Scribd
Upload
99 views6 pages

Area 1: MODULE 2: What Is World Englishes

This document discusses varieties and registers of spoken and written language. It begins by introducing World Englishes and how English is used differently around the world. It then defines five varieties of language: pidgin, creole, regional dialect, minority dialect, and indigenized variety. As an example, it compares Singlish and Taglish. The document also defines the five language registers: high formal, formal, neutral, informal, and vulgar. It provides examples of when each register would be appropriately used, such as using high formal language to address a president or informal language with close friends.

Uploaded by

Jexther Pascua Nazar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
99 views6 pages

Area 1: MODULE 2: What Is World Englishes

This document discusses varieties and registers of spoken and written language. It begins by introducing World Englishes and how English is used differently around the world. It then defines five varieties of language: pidgin, creole, regional dialect, minority dialect, and indigenized variety. As an example, it compares Singlish and Taglish. The document also defines the five language registers: high formal, formal, neutral, informal, and vulgar. It provides examples of when each register would be appropriately used, such as using high formal language to address a president or informal language with close friends.

Uploaded by

Jexther Pascua Nazar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Area 1: MODULE 2

CHAPTER 3
VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE
Introduction
World Englishes
Communication processes have always impact in changing times especially globalization.
People have witnessed how languages and new communication styles have emerged in the
workplace, school and community. In fact, English as a global language is in a constant of
change. Today, World Englishes” is recognized by many scholars as it is understood in different
ways.
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:
a. discuss the different types of language varieties,
b. explain language through video presentation, and
c. differentiate spoken and written language in a multicultural setting
Activity 1: Answer the question below:

1. Can I be considered linguist if I know and speak of 2 or 3 languages?

2. React: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in features of silver.” -


Bible –

Learning Content

What is World Englishes

It is simply refer to the different ways by which users from around the world
communicate in English. For instance, the word “salvage” for other countries it means to save
something from an accident or bad situation in which other things have already been damaged,
destroyed, or lost opposite to the Philippine which means to kill" that person. Another example,
two countries divided by a common language – George Bernard Shaw (on the US and UK)
where spelling differs but have the same meaning such as airplane versus aeroplane; program
versus programme etc.
The idea of World English as a paradigm is that there is no single variety of English that
dominates the standard. Thus, its varieties around the world are valid. Just a reminder that in
order to be effective in English, one must be mindful of its context, purpose as a language user
and target audience.
Language Varieties
Language is a powerful tool to communicate verbally or non-verbally through spoken and
written forms. It is used and shared by the people in communities or countries. The World's
Englishes contain many different registers, a register being a language variety chosen by users
depending on what social activity they are involved in.
Language variety is a specific set of ‘linguistic items’ or ‘human speech patterns’
(presumably sounds, words, grammatical features, etc.) which we can connect with some
external factor apparently, a geographical area or a social group. (Hudson, 1996; and
Wardhaugh, 2006 as cited by Dapat, et. al, 2018).
There are five varieties of language (hawaii.edu) which all started in oral form or spoken
language:

Pidgin:

A pidgin is a new language which develops in situations where speakers of different


