Formal and Informal English

What is rhetoric?The art or science of using language in prose

or poetry, including figurative language.I would write: Rhetoric: the art of using

language

StyleStyle is the author’s unique way of expressing his/her ideas.

Style is affected by word choice, voice, sentence structure, and the use of conventions.

Two authors’ styles can be as different as their speaking voices or signatures.Writers may change their style for different types of writing and for different audiences.

DictionDiction is a writer’s word

choice.Why does word choice matter? All words have 2 meanings: Denotation versus ConnotationDenotation is a word’s dictionary definition.Connotation is a word’s emotional

overtones. Aggressive and assertive have different connotations. One is positive and the other is negative.

Denotation vs. ConnotationThink of the following terms from The

Giver and how their denotations and connotations compare.

The denotation was the same but the words from the book lacked emotional connection.

The Giver Commonly used word

Dwelling House/ home

Newchild Baby

Learning community

School

Formal EnglishContains carefully written, complete

sentencesAvoids contractions (no contractions)Follows grammar rules (correct grammar)Uses sophisticated vocabulary (complex

words)*Tone may vary (tone varies)

Informal EnglishUses everyday speechUses popular expressionsUses contractionsUses some sentence fragmentsTone may vary (tone can change)

Formal or Informal?Using a t-chart, list the following types of writing as

formal or informal:1. Written report2. Essay3. Conversations with friends4. Interview5. Debate6. Oral report7. Personal e-mail8. Class notes9. Journal entries10. Text messaging

Oh, English language! How you have changed over the years!

Where is it okay to use text abbreviations?

The InternetEmail (informal)Text messagingBlogs and blogging (web+ log= blog)

How Well Do You Know Texting?You might know quite a few text abbreviations, but c if u no

the less common ones 2.Common:1. brb2. idk3. cya4. lol5. sup6. smh7. rofl8. tyvm9. ur10. asap

1. Be right back.2. I don’t know.3. See you.4. Laughing out loud.5. What’s up?6. Shaking my head.7. Rolling on the floor laughing.8. Thank you very much.9. You’re…10. As soon as possible.

How Well Do You Know Texting?Less common:1. ucmu2. ttfn3. aota4. imho5. aytmtb6. crbt7. tbd8. wysiwyg9. fomcl10. wdalyic

SolutionsLess common:1. ucmu You crack me up.2. ttfn Ta ta for now.3. aota All of the above.4. imho In my humble opinion.5. aytmtb And you’re telling me this because…6. crbt Crying really big tears.7. tbd To be decided.8. wysiwyg What you see is what you get.9. fomcl Falling off my chair laughing. 10. wdalyic Who died and left you in charge?

See What You’ve LearnedOpen your language book to page 23 and

complete exercise 1.

Answers for the Practice

1. informal2. formal3. formal4. informal5. formal6. informal7. informal8. informal9. formal10. informal

Page 23, Exercise 1

DialectsEveryone speaks with a dialect of some sort. A dialect is the accent and vocabulary of a particular region. If our parents are from a different region than where we’re raised, we might speak a combination of dialects. (see Tom Sawyer.)

Dialectal Regions of the U.S.1. North 2. Northeast 3. West 4. Midwest

5. South

NORTHNORTHEAS

T

WEST

MIDWEST

SOUTH

Say what?What do you call the following

things?

• Syrup

• Caramel apples

Possible answers:1. Frosting/icing2. Sneakers/running shoes/sneaks/tennis shoes3. Faucet/spigot/tap4. Grocery store/supermarket/food store5. Soda/pop/coke6. Pizza/pie7. The beach/ the shore/ down the shore8. Lollipop/ sucker/taffy9. Hoagie/sub10. Syrup/(pronounced ser-up or seer-up)11. Caramel (pronounced car’-muhl or ca’ra-mell)

What influences my dialect/speech? Where you grew upPeople around you

ParentsSiblingsFriendsTeachers

TV/ InternetLiteratureMusic

Let’s find out what dialect you use…

SlangSlang is invented words or existing words given a new

meaning. You know lots of slang for your generation, but do you know these older slang expressions?

1. Can you dig it?2. That is so far out!3. I’ll catch ya on the flip-side.4. Keep on truckin’!5. Wow, that is really heavy news, man.6. Can you loan me some bread?7. He’s totally bugged out.8. Gimme some skin.9. She is hip to the groove.10. Man, I dig your new threads.

Slang Solutions (60’s to 70’s)1. Can you dig it? Do you understand?2. That is so far out! That is amazing!3. I’ll catch you on the flip side. I’ll see you later.4. Keep on truckin! Keep up the good work! Keep going! 5. That is really heavy news, man. That is depressing news,

friend.6. Can you loan me some bread? Can I borrow some money?7. He’s totally bugged out. He is mentally unstable.8. Gimme some skin. Hit my hand with your hand so that we

may bond.9. She is hip to the groove. She understands.10. Man, I dig your new threads. Friend, I really like your

new clothes.

Digital SlangSee if you know what these digital-age slang

terms mean:1. Mistext2. Autoincorrect3. Phone tag4. Spam5. Dead text6. Snope7. Google dance8. Serp

Solutions1. Mistext: text sent in error2. Autoincorrect: when text is incorrectly fixed3. Phone tag: calling back and forth with no

answer4. Spam: unwanted messages5. Dead text: text that does not need a

response/irrelevant6. Snope: to inform someone that an email is

spam/fake. Refers to the website snopes.com.7. Google dance: When google changes the SERP.8. SERP: Search Engine Result Page

Understanding Colloquialisms and IdiomsA colloquialism is a word or phrase used in

everyday conversation. Colloquialisms are generally informal and can include dialect and slang.

Idioms are common expressions with a meaning that varies from what the individual words mean. Many idioms are metaphors. Idioms are also an important part of dialects and are often considered part of colloquial speech. There are thousands of idioms in every language.

IdiomsWhat do these phrases mean?1. Back seat driver2. Cash on the barrelhead3. Dead as a doornail4. Face the music5. Have an axe to grind6. Head over heels in love7. Kick the bucket8. Make a bee-line for something9. Saved by the bell10. Set your teeth on edge

Idiom Solutions1. Back seat driver: someone who tells the driver what to do2. Cash on the barrelhead: money paid before a service3. Dead as a doornail: no chance of being alive4. Face the music: accept the consequences5. Have an axe to grind: hold a grudge6. Head over heels in love: completely in love7. Kick the bucket: to die8. Make a bee-line for something: to hurry9. Saved by the bell: saved at the last moment10. Set your teeth on edge: to make you anxious or worried

(Idioms video)

End of PowerPoint