MODULE 10

Varieties and Registers of Spoken and Written Language

Global communication has greatly linked the whole world almost completely.
Interconnectivity is now very easy since the skies is loaded with satellites for broadcasting our
communication.
John Naisbit from his book, “Megatrends 2000” states that the more homogenized the
people’s lifestyle the more they will cling to deeper values, religion, language, art and literature.
People’s outer world may become more similar but their tradition will still be increasingly
treasured. Even if the world has been more globalized in lifestyle, business, music, fashion,
fastfood and others the inner elements, the fundamentals of philosophy, religion and value
system will still be varied and diverse.
In language, diversity remains, varieties will continue to exist.

Language Varieties
In sociolinguistics, language variety is also called lect- a general term for any distinctive
form of a language or linguistic expression. Linguists commonly use language variety (or simply
variety) as a cover term for any overlapping subcategories of a language (Wikipedia). The term
variety is used to refer to any variant of a language which can be sufficiently delimited from one
another. They differ based on social, historical, spatial grounds or the combination of all of these
(https://www.uni-due.de).
Several varieties of language are identified, provided and described in https://www.hawaii.edu
as follows:
1. Pidgin- a language being developed by speakers who have different languages who
need to communicate. The pidgin’s vocabulary comes mainly from one particular
language (called lexifier ). An early pidgin is quite restricted in use and variable in
structure. The later stable pidgin develops its own grammatical rules which are quite
different from those of the lexifier. When a stable pidgin emerges, it is generally learned
as a second language and used for communication among people who speak different
languages. Good examples are Nigerian Pidgin and Bislama (spoken in Vanuatu)
2. Creole- when children start learning a pidgin as their first language and becomes the
mother tongue of the community it becomes a creole. A creole is a distinct language
(just like pidgin) which has taken most of its vocabulary from another language, the
lexifier, but has its own unique grammatical rules. Unlike pidgin, creole is not restricted in
use and is like any other language in its full range of functions. Examples are Gullah,
Jamaican creole and Hawaii creole English. Creole and pidgin are technical terms used
by linguists and not necessarily by speakers of the language. Speakers of Jamaican
creole call their language Patwa ( from patois) and speakers of Hawaii Creole English
call theirs pidgin.
3. Regional Dialect- a variety of language spoken in a particular area of a country. Some
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 Hillbilly
 English (from the Appalachians in the USA) and Geordie (from Newscastle upon Tyne in
the UK ).
4. Minority Dialect- this variety is used by the members of a particular minority ethnic group
which serves as a marker of identity, alongside a standard variety. Examples are African
American Vernacular English in the USA, London Jamaican in Britain and Aboriginal
English in Australia.
5. Indiginized Varieties- these are spoken mainly as second languages in EZ colonies with
multilingual populations. The differences from the standard variety maybe 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 varieties of English in India.
Language Registers
Register often refers to the degree of formality of language. In a more general sense, it
means the language used by a group of people who share similar work or interests, such as
doctors or lawyers (https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk) Language register is the level and style
of one’s writing. It should be appropriate for the situation one is in ( http://www.really-learn-
english.com).
Nordquist 2018, defines it as the way a speaker uses language differently in different
circumstances. It is the way one uses voice, tone of the voice and even body language. One’s
behavior in communicating vary differently when chatting with a friend as compared when one
communicates in a formal party or a job interview. These variations in formality, also called
stylistic variation, are known as registers in linguistics.
Nordquist states that registers are used in all forms of communication, including written,
spoken and signed. Depending on grammar, syntax and tone, the register may be extremely
rigid or intimate. You don’t need to use an actual word to communicate effectively. A huff of
exasperation during a debate or a grin while signing hello speaks volumes.

