Register & Style

Assignment of: sociolinguistics Assignment topic :register and style Submitted on: 12th dec.2012

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Register & Style

In sociolinguistics, a general term for any distinctive form of a language or linguistic expression is Language varieties. Linguists commonly use language variety, as a cover term for any of the overlapping subcategories of a language, including dialect, idiolect, register, and social dialect. It's clear that there are many systematic differences between different languages. By systematic we mean describable by rules. Languages also contain many levels of internal variation, related to such variables as age, region, socioeconomic status, group identification, and others. Internal ariation is the property of languages having different ways of expressing the same meaning. Importantly, this refers to within language, not across language, differences. In spite of internal variation there are two ma!or varieties of language i.e. dialect and register. "ccording to #.".$. %alliday, there are two main types of variation in language, social and functional. &ialects are characteri'ed by social or regional variation Dialect is a complex concept, for linguists a dialect is the collection of attributes (phonetic, phonological, syntactic, morphological, and semantic) that ma*e one group of spea*ers noticeably different from another group of spea*ers of the same language. +o dialect is a variety related to user. " dialect spo*en by one individual is called an idiolect. ,veryone has small differences between their language and the language which people use to communicate, creating a minimal dialect".1 ,very native speaker is normally in command of several different language styles, called registers, which are varied according the formality of the occasion, and the medium used (speech, writing, or sign). -he register and style are the study ob!ects of our pro!ect. -he ma!or purpose of selecting this topic is to understand the significance of different registers impinge on ,nglish language. +tyle
1

http://www.ling.ohio-state.edu/ Page 2 of 16

Register & Style

distributes ,nglish language in two categories i.e. formal and vernacular. +o, register and style being the foundation of our venture allows appreciating different varieties in ,nglish language. %alliday the father of register, defines it as the relationship between language (and other semiotic forms) and the features of the context. Register is also used to indicate degrees of formality in language use. .egister is a semantic phenomenon in the sense that /register is the clustering of semantic features according to situation type0. "s 1igure 2 shows, the semantic stratum is, for %alliday, where language interfaces with the eco3social environment. "t this interface, register is /the necessary mediating concept that enables us to establish the continuity between a text and its socio semiotic environment0.

Hallidays Register

-he concept of linguistic register has been described by -rudgill as follows5

2

http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=163 !conte"t=artspapers!sei-redir=1!referer=http #3$#2%#2%www.google.co&#2%search#3%'#3(register#2)according#2)to#2)hallida*#26hl #3(en#26+iw#3(#26+ih#3(#26g+v#3(2#26gs,l#3(heirloo&hp.3.2.-l1-../33.130.0.-.160--.11.1 .1. ...-... .2/.-.32.2 212-21.1 .-...-.-...1c.1.34%c*56&37/#26 o'#3(register#2)according#2)8search=#22register#2-according#2-hallida*#22

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Register & Style

Linguistic varieties that are lin*ed to occupations, professions or topics have been termed registers. -he register of law, for example, is different from the register of medicine, which in turn is different from the language of engineering and so on. .egisters are usually characteri'ed solely by vocabulary differences6 either by the use of particular words, or by the use of words in a particular sense.7 .egisters are *ind of language produced by the social situation. "s 1erguson said, people participating in recurrent communication situations tend to develop similar vocabularies, similar features of intonation, and characteristic bits of syntax and phonology that they use in these situations. %alliday categori'ed linguistic features (specific expressions, lexico3grammatical and phonological features) in the three dimensions of field, mode and tenor which help to determine the functional variety of a language .-hese three parameters can be used to specify the context of situation in which language is used. 1ield, tenor and mode are called register variables and a description of the values for each of these variables at a given time of language use is a register description of a text4. 1ield of discourse is defined as the total event, in which the text is functioning, together with the purposive activity of the speaker or writer; it thus includes the sub ect!matter as one element in it. -he field describes activities and processes that are happening at the time of speech. -he analysis of this parameter focuses on the entire situation, e.g. when a mother tal*s to her child. -he field of discourse has to do with the focus of the activity, in which we are engaged, to recogni'e the culture. It refers to what is happening, to the nature of the social action that is ta*ing place, what the participants are engaged in. +imilarly, "regory and #arroll state that the field of discourse is the conse8uence of the user's purposive role, what his language is about, what experience he is verbali'ing, what is going on through language. +ometimes field can be glossed as the topic of the situation but $artin%s
3

http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/9haroldfs/&esseas/regrep/node2.ht&l

Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses http://rua.ua.es/dspace/+itstrea&/1-- ./.10 /1/:$6;,11,-1.pdf

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Register & Style

defines it in terms of institutional focus, or social activity type is more useful to capture the field in situations where language is accompanying action. In the educational and training world, *nowledge is most commonly presented linguistically (the study of language), so perhaps this mode receives the most attention from a learning standpoint (9homs*y, 2:;;). -he linguistic mode includes verbal communication, reading, watching (e.g. learn the rule of chess through observation), etc < -he mode of discourse refers to the function of the text in the event, including therefore both the channel taken by the language & spoken or written, extempore or prepared & and its 'genre(, or rhetorical mode, as narrative, didactic, persuasive, )phatic communion* and so on according to %alliday this variable determines the role and function of language in a particular situation. =hen analy'ing the mode of a text, the main 8uestion is /=hat is achieved by the use of language in this context>0 1or example, a fairy tale (in written form) may have a narrative or entertaining function. " spo*en conversation can be argumentative (in a discussion) or phatic (e.g. to contact someone or to *eep in touch with someone). #ode refers to the channel of communication?. #odes are divided in two categories05 -he @onlinguistic #ode, -he "ffective #ode .ichardson suggested that the non linguistic memory includes mental pictures, smell, *inesthetic, tactile, auditory, and taste. "t first, we might believe that they are entirely different structures6 however these representations are 8uite similar to each other in that these nonlinguistic sensations function in a similar fashion in permanent &e&or* . "ccording to (+tuss A Benson,) affective mode is our feeling, emotions, and mood B -enor of discourse sometimes also referred to as style according to +sser, describing the people that ta*e part in an event as well as their relationships and statuses. "ccording to %alliday -he tenor refers to the type of role interaction, the set of relevant social relations, permanent and

http://www.nwlink.co&/9donclark/hrd/learning/theories.ht&l http://www.tc.colu&+ia.edu/facult*/kleifgen/tech,n,lit/notes,ft&,hallida*.ht& 0 http://www.nwlink.co&/9donclark/hrd/learning/theories.ht&l

. 6

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Register & Style

temporary, among the participants involved -here might be a specific hierarchy between the interlocutors, e.g. when the head of a business tal*s to an employee, or they may have only a temporary relationship, e.g. when a person as*s an un*nown pedestrian for the time. -he tenor of discourse is defined in terms of the players, the actors or rather the interacting roles that are involved in the creation of the text. It refers to who is ta*ing part, to the nature of the participants, their status and role5 what *inds of role relationship obtain among the participants, including permanent and temporary relationships of one *ind or another, both the types of speech role that they are ta*ing on in the dialogue and the whole cluster of socially significant relationships in which they are involved. -his relationship that the spea*er establishes with the audience in relation to the tenor of discourse has been emphasi'ed by "regory and #arroll as well.; %alliday suggested that of all the uses we ma*e of language, language is intended to fulfill three main functions5 a function for relating experience (experiential), a function for creating interpersonal relationships (interpersonal) and a function for organi'ing information (textual) (,ggins, 2::C, 4DDC). .elation of the text to the context of situation (%alliday, 2:;:b5 4?).:
<;=>$=;?@ %eature of the conte"t :eali4ed +* =6A=: %unctional co&ponent of se&antic s*ste&

1ield of discourse (what is going on) -enor of discourse (who are ta*ing part) #ode of discourse (role assigned to language)

,xperiential meanings5 (-ransitivity, naming, etc.) Interpersonal meanings5 (#ood, modality, person, etc.) -extual meanings5 (theme, information, cohesive relations)

Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses http://rua.ua.es/dspace/+itstrea&/1-- ./.10 /1/:$6;,11,-1.pdf 1 http://rua.ua.es/dspace/+itstrea&/1-- ./.10 /1/:$6;,11,-1.pdf
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Register & Style

