Social Context

Language

The set of circumstances or facts

that surround a particular event, situation, etc.

The useof the

language

The userof the

language

depends on

Registers

A register (sometimes called a style) is a variety of language used in a particular social setting. Settings may be defined in terms of: greater or lesser formality.

For example when talking to a close friend one would most likely use a different register than when one is

holding a public address.

.

A register is occupational style using specialized or technical jargon, it describes the language of groups of people with common interests or jobs, or the language used in situations associated with such groups, such as the language of doctors, engineers, journals, legalese, etc.

For example, the register of law is different from the register of medicine, which in turn is different from the register of engineering, and so on.

One of the most analyzed areas where the use of language is determined by the situation is the formality scale. the term "register" often forms a shorthand for formal/informal style, although this is an aging definition. Linguistics textbooks may use the term "tenor" instead (Halliday 1978), but increasingly prefer the term "style" – "we characterize styles as varieties of language viewed from the point of view of formality" (Trudgill, 1992) – while defining "registers" more narrowly as specialist language use related to a particular activity, such as academic jargon.

In one prominent model, Martin Joos (1961) describes five styles in spoken English:

Frozen: Also referred to as static register. Printed unchanging language, such as Biblical quotations, often contains archaisms. Examples are the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States of America and other "static" vocalizations that are recited in a ritualistic monotone. The wording is exactly the same every time it is spoken.

Formal: One-way participation; no interruption; technical vocabulary or exact definitions are important; includes presentations or introductions between strangers.

Consultative: Two-way participation; background information is provided –prior knowledge is not assumed. "Back-channel behavior" such as "uh huh", "I see", etc. is common. Interruptions are allowed. Examples include teacher/student, doctor/patient, expert/apprentice, etc.

Casual: In-group friends and acquaintances; no background information provided; Ellipsis and slang common; interruptions common. This is common among friends in a social setting.

Intimate: Non-public; intonation more important than wording or grammar; private vocabulary. Also includes non-verbal messages. This is most common among family members and close friends

There is a terminological distinction between register and style. Both are associated with a specific speech situation but whereas register often refers to the specific vocabulary chosen and expected in connection with a particular speech situation, style also includes grammatical variation (cf. Kortmann 2005: 255ff).

The role relationship between the participants in a discourse has also an effect on the formality of the

language

Speakers choose between different forms of addressing others depending on the degree of formality of the speech situation: first or family name (Billy or Mr. Smith), family name plus preceding title, second person pronoun, deferential terms (Sir, Madam)

Lexical levelGrammatical

level

Phonological level