Communication Studies

Module 2: Language Registers

• Register is defined as: a speaker’s word choice and
syntactic ordering of his or her speech or written act
in a particular social context.

• Register is socially motivated by considerations of

what is appropriate in speech and writing for a given
situation.

• Refers to the level of formality used in written or

spoken language, based on the purpose and
situation of what is being communicated and why.
• In deciding the appropriate register for a given
situation, one has to consider factors such as the
audience for which the communication is intended;
the nature of the subject matter being spoken or
written about; the medium which may or may not
include non-verbal elements of communication and
the writer’s attitude towards the content he/she
writes about.

• Other considerations include the occasion for writing

or speaking, the purpose for speaking or writing, the
social ranks of those involved, and concerns for
politeness and protocol.
• Two factors that govern the level of formality in any
speech or writing act are the communicative code and
the social setting in which the code is used.
- When a level of formality is required, there are
noticeable adjustments that a speaker observes
regarding the communicative code. Greater attention is
paid to the rules and conventions in both speech and
writing, gesture, dress and the relationship between
those engaged in the discourse.
- In speech, care is taken with intonation – pitch
contour, meter, loudness and rate of speech, and turn-
taking.
 Types of Register
• FORMAL:
Intended Audience: strangers or persons in socially formal
situations such as ceremonies and in formal written
communication.

Content Communicated: general information; carefully

screened thoughts and feelings.

Linguistic Features: Use of standard language; complete

sentences.
Example: sermons, rhetorical statements and questions,
speeches, pronouncements made by judges, announcements.
Standard language is usually preferred and
complete sentences are used . Spontaneous
verbal feedback is not expected.
Examples: Mr. President, members of the Board
of Governors, distinguished guests, ladies and
gentlemen…..

I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of

application dated….
• FROZEN/STATIC

Intended Audience: can be appropriate for

formal and informal situations.
Content Communicated: Can be appropriate to
communicate generate information or personal
thoughts.
Linguistic Features: May possess standard and
non-standard features of language. This register
usually contains complex sentence structures and
technical vocabulary and the word order is fixed.
• Example: the Pledge of Allegiance, the Lord’s
Prayer, the Preamble to the US Constitution, the
Alma Mater, a bibliographic reference, laws .
“I ……….., having been elected to the office of ….. Do
solemnly swear that I shall uphold the constitution of
…..and shall discharge my duties without fear or
favour.
• CONSULTATIVE
Intended Audience: Can be appropriate for formal and
informal discourse in which the listener is expected to give
continuous feedback to the speaker.

Content Communicated: Appropriate for general

information as in context of a teacher/pupil conversation or
personal information as in context of a doctor’s visit or a
business transaction - Service provider-client interaction

Linguistic Features: May possess standard or non-standard

features depending on the context. May involve non-
verbal elements. Complete sentences are used where
necessary and polite expressions reinforce the
conversational nature of the interchange
• Example: doctor & patient, lawyer & client, lawyer &
judge, teacher & student, counselor & client
‘Good morning, sir, how may I help you?’

• Rule of Language Use:

One can usually transition from one language register
to an adjacent one without encountering
repercussions. However, skipping one or more levels is
usually considered inappropriate and even offensive.
• CASUAL/INFORMAL
Intended Audience: peers, casual acquaintances,
colleagues but not close friends

Content Communicated: general information and non-

personal thoughts and feelings.

Linguistic Features: Use of standard and non-standard

structures. Use of slangs and ellipsis. Conversation may
not follow a logical sequence.
Example: buddies, teammates, chats and emails, and
blogs, and letters to friends.
‘What’s up? Everything OK?’
‘For now. You saw de match yesterday?’
‘Yeh, it was bess! Wah yuh tink bout de new
teacher?’
‘I ent see she yet. Wat she teachin?’

It is important to note that the conversation may

not follow a logical sequence. There may also be
attempts to code-switch to adopt the dialect of the
other person.
• INTIMATE
Intended Audience: Very close acquaintances and
relatives.

Content Communicated: Personal thoughts and feelings.

Linguistic Features: Incomplete sentences and ellipsis;

use of slangs; use of coded language and specialized
vocabulary; greater reliance on non-verbal elements.
There is evidence of intimacy in the use of nicknames and
terms of endearment as well as expression of personal
emotions

Example: husband & wife, boyfriend & girlfriend, siblings,

parent & children.
• PRIVATE

Intended Audience: Intra-personal: self

Content Communicated: Innermost thoughts, impressions
and feelings kept within the self.

Linguistic Features: Use of standard and non-standard

structures; ellipsis and slang. Exclamations, interjections
and non-verbal expressions are possible.
E.g. Well, I don’t believe it. Where did I put that book?
Oh, no! Please don’t tell me I lost it.
 CLASS ACTIVITY

Identify type of register used in each of the

following situations.
1. After being told you have chronic migraine by
your physician, you have decided to get a second
opinion.
2. Dr. Brian Morgan, I wish to present you with this
token of our appreciation for your having graced
us with your presence at our Annual Awards
Ceremony.
3. Yow, dwaag. What a gwaan? How de ting set up
fi lata?

4. “How could I have done this?” I wondered aloud.

5. Our Father, Who art in heaven….

6. ‘You are my heart beat. I love you so much. You

mean the world to me.’

7. Speaking with your teacher about your late

Comm Studies IA.
3. Miss Whyte is explaining the breakdown for the
payment of your CAPE examinations.

4. Relating a story to a friend about the girl you met

at the party last week.

5. Self evaluating your performance in an interview.

6. A visit to the Guidance Counsellor’s office about a

troubling situation.

7. Dearest, Amelia. I have missed you so much for

the last three months.
3. Son, when are you going to understand that we
can’t afford to send you to university? There’s just
not way out.

4. For better or worse, in sickness and in health, for

richer or poorer.

5. ‘I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may

kiss the bride.’