and ‘acknowledgement’
Language register
üIt is the style or level by which one communicates in a given context.
üIt is the kind of language for a specific situation.
üIt uses specialized words, phrases, and contractions that may be
exclusive only to one particular social setting and may sound strange or
off if used in another.
*Language register is determined by its use, not by its users.
1. Formal language register is used mostly in written communication.
Business letters, research reports, and professional emails.
2. Informal language register is often the variety appropriate for
ordinary conversations, text messaging between friends and similar
situations.
Five Styles in Spoken Language
A popular model for the levels of spoken English was introduced by
Martin Joos in the 1960s.
These are frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimate.
 INTIMATE STYLE
This style is used when you are close to the person and you know them
very well because you communicate in a daily basis. Private language
may also exist due to close ties.

Family
Best and Close Friend
Loved one
 CASUAL STYLE
The receiver is usually a member of the same subculture you have, same age bracket
because of the establishment of the common way of speaking, words and phrase, as
well as non verbal communication.
 SLANG
primarily used by younger people
to set themselves of their group
apart from the others, to gain
popularity, or to creatively
communicate informally.
JARGONS
Words or phrases that are used in a
specific setting, profession or trade
and might not be understood by
people out of the setting, or of
different industry.
 CASUAL STYLE
The receiver is usually a member of the same subculture you have, same age bracket
because of the establishment of the common way of speaking, words and phrase, as
well as non verbal communication.

Country Slang Urban Slang

Used by those who are in the Used by those who are in the city
rural parts of a country
Awesome sauce = awesome than
Redneck = farmers awesome
Younguns = young people Baby bump = protruding
Uppity = snobby abdominal region of a woman
Dawg = close friend

ORAL COMMUNICATION
Communicative Competence Strategies
 CASUAL STYLE
The receiver is usually a member of the same subculture you have, same age bracket
because of the establishment of the common way of speaking, words and phrase, as
well as non verbal communication.

Gay Slang Common Slang

Used by members of LGBTQI Used by almost everybody
community as well as anyone
interested Kudos = respect or recognition
Blimey = exclamation of surprise
Botch = clumsy workmanship

ORAL COMMUNICATION
Communicative Competence Strategies
 CONSULTATIVE STYLE
Used when we talk to strangers or when we don’t know the person
that well. The speaker uses professional or mutually accepted language
and the listener participates and gives feedback

Talking with a judge or lawyer

doctor to patient conversation
 FORMAL STYLE
It does not encourage feedback and it also doesn’t have considerable
social significance. The main function of this style is to impart
information.

Sermons by priests
President’s State of the Nation Address
Speech in conventions
 FROZEN STYLE
Most formal of all styles. Frozen style is also called fixed speech because
the language does not change in time. It is used during formal
ceremonies or traditions, delivery of prose or poetry.

Pledges
Religious services
Shakespeare’s plays
 Style Sample verbal message Non-verbal language Context

Frozen I beseech Spoken with aloud, Worship service in a

you,therefore,brethren... pleading voice church

Formal I challenge all of you

Consultative Can I ask you to do this?

Casual Hey,got a minute?

Intimate Pretty please

Remember that...
ü...people who desire to be effective communicators must choose the
best language variety and register to express their ideas in.
They can do this by a careful analysis of the place and the time of the
communication event; the people involved; its end or purpose; the
sequence or organization of the speech acts; the tone appropriate for
the event; the language, whether written or spoken; the rules or norms
to be met; and the kind of communication activity.

ü...selecting the most appropriate language variety and register may

not necessarily result to complete success, but it can be the first step
to its realization.
Comprehension check
1.What is language variety? Differentiate between user-related and
use-related varieties.

2.How did Braj Kachru show the spread of English?

3.Why is Filipino English similar to American English especially in terms

of grammar and spelling?

4.How does British English differ from American English?

5.Why is it important to be familiar with other varieties of English?

6.What is language register? Distinguish formal from informal register?

7.Describe the five styles of spoken English using the framework of

Martin Joos.

8. What factors should be considered when deciding on which style or

register to use?