Module III : Intercultural Communication
Lesson 3 : Varieties and Registers of Spoken and Written Language
Course Title : Purposive Communication
Course Number : GE 106
Course Description : Purposive Communication is a three-unit course that develops
students’ communication competence and enhances their cultural and
intercultural awareness through multimodal tasks that provide them
opportunities for communicating effectively and appropriately to a
multicultural audience in a local or global context.
Total Learning Time : 3 units (3 hours lecture per week)
Pre-requisites : None
Overview : In this chapter, we will have discussion on Communication and
Globalization, and Varieties and Registers of Spoken and Written Language. You will be
exploring text reflecting different cultures and discuss also some culturally appropriate terms,
expressions, and images (sensitivity to gender, race, class, etc).
Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this module, the student should be able to:
1. Determine culturally appropriate terms, expressions, and images (sensitivity to gender,
race, class, etc.); and
2. Adopt cultural and intercultural awareness and sensitivity in communication.
Indicative Content: This module discusses at least the following topics: What is Globalization
and its Impacts to Communication, Intercultural Communication, Varieties of English and
Language Registers of English, Cultural Text, Formal and Informal Language.
Discussion:
The Formal Register
The three most common language registers are formal, informal, and neutral. When we get
a chance to talk to somebody like a doctor or a lawyer, we normally use the formal register with
them. This mean that we talk to them this way:
The Formal register is appropriate for professional writing and latters to a boss, or someone
we are meeting for the first rime Formal writing is also probably the most challenging type of
writing that requires the formal register. This register is useful if we have to write a letter that is
both impersonal and unemotional to a specific person. As a college student this is the language
register required of you when you need to write a letter to your teacher, much more if you are
communicating through a letter of the president of the university in behalf of a school
organization. This same register is required when you write an application letter to your would-
be employer. Formal writing includes:
Business Letters
Letters of Complaint
Reports
Official Speeches
Announcements
Professional email messages
In using the formal language register, the following are to be observed:
1. Do not use contractions. Contractions are not usually used in formal writing even though
it is very common in spoken English.
Examples:
Will not instead of won’t
Have not instead of haven’t
Should not instead of shouldn’t
Could not instead of couldn’t
However, contractions can be used if you are quoting someone’s exact words in writing.
Example:
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“We shouldn’t put a premium to plainly verbal communication”, the professor said.
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For apostrophes, keep in mind that it does pertain to a contraction. Apostrophes are
added to nouns to express ownership. They are use in all language registers.
Examples:
Engineer’s profile
Architect’s design
Manager’s report
2. Spell – out numbers less than one hundred. This is a must for reports or any form of
formal writing that use number expressions.
Examples:
Nineteen
Twenty-three
Sixty-five
3. Avoid using too much passive voice. In formal writing it is better to use active voice.
Examples:
Passive sentences:
The member of PICE were instructed to assemble at the conference room by the
event’s host.
The terror attacks was reported by CNN.
Active sentences:
The event’s host instructed the members of PICE to assemble at the conference
room.
CNN reported the terror attacks live.
4. Avoid using slang, idioms, exaggerations, and clichés. These expressions are acceptable
in informal writing and spoken English. Slang in particular is only meant for a certain area
or region.
Examples:
Awesome
Okay/ok
Check it out
In a nutshell
A cliché is a phrase that is often overused.
Too much of a good thing
Moment of truth
Time is money
Don’t push your luck
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Beauty is only skin deep
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5. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms. If you have to use acronym, write it out the first
time. From then on, you can use the acronym itself.
Examples:
Capiz State University (CapSU)
United Architects of the Philippines (UAP)
National Aeronautics and Space Adminisration (NASA)
For abbreviations, write the complete word the first time, then abbreviations are in order.
Influenza – flu
Tablespoon – tsbp.
Manila – Mla.
The following symbols among and the like are only for friendly email and texts.
