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LECCION 2 - PAGINA 4
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Register |
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Register is the level of formality used
when speaking or writing. Most natives know how to use different
dialects: with friends, when on a job interview or presenting a
report, and talking with family. These are situational
dialects, also called registers or styles. |
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TYPES OF REGISTER |
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Basically, there are four types of register: |
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1. |
FORMAL REGISTER: Used by
professionals or in situations where people are not
familiar with one another. |
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2. |
INFORMAL REGISTER:
Used with more familiar people in
casual conversation. Contractions are used more often,
rules of negation and agreement may be altered, and
slang or colloquialisms may be used. This type of
register also permits certain abbreviations and
deletions, but they are rule governed. For example,
deleting the "you" subject and the auxiliary often
shortens questions. Instead of asking, "Are you
running in the marathon?" a person might ask, "Running
the marathon?" |
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3. |
OVER-FORMAL REGISTER:
Characterized by the use of a false high-pitched
nasal voice. For example, a woman might approach another
woman whom she does not really like and ask her
cordially in a high-pitched voice, "How are you doing?" |
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4. |
MOTHERESE REGISTER:
A type of register characterized by
high-pitched, elongated sounds and "sing-song"
intonation. It is used when people speak to infants,
young children, or pets. |
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NOTE: As in spoken English, there are many
styles of written English which range from the very formal to
the colloquial. However slang is not generally written,
except in the literary register when it might be used in plays
or novels, as it is predominately a spoken style of English. |
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FORMAL AND INFORMAL ENGLISH |
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Now let us read these two letters: |
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Dear Sir,
I read your article in Monday's "Times" with considerable amazement.
I'm afraid that if, as your article would seem to suggest, you are
seriously proposing that the bullock and human muscle power be re-introduced
as farming methods, the proposal cannot be given any serious
consideration.
There can be no doubt that bullocks do in fact permit savings in
fuel and fertiliser, as well as being non-pollutant and contributing
to soil quality.
However, it would be surely not be called progress to force men to
return to back-breaking labour, nor would anyone these days be
prepared to undertake this kind of work.
I also have strong reservations as to the bullock's productivity in
comparison with that of a tractor.
No, Sir. I fear that your proposal can only lead to hard work, poor
productivity and more imports, a situation I fail to see any
advantage in.
I remain,
Yours faithfully. |
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Dear Sir,
When I read your article the other day I was horrified. Are you
seriously suggesting we should start farming with bullocks and human
muscle power again? With all respect, you must be out of your tiny
mind!
Yes, I'm sure we'd save on fuel and fertilisers, and sure that
bullocks are cheap and good for the soil and don't pollute, either,
but do you really think you can make people do back-breaking work
again and call that progress? And, anyway, who do you think you'd
find these days willing to do work like that? Not me, for one!
I'd like to know, too, just how productive a bullock is. How many
fields can it plough in a day? Not half as many as a tractor, I bet!
Apparently you'd be quite happy to send us back to the fields, ...
but to produce less so we'd have to import more? What's the sense in
that?
Yours faithfully. |
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The
first letter above is an example of formal written English,
whereas the one on the right is much more informal. Although
there are no fixed rules about what level of formality has to be
used in any given situation, breaking with the conventions can
cause misunderstanding and even offence. So, be careful because
CPE students may well be expected to recognise and produce
different levels of formality in a Proficiency Exam. |
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DIFFERENCES IN WRITTEN ENGLISH |
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Now study these two tables about the features
mentioned by Mr Grammar: |
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FORMAL WRITTEN ENGLISH tends to
use... |
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1. |
Longer sentences
linked by joining words. |
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2. |
More varied joining
words. |
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3. |
A less personal style:
– use of Passive constructions.
– use of Conditional sentences.
– use of introductory phrases.
– use of explicit reasoning. |
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4. |
More exact vocabulary. |
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5. |
Latin origin
vocabulary e.g. occupation. |
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6. |
Nouns or adjectives to
replace verbs e.g. possible,
possibility. |
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7. |
More non-contracted
verb forms. |
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INFORMAL WRITTEN ENGLISH tends to
use... |
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1. |
Shorter sentences and
shorter paragraphs. |
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2. |
Simple joining words (and,
but, etc.). |
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3. |
A more direct,
personal style:
– use of
Active constructions.
– use of
Present tenses.
– little
use of introductory phrases.
– use of
rhetorical questions. |
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4. |
Vaguer vocabulary. |
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5. |
Anglo-Saxon vocabulary
e.g. job. |
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6. |
Greater use of verbs
e.g. may, might. |
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7. |
More contracted verb
forms e.g. can't. |
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On the next pages you will be able to practise
these tips. |
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LECCION 2 - PAGINA 4
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