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The Variety and
Register of
Spoken and
Written Language
Characteristics of Spoken Language
(Halliday, 1989)
1) Variation in speed - but it is generally faster
than writing
•Example: A news reporter speaks fast, while a teacher
explaining a difficult topic speaks slowly.
2) Gestures - body language
•Example: Nodding while saying “Yes” or raising
eyebrows in surprise.
3) Pausing and phrasing
•A storyteller might pause before revealing an important
part to build suspense: “And then... he disappeared!”
4) Intonation
a) Rising intonation
describes how the voice rises at the end of a
sentence. It is very common in:
↗
↗
•Yes/No Questions
Example: Are you coming?
•Uncertainty or Incompleteness
Example: I think it’s okay…?
b) Falling intonation
 The pitch of the voice goes down at the end of
the sentence. It is used in:
•Statements and Commands
Example: I am going home.
Example: Close the door.
•Wh- Questions
•Example: Where are you from?
↘
↘
↘
Fall-rise intonation
 describes how the voice falls and then rises. We
use fall-rise intonation with questions, especially
when we request information or invite somebody
to do or to show doubt or hesitation. The
intonation pattern makes the questions sound
more polite:
Is this your camera?
Would you like another coffee?
↘
↘
↗
↗
LANGUAGE REGISTER
Language register is
the level of formality
with which you speak/
write.
1) Frozen Register (Static)
– Fixed, formal language that doesn’t
change.
•Example: "The Lord’s Prayer" or The
Preamble of a Constitution
•Sentence: “Once upon a time…”
(Storytelling tradition)
2) Formal Register
– Used in serious or official
situations.
•Example: Speech, Academic
Writing, Business Meetings
•Sentence: “Good morning,
esteemed guests. It is an honor to
speak today.”
Lecture-3-The-Variety-and-Register-of-Spoken-and-Written final.pptx
3) Consultative Register
– Used in professional conversations
where some respect is needed.
•Example: Doctor-Patient, Teacher-
Student, Lawyer-Client
•Sentence: “What symptoms are you
experiencing today?” (Doctor to
patient)
4) Casual Register
– Used with friends and peers;
relaxed and informal.
•Example: Talking with friends,
Text messages
•Sentence: “Hey, what’s up?”
Lecture-3-The-Variety-and-Register-of-Spoken-and-Written final.pptx
5) Intimate Register
– Used with close relationships like
family and partners.
•Example: Pet names, Inside jokes,
Private conversations
•Sentence: “Honey, would you like
me to buy you chocolates?” (Spoken
between couples)
Rules of the formal language register:
1. Do not use contractions
•In formal writing, you should use: cannot instead of
can’t
•have not instead of haven’t
•will not instead of won’t
•could not instead of couldn’t
•is not instead of isn’t
•Apostrophes are also added to
nouns to show ownership. These
are used in all language
registers, including formal.
Examples:
children’s classroom
•professor’s report
•elephant’s trunk
2. Spell out numbers less than one hundred
3. Write in third person point of view
Examples: nineteen
•twenty-two
•seventy-eight
•six
Avoid using:
I
•You
•We
•Us
Incorrect: You can purchase a car for
under $10,000.
One can purchase a car for under
$10,000.
OR
A car can be purchased for under
$10,000.
4. Avoid using too much passive voice
Active Voice Example:
•The teacher explains the lesson.
•The cat chased the mouse.
Passive Voice Example:
•The lesson is explained by the teacher.
•The mouse was chased by the cat.
Active Voice Passive Voice
She wrote a letter. A letter was written by
her.
They built a house. A house was built by
them.
The chef cooked the
meal.
The meal was cooked
by the chef.
5. Avoid using slang, idioms, exaggeration
(hyperboles) and clichés
•Slang is common in
informal writing and
spoken English.
Slang is particular to
a certain region or
area.
Examples of slang:
awesome/cool
•okay/ok
•check it out
•in a nutshell
•A cliché is a phrase
that is overused (said
too often).
Common clichés:
too much of a good
thing
•Time is money.
6. Avoid abbreviations and
acronyms
•Examples:
•LOL (laugh out loud)
•ttyl (talk to you later)
•b/c (because)
•w/o (without)
•w/ (with)
7. Do not start sentences with
words like and, so, but, also
•Here are some good transition words
and phrases to use in formal writing:
Nevertheless
•Additionally
•However
•In addition
•As a result of
•Although
8. Always write in complete
sentences.

