Language Registers © M. Grazia Busà 2013. Linguistic competence Language varies according to the situation in which it is used Speakers have control

Language Registers

© M. Grazia Busà 2013

Linguistic competence

Language varies according to the situation in which it is used

Speakers have control over many registers and are able to shift from one to another depending on the context and the communicative needs (verbal repertoires)

Registers determine speakers’ linguistic choices at all linguistic levels: ● What varies is intonation, vocabulary, grammar, etc.


Language use

Language use depends on the context and the relation between the speakers

For example:

The way in which a mother talks to her child is different from the way in which two professionals talk to each other, and different again from the way in which two friends talk to each other


Using real language ...

Typically, foreign language classes teach students the more formal registers of the language

However, it is important that students learn to match the right language with the right situation/the right people


This means …

Lexicon (vocabulary)Grammar StylesExpressionsIntonation


● http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxUm-2x-2dM

Just for fun …


How to distinguish between words from formal and informal registers

In English many words have been derived from Latin

Often Latin words coexist with Germanic (native English) synonyms, but are used in more formal registers


Some examples:

• Rapid• Salute• Obtain• Difficult• Possible• Appear• Sufficient• Demonstrate

• Fast• Greet• Get• Hard• Likely• Seem• Enough• Show

Latinate Germanic


More on formal and informal registers

Many English words have also been borrowed from French at different points in history

Words that entered the English vocabulary at times when the Normans had political and cultural power in Britain still enjoy greater prestige (are used in more formal styles)


Some examples:

• Chef• Cuisine• Faux (cf. lat. false) • Mutton

• Petite• Veal• Pork• Legal words

• Cook• Kitchen• Fake• Sheep• Little, small• Calf• Pig

French Germanic


Phrasal verbs

Phrasal verbs are typically used:● in spoken language● in informal registers

For most phrasal verbs, there is an equivalent but more formal, non-phrasal verb, often of Latin origin


Some examples:

• Pick up• Pick out• Turn down• Turn into• Give away• Sell out• Go in

• Learn• Select• Decline• Become• Show• Betray• Enter

Phrasal verb Non-phrasal verb


Documents

Language Registers © M. Grazia Busà 2013. Linguistic competence Language varies according to the situation in which it is used Speakers have control