Some linguists say that there are two types of register: formal and informal, however,
most who study language say that there are five distinct registers:
1. Frozen- This form is sometimes called the static register because it refers to historic
language or communication that is intended to remain unchanged like a prayer, or constitution.
Good examples will be The Bible, The United States Constitution, The Bhagavad Gita and
Romeo and Juliet.
2. Formal- Less rigid but still constrained. This is used in professional, academic or legal
settings where communication is expected to be respectful, uninterrupted and restrained. Slang
is never used and contractions are rare. Examples are a TED talk, a business presentation, the
Encyclopedia Britannica and Gray’s Anatomy by Henry Gray.
3. Consultative- This register is often used by people when they are conversing with
someone who has specialized knowledge or offering advice. It’s tone is respectful but may be
more casual if the relationship is longstanding or friendly. Slang is sometimes used. People may
pause or interrupt one another. Examples can be the local TV news broadcast, an annual
physical examination or a service provider like a plumber.
 4. Casual- Friends, family, coworkers and close acquaintances use this type of register.
Use of slang, contractions and vernacular grammar is common and people may use expletives
or off-color language in some settings. Examples will be when one is in a birthday party or
swimming or dining with friends in a restaurant or a fast food chain.
5. Intimate- This register is reserved for special occasions between two people and often
in private. This language may be something as simple as an inside joke between two college
friends or a word whispered in a lover’s ear.
On the other hand, language registers are classified into three namely: formal register,
informal register and neutral register (http://www.really-learn-english.com).
1. Formal Language Register- This is the most difficult type of writing. It is impersonal,
not written for a specific person and is written without emotion.
Examples:
a. Business letters
b. Some essays
c. Reports
d. Official speeches
e. Professional emails
f. Announcements
g. Letter of endorsement

Provided are some common rules to be followed and observed in formal writing:
a. Do not use contractions. Spell out contractions.
Examples:
should not instead of shouldn’t could not instead of couldn’t
cannot instead of can’t will not instead of won’t
is not instead of isn’t have not instead of haven’t

Contractions can be used if you are quoting someone’s exact words in typing and
writing.
Example:
student’s books lion’s tail
teacher’s performance elephant’s trunk

b. Spell out numbers less than one hundred.

Examples:
eleven sixty-nine twenty-one one

b. Write in third person point of view. Never use the first person or second person in
formal writing, unless it is a quote. Avoid using the following pronouns: I, We, You,
Us
Examples:
Informal: You can buy a second- hand smart phone for under Php 2,000.
Formal: One can buy a second-hand smart phone for under Php 2,000.

Informal: You will probably see a zebra in an African jungle.

Formal: One may see a zebra in an African jungle.

Informal: We decided to study in University of Rizal System.

Formal: The group decided to study in University of Rizal System.

d. Avoid using too much passive voice. Formal writing requires the use of active
voice. Examples:
Passive: The hamburger was eaten by the dog.
The feasibility study was completed by the proponents in 2019.

Active: The dog ate the hamburger.

The proponents completed the feasibility study in 201.
In 2009, the students completed the feasibility study.

e. Avoid using slang, idioms, exaggeration (hyperboles) and clichés. Slang is

common in informal writing and spoken English. Slang is particular to a certain
region or area.

Examples:
awesome/cool lowkey/highkey
okay/ok to ghost someone
check it out to flex

A cliché is a phrase that is overused.

Examples:
too much of good thing moment of truth
time is money beauty is only skin deep
do not push your luck action speaks louder than word
you cannot please anyone

f. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms. If you use an acronym or abbreviation, write it

out the first time. When using acronyms, write the entire name out the first time it
appears, followed by the acronym. From then on, you can use the acronym by itself.

Examples:
University of Rizal System (URS)
Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
Department of Education (DepEd)
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
 For abbreviation, write the complete word the first time, then use the
abbreviations. Examples:
Mister - Mr. President- Pres. approximately- approx.
appointment-appt. apartment- apt. department- dept
minute-min. miscellaneous- misc.

Do not use slang, abbreviations or symbols that you would use in friendly emails
and texts.
Examples:
LOL (laugh out loud) OOTD (outfit of the day) coz (because)

& (and) brb (be right back) w/o (without)

g. Do not start sentences with words like and, so, but, also. Use the following
transition words and phrases in formal writing.

Examples:
Moreover, besides, further, again, likewise, consequently, for instance as a result,
similarly, not only-but also

2. Informal Language Register – This register is used in informal writing when we are
writing to someone we know very well. There are no major rules to informal writing.

Informal writing includes the following:

a. personal emails
b. phone texts
c. short notes
d. friendly letters
e. blogs
f. diaries and journals

3. Neutral Language Register. This language register is used with non emotional
topics and information. This is not necessarily formal or informal. It is not usually
positive or negative. It is used to deliver facts.

Examples of writings written in neutral registers:

a. reviews
b. articles
c. some letters
d. some essays
e. technical writing

The use of a particular register is a challenge to every student. Unlike Spanish

and other languages, there is no special form of a pronoun expressly for use in
formal situation. Culture adds another layer of complication, specially if you are not
familiar and aware with how people are expected to behave and interact in certain
situation. Language skills and competencies can be enriched by enriching your
vocabulary, looking for contextual clues, use of illustrations and illustrations. Listen
for the tone of the voice and observe how people address other people. Are they
using titles or merely calling names. Look how they stand and consider the words
they use