VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN LANGUAGE Varieties of English
The term World English (or English (or World Englishes) Englishes) refers to the English language as it is variously used throughout the world. Also known as international English and Global Global English.The English.The English language is now spoken in more than 100 countries. Varieties of World English include American include American English, Australian English, Australian English, Babu English, Babu English, Banglish, English, Banglish, British British English, Canadian English, Canadian English, Caribbean English, Chicano English, Chinese English, English, Denglish (Denglisch), Euro(Denglisch), EuroEnglish,Hinglish, English,Hinglish, Indian Indian English, Irish English, Irish English, Japanese English, Japanese English, New English, New Zealand English, Nigerian English, Nigerian English, Philippine English, Scottish English, Singapore English, South African English, Spanglish, English, Spanglish, Taglish, Taglish, Welsh English, West African Pidgin English, and Zimbabwean and Zimbabwean English. In the Asian Asian context, the concept was was introduced by Braj Kachru. Kachru (1997) proposed three circles (Figure-1) to divide English-using world. While doing this, he focused on the historical context of English, the status of the language and the functions in various regions. According to Kachru, the Inner Circle includes the Native English-speaking countries such as England, USA and Canada. The Outer Circle consists of the former colonies such as India, Africa and Nigeria and finally Expanding Circle includes countries such as China, Japan and Turkey, which are affected by Western and where English is becoming an important language in business, science, technology and education.It is then to be understood that people have different linguistic and cultural backgrounds making intercultural communication a significant variable in communication.
Figure 1. Concentric Circle Model Adapted from Kachru (1997)
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Task Task REFERENCES
Nordquist, Richard (2017, May 8). What is World English? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/world-englishes-1692509 Kilickaya, F. (2009). World Englishes, English as an International Language and Applied Linguistics. English Language Teaching , 2(3). https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v2n3p35
Language Registers
Linguists use register to describe the level of formality when speaking to others. Language register is the level of formality with which you speak. It refers to the perceived attitude and level of formality associated with a variety of language. The relationship between the writer's attitude and the variety chosen is very important in the study of written language. In face to face speech, the listener can easily interpret the attitude of the speaker by examining the speaker's tone of voice, facial expressions and overall body language. This is not possible in writing. The writer has to use specialized features of discourse to convey or mask attitudes. It is then the reader's responsibility to correctly interpret the writer's attitude , tone and level of formality . Language registers range on a scale from most formal to most informal. Very briefly, here are the five registers: 1. Frozen or “static” register Language that is “static” in time and from, It does not change and is often learned by rote. Examples: biblical verse, prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, an d so forth. 2. Formal register Often used in writing, impersonal and professional. Avoids slang and speaks in complete sentences. Examples: Academic, medical or technical language. 3. Consultative register Similar to formal register but used more in conversation. This language is precise and often technical. Examples: conversing with a doctor or othe r expert 4. Casual register
Informal language that may include slag and colloquialisms. Words are general, rather than technical. Examples: language used between friends 5. Intimate register The language used between lovers. Also used in cases of sexual harassment. Avoid using this register in public and professional situations In other words, different situations and people call for different registers. It depends upon the audience (who), the topic (what), purpose (why) and location (where).It is also through register that you are able to determine the kind of lexicon or vocabulary to use as well as the kind of structure to be used.
Task:
How well you grasp the idea of register as it relates to writing? Identify the register you think is being used. 1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
7. 8.
From the night of my birth, I had been haunted by apparitions and troubled by phenomena unseen by anyone other than myself. “Hey, meet in the parking lot in fifteen for lunch. You in?” And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed … And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) … After we finished dinner, we piled into the Buick and headed for the mall. No more than an hour before bed, mix the entire contents of the green packet with 8 ounces of water and drink it within ten minutes. “What you mean, we don’t got any more bread? I tol’ you to buy some last night!” Mom stomped around the kitchen, banging saucepan lids and stainless steel ladles like a wackedout percussionist. “Bunnykins, do you still want to bob for videos?” During the spring of 2016, a group of researchers ventured into the outback to undertake a month-long study of the effects of exposure on p etrochemical-based packaging.
NOTE: PLEASE SEE PAGES125-135-SAMPLE TASK REFERENCES
Conlin, Karen S. ( 2017, December 18). Understanding and Using Register . Retrieved from https://aceseditors.org/news/2017/understanding-and-using-register Eaton, Sarah Elaine. (2018, January 2. ) Learning, Teaching and Leadership. Retrieved from https://drsaraheaton.wordpress.com/2018/01/02/understanding-language-register/
Madrunio,Marilu Ranosa and Isabel Pefianco Martin.(2018). Purposive Communication Using English in Multilingual Contexts. C&E Publishing House. CAPE-Communication Studies. (2011,February 9). Retrieved from http://capecommstudies.blogspot.com/2011/02/language-registers.html
