Name: PREETHA Sriram

Module: 1

Section: A

Question: 2

LANGUAGE VARIES ACCORDING TO THE CONTEXT IN WHICH IT IS

WRITTEN OR SPOKEN

Language is a means of communication. Language which began as a set of hand gestures

and sounds has evolved over time. From the ancient times to this day, language has gone through

lot of changes. Language is primarily speech, which is acquired naturally, whereas writing is not.

There are lots of variations of a language between different communities and cultures. Also

language varies in a lot of ways like historically, geographically and socially. More new

vocabulary are added and many new methods of communications have been developed. We use

listening and speaking skills (auditory) to hold a conversation and reading and writing skills

(visual) while reading an essay or writing a letter to someone. In this essay we are going to talk

about the different ways in which the language varies based on who it is addressed to and the

setting in which it happens and also the medium in which it is used like in spoken or written

medium.

Different Types of Registers and Formalities

Though grammatical correctness is a requirement in speaking, there are factors other than

that governs the speakers choice. For example, Sign this paper, is a grammatically correct

sentence, but when a student is asking a teacher to sign his paper for him, he cannot actually use
such an imperative sentence. He should be using a statement that expresses request like Can you

please sign this form? (Sociolinguistics Basics)

Registers are variations of language caused by features of the communicative situation,

like difference in the topic or setting (Context) or the medium (written or spoken) in which the

language is used. In other words,

To put it simply, a register can be considered a unique way a speaker uses language in

different circumstances, from chatting at a fancy dinner party to debating a topic in a classroom

discussion. (Nordguist)

We adjust the language according to the participants (age, gender, status, group, and

role), topic (medical, legal, etc.), setting (office, party, etc.) and the medium (speech, writing or

texting).

People brought up in a literary culture often consider that having knowledge of writing is

more important than that of speaking. But speech is many thousand years older than writing.

Speech is a naturally acquired talent while writing is taught to us by someone. We use writing

only as a representation of what is being spoke as specified below:

Speaking is the "real" language and writing is only a representation of speaking.

(Speaking Versus Writing)

We do not write what we speak or speak what we write. We use a lot of slang words or

word reductions while we speak, like for example I dno. instead of I do not know. or The

car blew up. instead of The car exploded.

 We usually speak in a much less formal, less structured way. We do not always use full

sentences and correct grammar. The vocabulary that we use is more familiar and may include

slang. (Speaking versus Writing).

We tend to use gestures and signs when speaking, rather than using words to express

them, which cannot be used while writing. When writing we need to use more words, phrases,

clause, punctuation to indicate the stress and pause, to convey our thoughts.

Written language tends to be more complex and intricate than speech, with longer

sentences and many subordinate clauses. The punctuation and layout of written texts also have

no spoken equivalent. However some forms of written language, such as instant messages and

email, are closer to spoken language. (Differences between writing and speech)

Spoken language always has an audience. We might be having a face to face

conversation with a person or we might be addressing a group of people. We tend to have lots of

repetitions, interruptions and pause unless it is a formal or a scripted speech. In contrast to this,

in written form, we do not have an immediate audience. The audience are the readers, or the

recipient of the letter, who read the written work at a later point in time. So we need to explain

the details more accurately and elaborately.

Writers receive no immediate feedback from their readers, except in computer-based

communication. Therefore they cannot rely on context to clarify things so there is more need to

explain things clearly and unambiguously than in speech. (Differences between writing and

speech)

Spoken language pays less heed to grammar and verbal errors, unless used in formal

speeches. Sometimes what makes perfect sense when spoken does not sound the same way when
written. For example, the following sentence when in spoken English is perfectly fine but while

as a written statement looks strange:

And my grandmother, I've never forgotten, when we were small, my sister and I, she

used to take us down and we'd sing to the seals. (The difference between written grammar and

spoken grammar)

In written language the grammatical rules are to be followed strictly and any vocabulary

error is also not forgiven. Written mistakes include errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation.

It is important that we use the proper register in the proper situation to speak or write. We should

be aware who our audience are before we choose which register we use, as specified in,

Harriet Joseph Ottenheimer states in "The Anthropology of Language: An Introduction

to Linguistic Anthropology", that some registers may receive "more prestige than others, and

some may be looked down on." (Nordguist)

We use formal registers while we communicate in a professional setting and informal

registers while we communicate with families and friends. There are other factors that decide the

type of register that we use like how long the people have known each other, their relationship

and the purpose of the speech. The language setting, medium and the participants often dictate a

certain degree of formality. The scale of formality is categorized into five different types which

are explained with examples below.

