FORMAL VS.

COLLOQUIAL
VOICE & AUDIENCE
INGL 3202 Spring 2011
 FORMAL VS. COLLOQUIAL

What is colloquial language?

Informal/familiar or popular English
The everyday spoken English
Examples of colloquial vocabulary:
Stuff
A lot
Thing
Sort of

ADAPTED FROM DAVID PARK DESIGNS & TEACHES

 FORMAL VS. COLLOQUIAL

What is formal language?

Uses a respectful and academic tone.
Uses more complex vocabulary than everyday speech.
Usually used in writing such as textbooks and university essays.
Examples of formal vocabulary (multi-syllable words):
Compensate
Interrogate
Establish

ADAPTED FROM DAVID PARK DESIGNS & TEACHES

 FORMAL VS. COLLOQUIAL

COLLOQUIAL FORMAL
Ask for Request
Find out Discover
Deal with Handle
Checked out Investigated/ studied
Put up with Tolerated
Kids children
OK All right/ acceptable
A lot Many / much
ADAPTED FROM DAVID PARK DESIGNS & TEACHES
 FORMAL VS. COLLOQUIAL

Situation: You arranged a meeting/lunch, and you will not be able

to make it. The form you will use to let the other person know, is
an e-mail.

1st e-mail: Let your professor know you will not make it to the
meeting arranged.
2nd e-mail: Let your best friend know you will not be able to meet
him/her for lunch as you had arranged.
3rd e-mail: Let a classmate know you will not be able to meet
him/her for the group meeting arranged.
 FORMAL VS. COLLOQUIAL

When writing an academic essay, use formal language and

avoid:
Contractions
(isnt, dont, wont, theyre, cant, shouldnt)
Colloquial English or slang
(gonna, wanna, aint)
Avoid abbreviation words
(yrs, hrs)

ADAPTED FROM DAVID PARK DESIGNS & TEACHES

 AUDIENCE

As a writer, it is of the outmost importance to be aware of your

reader (audience). Try not to offend your reader.
Concentrate on a general readership (broader audience)
Be sensitive to your audiences feelings (controversial topics)
Resist the temptation and AVOID writing to a single reader, the
instructor.
Ideally use the third person (it for an object, he she for a person,
and they for plurals).
The first person (I, We) is preferred for autobiographies,
narratives, and memoirs.
The second person is tricky and difficult to manage. It may seem
personal and even threatening.
ADAPTED FROM THE PRACTICAL ENGLISH HANDBOOK 11TH EDITION
 VOICE

Let YOUR voice and style be heard in your writing

Be purposeful, clear, and sincere
Tips:
Using Anecdotes
(slices of life)
Using Metaphors
(My family is a strong ray of sun that brings light and warmth to my heart)
Using Repetition
(We were very tired, and were very hungry, yet we were very happy)

ADAPTED FROM WRITERS INC