What is register in language?
Different definitions from different sources
We use the term 'register' to refer to particular varieties or styles of speaking and writing.
Registers vary because the language is used for different purposes, in different contexts
and for different audiences. For example, there is a legal register, a register of advertising,
registers of banking and a register of weather forecasting. We commonly recognise
registers because of their specialised vocabulary but also because of particular uses of
grammar. We also use the term register to refer to whether language is being used formally
or informally:
[From a weather forecast register: depression is a specialised word meaning a system of
weather that brings rain.]
There is a depression moving in from the Atlantic and we can expect high winds and
local storms over the next few days in the north of the country.
Cambridge Dict.
Register often refers to the degree of formality of language, but in a more general
sense it means the language used by a group of people who share similar work or
interests, such as doctors or lawyers.
Example
For formal and informal register; 'Would you mind passing the salt?' is appropriate
for a formal situation with strangers, whereas 'Pass me the salt' would be used
for a situation where friends are talking, or possibly when being rude.
In the classroom
Although register is a complex area, the most common aspect looked at in
language learning is the degree of formality. Teachers often
divide functional language into three working categories, formal, neutral and informal.
British Council
In linguistics, the register is defined as the way a speaker uses language differently in
different circumstances. Think about the words you choose, your tone of voice, even your
body language. You probably behave very differently chatting with a friend than you
would at a formal dinner party or during a job interview. These variations in formality,
also called stylistic
variation, are known as registers in linguistics. They are determined by such factors as
social occasion, context, purpose, and audience.
Registers are marked by a variety of specialized vocabulary and turns of phrases,
colloquialisms and the use of jargon, and a difference in intonation and pace; in
"The Study of Language," linguist George Yule describes the function of jargon as
helping " to create and maintain connections among those who see themselves as
'insiders' in some way and to exclude 'outsiders."
Registers are used in all forms of communication, including written, spoken, and signed.
Depending on grammar, syntax, and tone, the register may be extremely rigid or very
intimate. You don't even need to use an actual word to communicate effectively. A huff of
exasperation during a debate or a grin while signing "hello" speaks volumes.
Types of Linguistic Register
Some linguists say there are just two types of register: formal and informal. This isn't
incorrect, but it is an oversimplification. Instead, most who study language say there are
five distinct registers.
1. Frozen: This form is sometimes called the static register because it
refers to historic language or communication that is intended to remain unchanged,
like a constitution or prayer. Examples: The Bible, the United States Constitution,
the Bhagavad Gita, "Romeo and Juliet."
2. Formal: Less rigid but still constrained, the formal register is used in
professional, academic, or legal settings where communication is expected to be
respectful, uninterrupted, and restrained. Slang is never used, and contractions
are rare. Examples: a TED talk, a business presentation, the Encyclopaedia
Brittanica, "Gray's Anatomy," by Henry Gray.
3. Consultative: People use this register often in conversation when
they're speaking with someone who has specialized knowledge or who is offering
advice. Tone is often respectful (use of courtesy titles) but may be more casual if the
relationship is longstanding or friendly (a family doctor.) Slang is sometimes used,
people may pause or interrupt one another. Examples: the local TV news broadcast,
an annual physical, a service provider like a plumber.
4. Casual: This is the register people use when they're with friends, close acquaintances
and co-workers, and family. It's probably the one you think of when you consider how
you talk with other people, often in a group setting. Use of slang, contractions, and
vernacular grammar is
all common, and people may also use expletives or off-color language in some settings.
Examples: a birthday party, a backyard barbecue. 5. Intimate: Linguists say this
register is reserved for special occasions,
usually between only two people and often in private. Intimate language may be
something as simple as an inside joke between two college friends or a word
whispered in a lover's ear.
By
Richard Nordquist, ThoughtCo
Chapter 2
Questionnaire
1- Why do you think EST has set the trends in the development of ESP?
2- Taking into account the definitions for Register in language, what is register in the specific
context of ESP?
3- What linguistic elements predominate in EST?
4- What is target situation in ESP?
5- Why is it important to set register in an ESP course?
Summary
Re read the chapter and complete the table below
ESP development
Stage
1
2
3
4
5
Topic
Characteristics