Frozen Style

Frozen style also called as rigid, ceremonial or oratorical style, is a communication style

in which the language used is fixed. The language is frozen in time and content or in other words

static. It can also be said as the Language that never changes. (Young). Some examples of the
places where frozen style is used are National Anthem, National Pledge, Ceremonial Speeches

(e.g. wedding vows), The Bible, etc. In the written medium, frozen style is used in legal

documents and poetry where it uses very rare kind of vocabulary. The following are some

examples of frozen styles statements:

All visitors are invited to proceed upstairs immediately.

I bid Your Majesty, a good day.

Pray be seated.

I offer you all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of the day.

Formal Style

The formal style also called as correct or deliberative style is usually one way in nature.

The formal style has a particular format that has to be followed. The style is very impersonal and

formal. We tend to use more sophisticated vocabulary. Some of the places where the formal style

is used in spoken medium are formal meeting, public addressing, speeches, sermons, rhetorical

statements and questions, court proceedings, announcements, etc. Some places where the formal

style is used in written medium are business and official letters, reports, essays, novels, etc. The

following are some of the examples of formal style statements:

Would everyone please proceed upstairs at once?

Good Morning!

Please sit down.

Thank you for applying for this position. Well let you know within a week if you have

been chosen for an interview.

Informal Style

The informal style also known as the consultative style is the most commonly used style

or formality. It is a two way participation and the background information on the context is

provided. The conversation is usually between a superior and subordinate. It is understood that

one person is more knowledgeable than the other on the context. This is the style that we use

when talking to strangers or between colleagues of unequal status. Some places where this style

is used in spoken medium are superior - subordinate, doctor - patient, lawyer - client, teacher

student, etc. Some places where this style is used in written medium are personal letters to

friends, memos to others, dialogues in a novel, etc. The following are some of the examples of

informal style statements:

Hello, Mr. Smith. How are you this morning?

Thanks for following up on the Jones account. Great Job!

Would you all go upstairs right away?

Sit anywhere you like.

Casual Style

Casual style also known as friendly or close style, describes the language between

friends. The setting is usually relaxed, there are lot of interruptions, usage of slangs and idioms

are quite common. We tend to have more nonverbal form of communication like using hand

gestures and signs. Some places where this style is used in spoken medium are between

colleagues of same status, acquaintances, general conversation, and chat with friends, family and

teammates. Some places where this style is used in written medium are personal letters to family
and close friends, memos to oneself, diaries, chats, emails and blogs. The following are examples

of casual style sentences:

Hey, Jake. Whats up?

Whoa, way to go! Nice catch!

Come on upstairs now.

Take a seat.

Intimate Style

Intimate style also referred to as free style, is used with really close persons. It is reserved

for really close family members and friends and is not used in public. This style is used between

husband and wife, siblings, etc. This style rarely has any written form. The following are some

examples of this style:

Hows my little teddy bear?

Using a hand gesture to sit down.

I dno.

Conclusion

From the above essay we see how there are lot of differences between the written

medium and the spoken medium. Language not only varies between the written medium to

spoken medium but also with the person to whom it is spoken or written to and the context and

the setting in which it is spoken or written. Like we cannot use a casual style talk to a teacher, or

a formal style to talk to a toddler. We change the style in which we talk according to person we
are talking to. Also we dont talk in a formal style to a colleague of equal status outside a

meeting but use the formal style while addressing them in a meeting. Similarly, in written

medium, they style in which we write dialogues in a novel is not the same as how we write a

personal letter to a friend. So we can see that language varies according to the context in which it

is written or spoken.

Bibliography
Differences between writing and speech. n.d. 9 June 2017.
<http://www.omniglot.com/writing/writingvspeech.htm>.

Diploma in Teaching English for Speakers of Other Language. LTTC, n.d.

Nordguist, Richard. The Degrees of Formality in Language Usage. 05 May 2017. 10 June 2017.
<https://www.thoughtco.com/register-language-style-1692038>.

Sociolinguistics Basics. 2005. MACNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS. 16 June 2017.

<http://www.pbs.org/speak/speech/sociolinguistics/sociolinguistics/>.

Speaking versus Writing. 2011. 10 June 2017. <https://www.englishclub.com/esl-articles/200108.htm>.

Speaking Versus Writing. 2011. 10 June 2017. <https://www.englishclub.com/esl-articles/200108.htm>.

The difference between written grammar and spoken grammar. 27 February 2014. 9 June 2017.
<http://worldteacher-andrea.blogspot.sg/2012/11/the-difference-between-written-
grammar.html>.

Young, Jennifer. How Did That Register? Five Levels of Formality in Language. 2012 May 2012. 11 June
2017. <https://www.altalang.com/beyond-words/2012/05/01/how-did-that-register-five-levels-
of-formality-in-language/>.