Using Formal and Informal Language Appropriately

Tone Tone is defined as the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter and his or her readers.

The audience is your reader or listener– the recipient of your verbal or written communication. Audience

Diction Diction is word choice Word choice is important in establishing tone Two levels of diction: –1. high or formal diction –2. informal or low diction

Characteristic of Formal and Informal Language Informal light humorous personal casual offhanded "loose" plainspoken simple Formal serious objective impersonal reasoned controlled reserved

Why does it even matter? Official or serious situations are often signaled by the use of formal language, while ordinary or relaxed situations are signaled by the use of informal language. Formality of language varies in relation to such factors as public versus private occasion, the size of the audience, the relationship of the speaker/writer with the audience, and so on. The ability to vary your language according to the situation is often considered a mark of an educated person.

Certain Situations Formal Situations job interview principal’s office visit business letter class essay Informal Situations text message friendly letter “locker” conversation Journal-style writing

What makes INFORMAL language? Simple grammatical structure Personal evaluation written from the second or first person point of view Colloquial or slang vocabulary

Colloquialism, dialect, and jargon Colloquialism -a word or phrase appropriate to conversation and other informal situations “Hey, dude! What’s goin’ on? Dialect – a form of language spoken in a particular geographical area or by members of a particular cultural or social group. “Scout’s been readin’ ever since she was born, and she ain’t even started to school yet. You look right puny for goin’ on seven.” (Jem from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird) Jargon – words or phrases that are known and used by a specific occupational group. An English teacher might say about Theodore Rhoetke’s “My Papa’s Waltz”: The poem creates for its reader a juxtaposition in its imagery of a man whose hands are dirty and “battered” by hard physical labor trying to use those same hands to tap out the iambic waltz-like rhythm on his small son’s head.

What makes FORMAL language? Formal language, even when spoken, is often associated with the conventions expected of written standard English. Although you generally don’t worry as much about formality in speaking, it is extremely important in writing because of the knowledge you are recording through the written word. Which of the previous bullet points is written formally/informally?

Remember… when you are speaking, writing or analyzing language in a formal situation… Formal language does not use contractions Avoids personal pronouns such as: you, I, us, me, and we Includes more polysyllabic words—BIGGER words Complex, complete sentences Avoidance of colloquial or slang vocabulary Impersonality A consistent preference for “learned” words What makes formal language (continued)?

Remember… when you are speaking, writing or analyzing language in a formal situation… Exclamation marks Needless words like “well” and “you know” First and second person point of view Beginning sentences with coordinating conjunctions Too many short, choppy sentences that could be combined to make more complex sentence structures What to avoid in formal writing…

Avoid most shortenings in formal writing. In formal English, you talk on the “telephone,” not the “phone” Know what acronyms may be used in your writing. In formal English, you should limit your use of acronyms, abbreviations making use of letters that stand for certain words Similarly, limit your use of absolute terms, such as "everybody," "always," "never" Avoid cliché’s, stage directions and colloquialisms

Common Colloquialisms, Cliches, and Informal Words Frequently used idioms which will turn your tone into an informal one: -In a pinch -Fill me in -Good as gold -In the red -The fact of the matter -in a mess -Got laid off -A blessing in disguise -A toss-up -Back seat driver -In a blue moon -flipped out Frequently used informal words: A lot Anyways Anybody Had to get Fix a problem A bunch Hot Grossed out Glitch Cop bonkers Wheels (for car)

Formal or Informal? Please let us know if you’ve got questions. I am sorry the job did not work out for you.

Formal or Informal? Change the sentence to be the opposite tone. Your account is in the red. The company laid off several machinists. We regret to inform you that your request for a refund has been denied. Tim couldn’t imagine how he would find enough funds to repay the loan. Let’s buy some new wheels so we can go where we want.

References “Formal/informal language.” 15 October 2008 < SESLL/EngLang/LILT/forminf.htm>. “How to Avoid Colloquial (Informal) Writing.” 16 October “Tone: A Matter of Attitude.” Capital Community College October 2008 < edu/grammar/composition/tone.htm>.