Formal and informal English

Formal and informal Formal and informal EnglishEnglish

A workshop brought to you by A workshop brought to you by CQU CQU

Communications Learning CentreCommunications Learning Centre

To tune inTo tune in

Imagine writing a business letter in your first Imagine writing a business letter in your first language. What are some of the words you language. What are some of the words you would use? Formal or informal?would use? Formal or informal?

Imagine talking to a friend over the phone in Imagine talking to a friend over the phone in your first language. Would you use formal or your first language. Would you use formal or very informal language? very informal language?

What would happen if you swapped the What would happen if you swapped the types of language used?types of language used?

Objectives of the sessionObjectives of the session

1.Consider the similarities and differences 1.Consider the similarities and differences between formal and informal Englishbetween formal and informal English

2.Consider specific scenarios related to the 2.Consider specific scenarios related to the two types of Englishtwo types of English

3.Practise classifying words into the two 3.Practise classifying words into the two categoriescategories

1.Similarities between formal and 1.Similarities between formal and informal Englishinformal English

Convey a messageConvey a message Have a reader ( listener) in mindHave a reader ( listener) in mind Important to know which part of speech the Important to know which part of speech the

word belongs to ( e.g. noun or verb)word belongs to ( e.g. noun or verb) Not letting your grammar slipNot letting your grammar slip Both categories can be found in an Both categories can be found in an

advanced learners’ dictionaryadvanced learners’ dictionary

DifferencesDifferencesa) Formal Englisha) Formal English

is more common in writing than speakingis more common in writing than speaking uses more passive voice (e.g. the matter will uses more passive voice (e.g. the matter will

be discussed )be discussed ) often uses abstract nouns formed from often uses abstract nouns formed from

verbs (e.g. consider - consideration)verbs (e.g. consider - consideration) does not use the same word twice in a does not use the same word twice in a

sentencesentence

b) Informal Englishb) Informal EnglishCertain types of language are often Certain types of language are often

informal:informal: phrasal verbs ( e.g. brought up)phrasal verbs ( e.g. brought up) idioms (e.g. to beat about the bush)idioms (e.g. to beat about the bush) verb get (e.g. He got a letter last week)verb get (e.g. He got a letter last week) contractions ( e.g. it doesn’t; it didn’t)contractions ( e.g. it doesn’t; it didn’t) slang ( e.g. bloke= man)slang ( e.g. bloke= man)

2. Scenarios2. ScenariosFormal Formal InformalInformal

Public noticesPublic notices Police statementsPolice statements Job applicationsJob applications Legal documentsLegal documents Academic environment Academic environment

(e.g. reports, essays, (e.g. reports, essays, debates)debates)

Spoken EnglishSpoken English Most e-mailsMost e-mails Song lyrics Song lyrics JokesJokes Academic environment Academic environment

( face-to-face and ( face-to-face and online conversations online conversations with course instructors)with course instructors)

3. Practise classifying the words3. Practise classifying the wordsWhich ones are informal?Which ones are informal?

Try to replace them Try to replace them purchasepurchase bringbring commencecommence getget badbad askask requestrequest

buybuy acknowledgeacknowledge wrongwrong because ofbecause of I know thatI know that indicateindicate oftenoften

Use a dictionary to find out if these Use a dictionary to find out if these words are formal or informalwords are formal or informal

Drivers are not Drivers are not permittedpermitted to drink. to drink. What do you What do you reckonreckon?? The meeting will The meeting will resumeresume at 3 p.m. at 3 p.m. ApproximatelyApproximately 60% of the population 60% of the population

watch TV in Australia.watch TV in Australia. You can e-mail the question to me. I don’t You can e-mail the question to me. I don’t

know the answer know the answer off-handoff-hand..

Find a synonym for each of these Find a synonym for each of these wordswords

commencecommence creationcreation excessiveexcessive What do they mean?What do they mean? manner Try to make sentencesmanner Try to make sentences previousprevious consistentconsistent scepticismscepticism

Try to paraphrase these sentences:Try to paraphrase these sentences:

Scientists today tell us that the universe is Scientists today tell us that the universe is dynamic and interconnected.dynamic and interconnected.

Competing theories need to be contrasted to Competing theories need to be contrasted to assess unique contributions and assess unique contributions and shortcomings.shortcomings.