Language Registers

What is a Register?  describes the various styles of language available for writing or speaking

Language Registers  Every Language has 5 language registers and 5 language styles

How do you decide which language register is appropriate to use?  Deciding which language register is appropriate depends on the: o Audience o Topic o Situation

Public Voice  I use my public voice when I am at school, at work, or at church with friends or strangers.

Private Voice  When I am with my friends and close family in a “casual setting”, I can be less formal.

The Universal Rule  A person can go from one register to the next register without any conflicts

Five Language Registers  Frozen  Formal  Consultative  Casual  Intimate

Public Voice  Frozen  Formal  Consultative

Frozen Register  Language that rarely or never changes

Examples of Frozen Register  Pledge of Allegiance  Words to a song  Poetry  Prayer  laws

Formal Register  One-way communication  Complete sentences  Focus on form

Examples of Formal Register  Presentations  Academic Paper  Essays in school  Used at work, school, and business  Interviews  TAKS

Which would I send to your parent?  Wat up !!! Holla back.  Hello Ms. James. Please contact me at your earliest opportunity.

Consultative Register  Two way communication used in conversation  No past experience with that person

Examples of Consultative Register  Strangers who interact  Adults at work  Teachers with students  Talking with lawyer or doctor

Private Voice  Casual  Intimate

Casual Register  A language used by friends  Past experience with that person

Examples of Casual Register  Slang  Talking with friends  Personal letter to a friend

Intimate Register  Language shared between couples, twins, very close friends  Language of sexual harassment.

Examples of Intimate Register  Finish each other’s sentences  Very close relationship