Language Registers

Language RegistersLanguage Registers

What is a Register?What is a Register?

describes the various styles of language describes the various styles of language available for writing or speaking available for writing or speaking

Language RegistersLanguage Registers

Every Language has Every Language has 55 language registers and language registers and 55 language styles language styles

How do you decide which language How do you decide which language register is appropriate to use?register is appropriate to use?

Deciding which Deciding which language language register is register is appropriate appropriate depends on the:depends on the:

o AAudienceudience

o TTopicopic

o SSituationituation

Public VoicePublic Voice

I use my public voice when I am at I use my public voice when I am at schoolschool, , at work, or at church with at work, or at church with friendsfriends or or strangersstrangers..

Private VoicePrivate Voice

When I am with my When I am with my friendsfriends and close and close

family in a “casual setting”, I can be less family in a “casual setting”, I can be less

formal. formal.

The Universal RuleThe Universal Rule

A person can go from A person can go from oneone register to the register to the

next register without any conflicts next register without any conflicts

Five Language RegistersFive Language Registers

FrozenFrozen FormalFormal ConsultativeConsultative CasualCasual IntimateIntimate

Public VoicePublic Voice

FrozenFrozen FormalFormal ConsultativeConsultative

Frozen RegisterFrozen Register Language that rarely Language that rarely

or or nevernever changes changes

Examples of Frozen RegisterExamples of Frozen Register Pledge of AllegiancePledge of Allegiance Words to a songWords to a song PoetryPoetry PrayerPrayer lawslaws

Formal RegisterFormal Register

OneOne-way communication-way communication

Complete sentences Complete sentences

Focus on Focus on formform

Examples of Formal RegisterExamples of Formal Register PresentationsPresentations

Academic PaperAcademic Paper

Essays in schoolEssays in school

Used at work, school, and Used at work, school, and businessbusiness

InterviewsInterviews

TAKS TAKS

Which would I send to your parent?Which would I send to your parent?

Wat up !!! Holla back.Wat up !!! Holla back.

Hello Ms. James. Please contact me at Hello Ms. James. Please contact me at your earliest opportunity.your earliest opportunity.

Consultative RegisterConsultative Register

TwoTwo way communication used in way communication used in conversationconversation

NoNo past experience with that person past experience with that person

Examples of Consultative RegisterExamples of Consultative Register

StrangersStrangers who interact who interact

Adults at workAdults at work

Teachers with studentsTeachers with students

Talking with lawyer or doctorTalking with lawyer or doctor

Private VoicePrivate Voice

Casual Casual IntimateIntimate

Casual RegisterCasual Register

A language used by A language used by friendsfriends

PastPast experience with that person experience with that person

Examples of Casual RegisterExamples of Casual Register

SlangSlang

Talking with friendsTalking with friends

Personal letter to a friend Personal letter to a friend

Intimate RegisterIntimate Register

Language Language sharedshared between between couples, twins, couples, twins, very close friendsvery close friends

Language of sexual harassmentLanguage of sexual harassment..

Examples of Intimate RegisterExamples of Intimate Register

FinishFinish each other’s sentences each other’s sentences

Very close relationship Very close relationship