ASSH2001

Language Register
Register in linguistics is used to indicate degrees of formality in language use. Language register or
the speech style is the level of formality of which one speaks. Different situations and people call for
different registers.
Kind Examples
Casual • Talking with friends
This is the informal language used by peers and friends. • Personal letter to a friend
Past experience with that person. Slang, vulgarities, and • Talking with teammates
colloquialisms are normal. This is a “group” language. • Chats and e-mails
One must be a member to engage in this register. • Personal blogs
Intimate • Finishing each other’s sentences
This communication is private. This language is shared • Spouses
between couples, twins, very close friends. It is reserved • Boyfriend and girlfriend
for close family members or intimate people. • Siblings
• Parent and children
• Very good friend
Frozen • Pledge of allegiance
Also called static register, this style of communication • Words to a song
rarely or never changes. It is “frozen” in time and • Poetry
content. • Prayer
• Preamble to the PH Constitution
• Alma Mater
Formal • Presentations
This language is used in formal settings and is one-way • Academic paper
in nature. This use of language usually follows a • Essays in school
commonly accepted format. • Sermons
• Speeches
• Announcements
• Interviews
Consultative • Strangers who interact
This is a standard form of communication. Users • Adults at work
engage in a mutually accepted structure of • Teachers with students
communication. Two-way communication used in • Talking with lawyer or doctor
conversation with professional discourse is a good • Counselor and client
example. It also shows no past experience with that
person.
Table 1. Kinds of Language Register
Lifted and modified from: SPEAC: Speak and Listen in Context, 2016.

The Universal Rule for Language Registers

“A person can go from one register to the next register without any conflicts.”

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Oral Presentation and Delivery Techniques

Oral presentation/interpretation and delivery of ideas seek to achieve specific goals of “why” you
wanted to share the information you have and “how” you see views from different aspects. Here are
some techniques that may help you to effectively share and deliver the ideas you want others to
perceive correctly according to your personal understanding:
1. Awareness of how words are combined to create mood and meaning
To do this, study the piece so that you will understand not just all the words but also how the
writer, in putting those words together, has created the mood and meaning which you now
need to give voice to.

2. Study and preparation

Consider the attitude, feelings, emotion, or temperament of the person who wrote the
selection because these give meaning to the words and point to the style of reading aloud,
which you will use in your interpretation. Research the life of the author and the
circumstances that led to the writing of the poem or story as this background may help you
understand the selection.

3. Make the piece your own when you interpret it

Identify words and ideas that need emphasis. Recall your own experiences to help you in
understanding the author’s mood. Put your vocal skills (proper quality, pitch, intensity, rate,
including, and phrasing) into good use to recreate the writer’s meaning.

4. Use of verbal (pronunciation, voice, tone, modulation, emphasis) and nonverbal cues
Allow sincere, spontaneous bodily actions that naturally come to convey ideas and emotions.
Mind the use of voice, tone, and modulation in stating words to help the audience/listeners
identify what you are trying to emphasize in your presentation.

John Langshaw “J. L.” Austin (March 26, 1911 – February 8, 1960) was a British philosopher of
language. He is remembered primarily as the developer of the theory of speech acts. Austin pointed
out that we use language to do things, as well as to assert things, and that the utterance of a statement
like “I promise to do so-and-so” is best understood as doing something—making a promise—rather
than asserting anything, hence the name of one of his best-known works How to Do Things with
Words.

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Speech Act
In linguistics and the philosophy of language, it is an utterance that has a performative function in
language and communication. It cannot be complete until someone receives and interprets the
utterance.

Type Meaning Example

Locution (utterance) It is the mere utterance of a string Patrick: Oh... The basketball game.
of words with a certain meaning.

Illocution (intention) It is the act of speaking to interact Patrick: Oooh… The basketball
with the receiver. game.
Luke: Today’s the final basketball
game of your favorite team, isn’t it?

(At this point, when Patrick said,

Perlocution (response) It is the act of uttering words to
affect the behavior or manner of
the receiver. It is also the act of
trying to bring about a certain
change in the addressee.
“The basketball game,” his
intention is clear that he wanted
Luke to interact with him.)
Patrick: Ooh… The basketball
game, please.
Luke: Oh, yeah. The basketball
game! [Turns on the television to
watch the basketball game]ss

(The reaction of Luke is an example

of an affected behavior based on
the utterance of words which
Patrick made.)
Table 2. Types of Speech Act
Lifted and modified from: http://www.carla.umn.edu/speechacts/definition.html

References:
Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition. (n.d.). What is a speech act?. University of
Minnesota. http://www.carla.umn.edu/speechacts/definition.html
Fernandez, A. & Suarez, E. (2016). SPEAC: speak and listen in context. Phoenix Publishing House.
Speech act. (n.d.). Lexicon of Linguistics. http://www2.let.uu.nl/uil-
ots/lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=speech+act last

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