+tudying these variations is not only reveals a great deal about spea*er0s strategies with respect to variables such as social class, gender, ethnicity, and age. It also affords us the opportunity to observe the linguistic change in progress. In sociolinguistics, a style is a set of linguistic variants to which specific social meanings are attributed. 2D-he study of sociolinguistic variation examines the relation between social identity and ways of spea*ing. +tyle is the study ob!ect (but not the only one) of stylistics. =hat style is has always been open to dispute. -he word style may be *nown to many human beings and they may be able to describe fairly easily what it means. @evertheless, the multiplicity and complexity goes far beyond the word itself. -he following are examples of some renowned linguists and their definitions and concepts. ,eech and -hort defines style as the way in which language is used in a given context, by a given person, for a given purpose, and so on. 22"ccording to leech0s definition style may be seen as a particular way of spea*ing. +tyle therefore refers to the wide range of strategic actions and performances that spea*ers engage in, to construct them and their social live. +tyle Includes the =ord choice6 author0s choice of words and +yntax, the way words are arranged to form sentences. +yntax encompasses word order, sentence length, sentence focus, and punctuation. .ales stresses that style is distinctive5 in essence, the set or sum of linguistic features that seem to be characteristic5 whether of register, genre or period etc. 9arter and +toc*well demonstrates style as/ an 0rnamentation of the sense of an utterance/ but many linguists re ect this idea and says that it is always motivated, for example, by the speaker*s personal choices and belief systems and socio! cultural factors at every level. -here are 1ive #ain Language +tyles including the ultra3formal style, a very formal way of addressing an audience, using archaic language
111

http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/sa&ples/ca&-31/---6/1 0.pdf

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Register & Style

(-hou, %ath, -hee, etc.)

etc.

1he 2ormal -tyle 3

-he 1ormal +tyle &ifficult words (abstract nouns) examples, Liberty, hegemony, sanctification, 9omplex sentences with clauses example %e had been prepared to lie, to bluster, and to remain sullenly unresponsive6 but, reassured by the good3humored intelligence of the 9ontroller0s face, he decided to tell the truth, straightforwardly. "ldous %uxley, Brave @ew =orld. 1he $odified 2ormal -tyle3

-he #odified 1ormal +tyle a greater number of plain ,nglish words "ctive voice used rather than passive5 "ctive5 -he girl wal*ed the dog. Eassive5 -he dog was wal*ed by the girl. -he use of abbreviated verb forms wouldn0t, can0t, shouldn0t etc. 1he #ollo4uial -tyle 3

-he 9ollo8uial +tyle ,veryday ,nglish3 words you would use when tal*ing to your friendsFfamily. 1iller words used5 ,.g. Li*e, *now what I mean, o.*., etc. +horter more assertive sentences5 -his is cra'yG 1he ultra!collo4uial style3 ,.H 9"+I"L +pea*ing style (easy words)5 e.g5 Ho, %ow0s it

-he ultra3collo8uial style function words (a, of, to)5

goin0> Jmits main verbs5 =hatcha gonna do> %e KwouldL li*e to go but he can0t. Jmits little +tyle also includes stylistic devices li*e hyperbole, imagery, irony, etc. Ehonology5 alliteration, assonance Mraphology5 presentational devices5 bullets, bloc* capitals for headlines, etc

"llan Bell, a linguist from @ew Nealand, developed a model for the analysis of stylistic
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Register & Style

variation *nown as audience design. %e claimed that in designing our style of speech at any particular time, we assess the sociolinguistic characteristics of our addressees and adapt the way we spea* to conform to these characteristics. In accordance with style, @ic* 9oupland investigated the extent to which an assistant in a travel agency in 9ardiff, =ales shifted her speech to match that of social class of her clients. Jne of the variables he studied was the glottalisation of (t), and the result of this part of his study has been shown in the fig. these results show how the assistant altered her use of this variable 8uite radically when spea*ing to clients of different social classes.
24

Dinguistics $n introduction +* $ndrew :adfordG Cartin $tkinsonG (avid )ritainG 7arald ElahsenG $ndrew <pencer
12

Perc enta ge use of HtIglott ali4at ion

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Register & Style

-ravel agency assistant0s style shifting to clients5 (t) glottalisation -he model of audience design helps to explain why people seem, to a non native ear, to /pic* up0 accent of places they stay in. British or north "merican ,nglish spea*er spending a couple of years in "ustralia would have a pre dominantly "ustralian ,nglish spea*ing audience, and would accommodate to that variety so often when conversing that, to *nown "ustralians, they may /sound li*e an "ussie0. =hat this indicates, then, is that variation in language is constrained not only by the social characteristics of the spea*er, but also those of the addressee in any conversation6 variation is also internationally determined. -his assignment has offered a critical description of the linguist variation with great emphasis on register including field, tenor, mode and style. 9onsidering %alliday0s reflection, I believe that the approach I have brought along here from an integrated perspective, that every language is interwoven with specific registers and style which can cannot be separated. Both register and style help to develop the richness and universality in language. In our pro!ect we have analy'ed that any professor or a teacher has a specific style and register. -hey use specific and clear accent, focuses on phonology and their specific style includes
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Register & Style

