Question

The register, or formality level, of a conversation can vary greatly based on the setting. Thinking about your own life, what is the most informal register you use? Who is it with? Can you give it a name, like “close-friend informal” or “texting with Jo”? Now think of your most formal register and give it a name, perhaps “church polite” or “speeding-ticket respectful.” Compare these two extremes with your everyday, usual register of speech. Discuss how different or similar they are, how easy it is to switch registers, and how you gauge the register of a certain situation.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

The most informal level of language I use is with my friends in online messaging apps. This type of language is usually very fast and with lots of slang and abbreviations. As my friends are close to my age and we are at the same level of hierarchy, this type of language is common and even stimulated between us, as it allows a more relaxed communication to be established.

The most formal level of language I use is with my internship supervisor, where I use very respectful language and more elaborate words, without using slang, abbreviations or idiomatic expressions. In this language I use the most cultured form of language, since a respectful relationship needs to be established.

The similarity between these two types of communication is that they both seek to establish social relationships. At the more informal level, language seeks to establish a more comfortable and relaxed relationship. At the more formal level, language seeks to establish a more professional and respectful relationship. Changing the level of formality in each situation is easy to establish when you have clear objectives about communication and the results it can achieve.