PRE- Finals (PUR-COMM) Lesson 3 PDF

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LESSON 3: VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE

-In terms of social features, differences can also be highlighted in that there is a continuum (variety) of basilectal, mesolectal, and acrolectal varieties of English within the speech community.

VARIETIES OF ENGLISH 

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You must have encountered the term World Englishes (WE) or varieties of English in class. WE actually stands for the localized varieties of English as they are used or spoken in certain areas.

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Acrolect – comes closest to the standard (inner) Basilect – digresses (deviates or departs) thoroughly from it and comes closest to the pidgin (dialect or lingua franca). (expanding) Mesolect – the middle variety is midway between the acrolect and basilect (Outer)

- There is a term edulects for these varieties resulting from certain types of education ascertained(determined) by social class but are conveyed or transferred by the kind of instruction of the school system especially for those coming from higher-income families and/or better educated class.

In the Asian Context, Three concentric circles of Asian Englishes introduced (braj kachru) 1. Inner circle with ENL (English as native language) member countries 2. Outer circle with ESL (English as second language) member countries 3. Expanding circle with EFL (English as a foreign language) member countries

-Aside from the fact that the outer and expanding circles are ESL and EFL speaking, respectively, they have been colonized by some member countries in the Inner circle making the varieties they speak as post-colonial.

-It is then to be understood that the people have different linguistic and cultural backgrounds making intercultural communication as a significant variable in communication.

-The structural characteristics of these new varieties differ.

-As to structural variation, these varieties of English are influenced by the local language(s) in various areas of their grammars and exhibit specific phonological, lexical, syntactics, and discoursal characteristics.

- Outer and Expanding circle varieties observed syllable-timed rhythm rather than stress-timed rhythm. Ex. Nigerians say ‘success for suc’cess Indians and Nigerians say recog’nize ‘recognize

- Moreover, speakers from outer and expanding circles do not make any changes in their pronunciation to make a distinction between nouns and verbs in pair which Inner circle countries observe.

Language Registers/Registers of English - When it comes to language variation, the terms genre, register, and style are often encountered. Style and Register REGISTER 

A variety of language defined according to

-This brought about by the mother tongue or home languages of those who learn or acquire English.

its use in social situations. 

Ex. A register of scientific, religious, formal English.

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The term is seen as specifically opposed to varieties of language defined according to

the characteristics of users (their regional or class dialect).

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Style 

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refers to the degree of formality attached to particular interpersonal social situation which is reflected by the differences of language. Ex. The kind of language used while talking to a friend will differ from used in addressing a superior, in otherwise the same situation.

Formal Register 

Then is used in formal speaking and writing situations. Ex, Sona

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Is likewise appropriate for use in professional writing like project proposals, position papers and business letters address to a superior or to a head of a certain organization.

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It is more impersonal, objective and factual

Register 

refers to a kind of language whose forms are of a definable social situation, regardless of the status of the participants – thus one finds the register of legal language, liturgical language, and so on.

Informal Register 

Which is more casual in tone, is appropriate for people with whom you have established a more personal relationship like friends and relatives.

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Thus legalese or legal language is highly characterized by archaic expressions, technical jargons intrinsic only to the community of legal professionals, embedded structures, nominalizations, passive voice, as well as long, kilometric sentences which are not features of textese or language of text.

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The features of SMS language or textese language, are exactly the opposite – use of abbreviations, acronyms, slang words, and expressions. This is so since messages used to be limited to a certain number of characters/spaces which made texting much easier and quicker. However, misinterpretation and/or miscommunication in text messaging may arise if vocabulary and knowledge of text are limited. Hence, extra care should be practiced when comprehending text messages.

Genre and Register 

They overlap and sometimes used interchangeably.

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Genre – is associated more with the organization of culture

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Register - is associated with the organization of situation.

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Register – is understood as the contextspecific variety of language to which the field- mode-tenor framework is important.

Field 

May be analyzed in terms of social settings and the communicative purpose in which the text is produced.

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Tenor 

May be described in terms of the role/s required of the writers and readers including the cultural values shared by both.

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Could be explained in light of the knowledge of other texts of speakers/ listeners and writers/readers as regards the genre including the formal text features.

Language Register 

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Mode

Refers to the formality of language which

It is through register that you are able to determine the kind of lexicon or vocabulary to use as well as a kind of structure to be used.

- Intercultural communication plays an important role in achieving effective communication....