languages need to communicate but don't share a common language. Once a stable pidgin has
emerged, it is generally learned as a second language and used for communication among people
who speak different languages.
For example of Filipino Pidgin is the following:
"Let's make tusok-tusok the fish balls." (Let's pierce the fish balls with bamboo sticks.)
"I'm so init na; make paypay me naman o." (I'm so hot; please fan me now.)
"You make hintay here while I make sundo my kaibigan." (You wait here while I fetch my
friend.)
B. Creole:
When children start learning a pidgin as their first language and it becomes the mother
tongue of a community, it is called a creole. Like a pidgin, a creole is a distinct language which
has taken most of its vocabulary from another language, the lexifier, but has its own unique
grammatical rules. Unlike a pidgin, however, a creole is not restricted in use, and is like any
other language in its full range of functions.
For example, Chavacano is a spanish-based creole language of the Philippines Chavacano
or Chabacano originated from the Spanish word chabacano which literally means “poor taste”,
“vulgar”, “common”, “of low quality”, or “coarse”. During the Spanish colonial period, it was
called by the Spanish-speaking population as the “lenguaje de la calle“, “lenguaje de parian”
(language of the street), or “lenguaje de cocina” (kitchen Spanish to refer to the Chabacano
spoken by Chinese-Filipinos of Manila, particularly in Ermita) to distinguish it from the Spanish
language spoken by the peninsulares, insulares, mestizos, or the elite class called the ilustrados.
Note that the words 'pidgin' and 'creole' are technical terms used by linguists, and not
necessarily by speakers of the language. For example, speakers of Jamaican Creole call their
language 'Patwa' (from patois) and speakers of Hawai`i Creole English call theirs 'Pidgin.'
C.Regional dialect:
A regional dialect is not a distinct language but a variety of a language spoken in a
particular area of a country. Some regional dialects have been given traditional names which
mark them out as being significantly different from standard varieties spoken in the same place.
Some examples are Tagalog (used mainly in Manila and nearby provinces such as
Batangas, Cavite, Nueva Ecija, and Laguna), Cebu (used mainly Cebu City and some areas in
Mindanao, such as Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and General Santos City) and Ilokano or
Ilocano is a combination of other languages from other countries such as Chamorro of Guam,
Indonesian, Hawaiian, Malay, Samoan and Tahitian. It is mostly spoken in the Northern part of
the country but because Ilocano speaking people have spread throughout the Philippines.
D. Minority dialect:
Sometimes members of a particular minority ethnic group have their own variety which
they use as a marker of identity, usually alongside a standard variety. This is called a minority
dialect. Examples are African American Vernacular English in the USA, London Jamaican in
Britain, and Aboriginal English in Australia.

Indigenized variety:
Indigenized varieties are spoken mainly as second languages in ex-colonies with
multilingual populations. The differences from the standard variety may be linked to English
proficiency, or may be part of a range of varieties used to express identity. For example,
'Singlish' (spoken in Singapore) is a variety very different from standard English, and there are
many other varieties of English used in India.

Try to do this activity: (if you can connect with internet)

Compare Singlish with Taglish (just give some simple comparison or contrast)

Language Register
Language register describes the various styles of language available for writing or
speaking available for writing or speaking. Different situations and people call for different
registers.
There are five language registers or styles. Each level has an appropriate use that is
determined by differing situations. There are different approaches or modalities in language
registers. It can be to face-to-face conversation and in written mode. Thus the appropriate
language register depends upon the audience (who), the topic (what), purpose (why) and location
(where).
You must control the use of language registers in order to enjoy success in every aspect
and situation you encounter.

The Five Basic English Language Register


High formal. It is the level of language that you would use in spoken English on formal
occasions to address the Queen, an archbishop, president or prime minister.
Formal. It is used to when you speak or write to your boss, a client or in a transactional letter.
You use it when, for example, you are referring to or talking to your doctor and using the polite
address of Dr.
Neutral. It is the formal or conventional language level you would use in transactional situations.
These include business letters, report writing, business plans, marketing presentations or
speaking to a client.
Informal. You use informal or casual register when you speak to or write emails and messages to
friends, family or work colleagues.

Vulgar. The vulgar definition is not the language of a smutty joke.


It is an intimate register that contains the type of language we use when we talk to
immediate family members, very close friends, a child or a family pet.
Frozen or static register is language that remains unchanged due to custom or etiquette,
particularly in printed or often repeated form.
Examples include biblical quotations, oaths of office, prayers or a pledge of allegiance.

English register and the ‘you’ problem


For writers, it is very important to know how to use the different formality levels.
Register is a tool that you can use to develop a style, especially in dialogue, to give characters a
consistent voice using natural language.

Language and culture are always intertwined. When you interact with a person using
another language, it means that you are interacting with the culture that speaks the language. It is
learning about the specific society's customs and behavior. In order to fully grasp the idea, study
the next activity.
Activity 3: Answer the following questions using the five basic registers:
When:
A. You talk to the highest official of the country =
B. You talk to a very close friend =
C. You write a letter address to your mother =
D. You are in a formal interview =
E. You talk to a customer =

You might also like