Formal vs informal_english
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This document discusses the differences between formal and informal English, including idioms, slang, euphemisms, and metaphors. It provides tables that define key terms for each category. Formal English is used for academic writing and speeches, follows standard conventions, and uses precise vocabulary. Informal English is used for everyday conversations, may violate standard rules, and incorporates contractions, slang, and familiar terms. Idioms usually have fixed meanings and cannot be literally translated, while slang terms are non-standard and specific to a group. Euphemisms substitute indirect terms for taboo concepts, and metaphors use figurative language to describe something in terms of something else.
Formal vs informal_english
- 1. Inglés IV (B-2008) Prof. Argenis A. Zapata FORMAL ENGLISH INFORMAL ENGLISH - It is used in academic writing (e.g., essays, - It is suitable for ordinary conversations or reports, resumes, theses, and the like), and letters to friends. formal social events such as public speeches, graduation ceremonies, and assemblies - It is more used in everyday speech (esp., depending upon the topic. conversations) than in writing. - It is more commonly used in writing than in speech. - It often violates the conventions of “standard” language. For example: - It follows the conventions of “standard” - Sentences are often short (or choppy) and language; i.e., it uses language forms that simple; often grammatically and lexically considered “correct” or agreed upon by most educated - Subject-verb agreement is not necessarily users of the language. For example, observed; - Sentences are often long and complex; - Contractions and acronyms are very - Subject-verb agreement is observed; common; - Contractions are avoided; - The active voice is often used; - The passive voice is often used (making it - The present tense of modal auxiliaries is more impersonal); common, and so on. - It is better organized and thought out; - It is less organized and thought out; - The past tense of modal auxiliaries is - Vocabulary use is somewhat liberal; hence, common, and so on. lots of clichés, colloquialisms, idioms, phrasal verbs, proverbs and slang are often - Clear and precise vocabulary is used; used. Also, vocabulary derived from French hence, clichés, colloquialisms, idioms, and Latin is not common. phrasal verbs, proverbs and slang are avoided. Likewise, a lot of synonyms are - Words that express rapport and familiarity are used in order to avoid the repetition of the often used in speech, such as brother, buddy, same words. Also, much vocabulary man, you know, and the like. derived from French and Latin is used. - When spoken, words are less carefully and - Polite words and formulas like Please, more quickly pronounced (often chopped) Thank you, Madam, Sir, Mr. /Mrs. than in formal English (Lesson Plan, n.d.). /Miss/Ms, Would you mind…?, May I…?, Could you please…?, etc. are often used in speech. - When spoken, words are more carefully and more slowly pronounced than in informal English.
- 2. Inglés IV (B-2008) Prof. Argenis A. Zapata IDIOMS SLANG 1. It is non-standard vocabulary characterized 1. Most idioms have only a nonliteral or metaphorical meaning; i.e., one cannot often by extreme informality; discover their meanings by looking up the individual words in an ordinary dictionary. 2. Its currency is not limited to a region; E.g., The thieves took everything, so I was left really up a gum tree (= in a difficult 3. It is composed of coinages or arbitrarily situation). However, some idioms have both a literal and a nonliteral meaning; e.g., He changed words, clipped forms, extravagant spilled the beans can mean (a) literally: ‘He allowed the beans to get out of a container forced, or facetious (= amusing) figures of and fall on the floor or other surface; (b) nonliterally: ‘He revealed a secret’. speech, verbal novelties; 2. Most idioms are more or less invariable or 4. It is short-lived and therefore subject to fixed, both in wording and in certain grammatical ways. That is to say, they decline into use; function like lexical units or wholes. Because of this: 5. Generally, slang is only intelligible to those a. We cannot often make substitutions of people associated with the group or groups synonymous words into idioms without loss of their idiomaticity or metaphorical who use it. meaning. E.g., in the idiom John gave up the ghost (= ‘John died’), we cannot replace ghost by apparition and say John gave up the apparition; it would no longer mean ‘to die’. b. We cannot often introduce modifiers (e.g., adjectives and adverbs) into idioms. E.g., in the idiom He let the cat out of the sack (= ‘he revealed a secret’), we cannot say He let the black cat out of the sack; it is no longer considered an idiom. c. They cannot often be used in the passive. E.g., Mrs. Jones gave up the ghost cannot be transformed into The ghost was given up by Mrs. Jones; it is no longer an idiom. d. Some idioms have slightly variant forms. E.g., We can say until kingdom come or till kingdom come (=’for a very long time in vain’) as in You can protest till kingdom come; however, no one will pay attention to you. Similarly, you can say up to the/one’s ears/eyes/neck/eyeballs (=
- 3. Inglés IV (B-2008) Prof. Argenis A. Zapata ‘wholly concerned with something, esp. something troubling, work, business, or debt’) as in The secretary is up to her ears (in) addressing and stamping letters. Another example is to be in someone’s good/bad books (= ‘to be in favor/disfavor with someone’). e. Most idioms are entered in dictionaries or the lexicon as single items of vocabulary. 3. Most idioms belong to informal spoken or written language; therefore, they are generally avoided in formal speech or writing. 4. Most idioms are language- and culture- specific; i.e., they make sense or meaning mainly to the speakers of a given language or members of a given culture. Therefore, most idioms cannot be translated word for word into other languages.
- 4. Inglés IV (B-2008) Prof. Argenis A. Zapata Table 1: Some euphemisms and their meanings Euphemism Meaning privates (or private parts) male or female genitals to make love to engage in sexual intercourse to perspire to sweat to pass away (or to pass on) to die collateral losses civilian casualties to take a leak to urinate funeral director mortician or undertaker sales representative salesperson to have the telephone out of to have the telephone service cut off order
- 5. Inglés IV (B-2008) Prof. Argenis A. Zapata Table 2: Some metaphors and their meanings Metaphor Meaning the big drink the ocean or the sea He’s in the prime of He’s very young. life. She is the apple of I love her more than anything else. my eyes. That car is a lemon. That car often breaks down and requires constant repairs. The stork is visiting Mary is (pregnant and) expecting a Mary again child/baby again. Walls have ears. Others might listen to what you’re saying, even if they’re not in the same room.
- 6. Inglés IV (B-2008) Prof. Argenis A. Zapata Table 3: Some examples of American English slang. Slang Term Meaning Slang Term Meaning buzz feeling of bummed depressed pleasure or excitement (e.g., after drinking some alcohol) bent angry booze alcohol fake-bake tanning salon pot marijuana gork nerd sucky awful chicken coward can bathroom homeboy very close male to have missile to concentrate friend lock