expression less face, rigid loo* on face. =e have also monitored the register of army that they say .oger that on understanding any message instead of o*, counter for attac*, words li*e head 8uarters, nerve center are utili'ed instead of main office, raid for forced entry in any house. -here is a specific register for describing any part of body utili'ed by doctors. -hese types of register are certainly alien for any common person in fact fulfilling the purpose of register. -he specific register employed by doctors is as follows6 5ody 6art $edical 1erm %ead 9ranium 1orehead 1rontalis ,yeball Mlobe ,ye +oc*et Jrbit ,ye =hites 9ornea ,ye 9olor .ing Iris ,ye %ole Eupil ,ars Einna ,ar 9anal ,xternal #eatus @ostrils @ares 9hee*s #alar region 9hee* Bone Nygomatic arch Lips Labia -ongue Lingulus #outh Jral 9avity Mums Mingiva 9hin #entis -eeth &entition " cosmetic is a wide field of study, particularly famous among girls. But the fact is that all girls apply ma*eup but are still unaware of the exact names of the utensils used to apply ma*eup. Oust choosing the type of brushes in our pro!ect we have found out that there is a specific register for even the ma*eup brushes a minor entity in whole field of cosmetics, about which most of the people are still unaware. -ypes of brushes with their particular identity are as follows6

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Register & Style

2078D91:08 5;7-<5 &esigned to achieve a smooth and flawless finish, the bristles are tightly pac*ed with a tapered tip for fluid application.

#08#+9,+;=#9$072,9"+ 5;7-<5 " soft bristled, flat brush with a wider base and a pointed tip.

D70 2:5;+ 5;7-<5 #ade from a blend of goat and synthetic fibers this brush is ideal for buffing and blending color.

5;08>+;=60.D+; 5;7-<5 +oft, full and rounded, this brush can be used for both compact powder and bron'er.

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Register & Style

$:8+;9, 60.D+; 5;7-<5 " thic* bundled brush that can sometimes be used both wet and dry.

298 60.D+; 5;7-<5 9reated for use with loose powder, the fine fan sweeps a light dusting of powder onto the s*in for a soft, velvety effect.

5,7-<+; 5;7-<5 #ade with fine, gentle fibers the blusher brush has a rounded head which is perfect for giving a pop of color to the apples of your chee*s

Jur pro!ect focuses on another important register which is very common and handy but
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Register & Style

retaining its specific terminology and vocabulary it retains its complexity, it is culinary items6 items used to coo* food. -he culinary items which we have chosen are *nives. +pecific names of each *nife are as follows6 1. #hef*s knife

;t

is

used

for

choppingG

slicingG

precision cuttingG crushing and carving.

2. Eleaver

9leavers are designed to force their way through bones li*e an axe.

3. Ehinese cleaver

-hey are well suited to any chopping process but are very useful for slicing and precision cuts such as 2ulienne and chopping herbs.

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Register & Style

. )oning knife

-his *nife is used for separating meat and connective tissue from bones during butchering and trimming
.. Paring knife

It can be used for peeling and trimming, cutting and turning, garnishes and creative wor*, including fruit and vegetable carving.
6. =urning knife

It has a curved blade it is most suited to shaping vegetables by turning.

0. Palette knife

-he straight blade is used principally for lifting, shaping and scraping.
/. <errated slicer

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Register & Style

-his *nife is a variation of the ham slicer and though it may be used to slice ham, it may produce a rough loo*ing product.
1. (ecorating knife

-his *nife has a hori'ontally 'ig'agged edge, which enables decorative cuts and patterns to be made generally in softer materials li*e margarine, butter and chocolate
1-. Frapefruit knives<how Core <how Dess

-his is another speciali'ed tool which is specifically designed to ma*e a curved cut to loosen the flesh of grapefruit from their s*in for service.
:eferences

http5FFappli!.oxford!ournals.orgFcontentFIIF2FC<.extract
http://rua.ua.es/dspace/+itstrea&/1-- ./.10 /1/:$6;,11,-1.pdf http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/9haroldfs/popcult/handouts/register/register.ht&l http://www.doctorsecrets.co&/&edical-ter&s/&edical-ter&s-+od*-parts.ht&l

http5FFtoolboxes.flexiblelearning.net.auFdemositesFseriesCFCD:FtoolsFstoreFe8uipF*Ptype.h tml

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