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Lecture-3-The-Variety-and-Register-of-Spoken-and-Written final.pptx

  • 1. The Variety and Register of Spoken and Written Language
  • 2. Characteristics of Spoken Language (Halliday, 1989) 1) Variation in speed - but it is generally faster than writing •Example: A news reporter speaks fast, while a teacher explaining a difficult topic speaks slowly. 2) Gestures - body language •Example: Nodding while saying “Yes” or raising eyebrows in surprise. 3) Pausing and phrasing •A storyteller might pause before revealing an important part to build suspense: “And then... he disappeared!”
  • 3. 4) Intonation a) Rising intonation describes how the voice rises at the end of a sentence. It is very common in: ↗ ↗ •Yes/No Questions Example: Are you coming? •Uncertainty or Incompleteness Example: I think it’s okay…?
  • 4. b) Falling intonation  The pitch of the voice goes down at the end of the sentence. It is used in: •Statements and Commands Example: I am going home. Example: Close the door. •Wh- Questions •Example: Where are you from? ↘ ↘ ↘
  • 5. Fall-rise intonation  describes how the voice falls and then rises. We use fall-rise intonation with questions, especially when we request information or invite somebody to do or to show doubt or hesitation. The intonation pattern makes the questions sound more polite: Is this your camera? Would you like another coffee? ↘ ↘ ↗ ↗
  • 7. Language register is the level of formality with which you speak/ write.
  • 8. 1) Frozen Register (Static) – Fixed, formal language that doesn’t change. •Example: "The Lord’s Prayer" or The Preamble of a Constitution •Sentence: “Once upon a time…” (Storytelling tradition)
  • 9. 2) Formal Register – Used in serious or official situations. •Example: Speech, Academic Writing, Business Meetings •Sentence: “Good morning, esteemed guests. It is an honor to speak today.”
  • 11. 3) Consultative Register – Used in professional conversations where some respect is needed. •Example: Doctor-Patient, Teacher- Student, Lawyer-Client •Sentence: “What symptoms are you experiencing today?” (Doctor to patient)
  • 12. 4) Casual Register – Used with friends and peers; relaxed and informal. •Example: Talking with friends, Text messages •Sentence: “Hey, what’s up?”
  • 14. 5) Intimate Register – Used with close relationships like family and partners. •Example: Pet names, Inside jokes, Private conversations •Sentence: “Honey, would you like me to buy you chocolates?” (Spoken between couples)
  • 15. Rules of the formal language register: 1. Do not use contractions •In formal writing, you should use: cannot instead of can’t •have not instead of haven’t •will not instead of won’t •could not instead of couldn’t •is not instead of isn’t
  • 16. •Apostrophes are also added to nouns to show ownership. These are used in all language registers, including formal. Examples: children’s classroom •professor’s report •elephant’s trunk
  • 17. 2. Spell out numbers less than one hundred 3. Write in third person point of view Examples: nineteen •twenty-two •seventy-eight •six Avoid using: I •You •We •Us
  • 18. Incorrect: You can purchase a car for under $10,000. One can purchase a car for under $10,000. OR A car can be purchased for under $10,000.
  • 19. 4. Avoid using too much passive voice Active Voice Example: •The teacher explains the lesson. •The cat chased the mouse. Passive Voice Example: •The lesson is explained by the teacher. •The mouse was chased by the cat.
  • 20. Active Voice Passive Voice She wrote a letter. A letter was written by her. They built a house. A house was built by them. The chef cooked the meal. The meal was cooked by the chef.
  • 21. 5. Avoid using slang, idioms, exaggeration (hyperboles) and clichés •Slang is common in informal writing and spoken English. Slang is particular to a certain region or area. Examples of slang: awesome/cool •okay/ok •check it out •in a nutshell •A cliché is a phrase that is overused (said too often). Common clichés: too much of a good thing •Time is money.
  • 22. 6. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms •Examples: •LOL (laugh out loud) •ttyl (talk to you later) •b/c (because) •w/o (without) •w/ (with)
  • 23. 7. Do not start sentences with words like and, so, but, also •Here are some good transition words and phrases to use in formal writing: Nevertheless •Additionally •However •In addition •As a result of •Although 8. Always write in complete sentences.