Examples:
LOL ( laugh out loud)
Brb (be right back)
W/c (which)
W/o (without)
Mfeo (made for each other)
6. Formal writing requires the good transition words like:
Examples:
Nevertheless
Additionally
Consequently
In fact
As a result
However
7. Always write in sentences. Fragments are unacceptable in formal writing
Examples:
Before the expiration date
Although it was relayed quite well.
In the middle of an exhibition.
Complete sentences:
You must consume the product before its expiration date.
Although it was relayed quite well, the message was still unclear to the audience.
In the middle of an art exhibition, the artist himself opened the auction for his
masterpieces.
8. Write longer, more complex sentences. As formal write-ups are usually written by well-
educated individuals, complex sentences are commonly seen in them.
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Examples:
Since the number of CoViD cases is still rising, President Rodrigo Duterte was
compelled to put the highly affected areas back into ECQ again which resulted to
delay of the opening of classes for public and some private schools and an economic
uncertainty.
In a 501 pages document, the Hague Tribunal decided to honor the claim of the
Philippines over Scarborough Shoal and said that China does not have historic
rights to the South China Sea and that their “nine-dash line” claim has no legal
basis.
The Informal Language Register
Source: [Link]
To young people, the informal register always works. This is the register that we use when
we communicate with friends and family. We use informal writing to someone we know very
well. Unlike the formal register, the informal register accepts:
Slang and clichés
Figurative language
Symbols and abbreviations
Acronyms
Incomplete sentences
Short sentences
Jokes
Personal opinions
Active and passive voice
Extra punctuation
Thus, informal writing includes:
Personal emails
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Text messages
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Short notes
Tweets
Facebook posts
Blogs
Friendly letters
Chat messages
Diaries and journal
The Neutral Language Register
Source: [Link]
The neutral register is neither formal nor informal. Basically it is the tone that is used when
expressing facts devoid of emotion. Some writings including this book are written in neutral
register. This explain why the past modules are not specifically formal or informal; but the fact
remains that like other writings, this book delivers facts. Other writings that use neutral registers
are:
Reviews
Articles
Some letters
Some essays
Technical writing
Evaluation.
Directions: Identify if the following scenarios require the Formal, Informal, or Neutral Register.
Write A fro Formal; B for Informal; C for Neutral.
1. Engr. Santos delivering a speech to an assembly of civil engineers. _______
2. An Architect having a coffee break with his fellow architects._______
3. A speech writer composing a speech of a politician’s privilege speech._______
4. A Facebook post on a video that has gone viral._______
5. A mother texting her son to do the groceries.________
6. A series of text messages between best friends.________
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7. An Engineer being asked to write a report.________
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8. A student writing a movie review.________
9. A teacher asking his students to write an essay about violence on television._______
10. An exchange of jokes among officemates.________
I. Below are examples of two varieties of English that focus on expressions. Some of
these might be useful in your future endeavour as career persons. Classify the
following accordingly and write them under the correct column. Note that some
terms from the lists are used by both varieties.
1. underground economy vs. black economy
2. counter clockwise vs. anticlockwise
3. current account vs. checking account
4. housing development vs. housing estate
5. elementary school vs. junior school
6. labor union vs. trade union
7. expiry date vs. expiration date
8. rubbish vs. garbage
9. parentheses vs. brackets
10. drink driving vs. drunk driving
11. fortnight vs. two weeks
12. raincoat vs. mackintosh
13. third party insurance vs. liability insurance
14. driving license vs. driver’s license
15. whisky vs. whiskey
References:
Madrunio, M .& Martin, I. (2018). Purposive Communication. Using English in
Multingual Contexts. Quezon City, Philippines: C&E Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-971-98-
0925-8
Africa, A. (2018). Purposive Communication In the Now. Mandaluyong City, Philippines:
Books Atbp. Publishing Corp. ISBN 978-621-409-091-4
Uychoco, MT & Santos, ML. (2018). Communication for Society: Purposive
Communication. Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines: Rex Bookstore.
Internet Sources: [Link]
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