[Introduction to Language, Society and Culture]

1
[Styles]

Module 008- Styles

At the end of this module you are expected to:
1. Define what is style and discourse style
2. Enumerate the types of style and discourse styles
3. Explain types of speech styles

• “Dialect, style and register are both ways of labeling varieties of

language, although they function differently, they do, most of the time,
appear similar because the same person may use different linguistic
items to express more or less the same meaning on different occasion
and the concept of dialect cannot extend to include such as variation.”

• “Another part of similarity between these varieties is that they

overlap considerably – one person’s dialect is another person’s
register, and sometimes may differ by the style of transferring the
message for example the items which one person under all
circumstances use informally may be used by someone else on the
most formal occasions.”

• “In this module, the different kinds of styles that are sociolinguistic
and discourse will be discussed.”

Definition of Styles

• “A style is not a social or regional dialect, but a variety of language used for a
specific purpose.”

• “Styles are often analyze along a scale of formality, as in the examples from
social dialect research.”
• Style – “a set of linguistic variants with specific social meanings. In this
context, social meanings can include group membership, personal attributes
or beliefs.”
• It is a….
▪ “social identity”
▪ “variation in language”
▪ “choice of words used by a specific group of people
when they speak”
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 when analyzing a style, we need to consider:
▪ “point of view”
▪ “formal or informal way”
▪ “organization/structure of language”
▪ “level of complexity”
▪ “overall tone”

Figure 1.1 Source:

[Link]

“The figure shows that style can be done through the choice of words of a certain person. It
is through a specific group of people or to whom they are going to speak with.”

Classification of Style

“Style can be classified on two bases”

a. on the media of communication

▪ “spoken”
▪ “written”

b. on the basis of register;

▪ “business style”
▪ “scientific style”
▪ “news style”
▪ “advertising style”
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[Styles]

Style can be of two types,

1. Formal

o “It is often associated with the conventions expected of Standard

English. At its most extreme, formal language is signaled by complex,
complete sentences impersonality, avoidance of colloquial or slang
vocabulary, and a consistent preference for learned words.”

Example:
“Prior to the discovery of America, potatoes were not consumed in
Europe.”

2. Informal

o “It is a characterized by a simpler grammatical structure i.e. loosely –

connected sentences and phrases, personal evaluation, and a
colloquial or slang vocabulary.”

Example:
“Before they discovered America Europeans didn’t eat potatoes.”

Figure 1.2
Source: [Link]

“People has its own style on how to communicate, it’s their prerogative. They may use media
communication it’s either written or spoken.”

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Levels of Style

“Martin Joos in his book The Five Clocks classified both spoken and written style
into five levels of formality.”
They are such as follow:
a. “Frozen style”
b. “Formal style”
c. “Consultative style”
d. “Casual style”
e. “Intimate style”

a. Frozen style
▪ “The most formal style that usually in respectful or formal ceremony.”
▪ “It is called oratorical style which characterized by the very careful, has fixed
form, and has symbolic or historical nature.”

Example:
certain fixed expressions as:
“Yes your honor”
“Yes my lord”
“I object”

b. Formal style
▪ “It is used in the formal events, talks about the serious problem such as in the
formal speeches and official meeting.”
▪ “The characteristics are careful and standard speech, low tempo speech,
technical vocabulary, avoidance of main word repetition and its use of
synonyms.”

Example:
“Those taking part should sit during the proceedings”.

c. Consultative
▪ “The most operational among the other styles.”
▪ “The sentence tends to be shorter and less well planned.”
▪ “Since it is spontaneous, people tend to repeat some unnecessary words,
choose the wrong word choice or use many slang.”
▪ “It is used in some group discussion, regular conversation at school,
companies, trade speech conversation, etc.”
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[Styles]

d. Casual
▪ “Casual style is also simply defined as a style that is used for the conversation
in our relaxed or normal situation.”
▪ “Casual speech is the omissions of unstressed words, particularly at the
beginning of sentences.”
▪ “It is often used in the conversational between friends or family. It is usually
applied in daily conversation, in relaxed time such as when they picture or
sport, etc.”

e. Intimate
▪ “It is a style among intimate members of a family or friends that do not need
a complete language with clear articulation.”
▪ The example for this style is, “Hey darling, how are you?”.

“There are five main language styles including the ultra – formal style, a very formal
way of addressing an audience, using archaic language.”

Formal Style:

o “The formal style difficult words (abstract nouns) examples. Liberty,

hegemony, sanctification, etc.”

o “Complex sentences with clauses example “He had been prepared to

lie, to bluster, and to remain suddenly unresponsive but, reassured by
the good-humored intelligence of the Controller’s face.”

o “He decided to tell the truth straight forwardly.”

o “Aldous Huxley. Brave new world.”

Modified Formal Style

“The modified formal style a greater number of plain English words active voice
used rather than passive: The girl walked the dog. Passive: The dog was walked by
the girl. The use of abbreviated verb forms wouldn’t, can’t, shouldn’t etc.”

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 Colloquial Style

“The colloquial style’ Everyday English- words you would use when taking to your
friends/family. Filler words used: Eg. Like, know what I mean, o.k.. etc. shorter more
assertive sentences: This is crazy!.”

Ultra – colloquial style

“The ultra-colloquial style VERY CASUAL speaking style (easy words): e.g: Yo, How’s
it goin’? Omits main verbs: Whatcha gonna do? He [would] like to go but he can’t.
Omits little function words (a. of. to).”

Factors affecting style

“Factors affecting style” may be as follows,

a. “kind of occasion”

“It depends on physical settings around us.”

“For example in a party with friends, we behave differently as compare to

classroom.”

b. “social class and education”

“Social class educations are important to determine the language style.”

“For example lower class and Jess educated people tend to simplify the way
of speaking while upper class and higher educated people to use complicated
forms.”

c. Age and gender

“Age and gender are also important factors that determine language style.”

“For example considering the factor of age elders may speak a bit different
from youngers and considering gender females. Language style shows
nurturance and concern for others whereas males have authoritative and
impersonal style.”
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[Styles]

d. Ethnicity

“Different ethnic backgrounds can provoke differences in language styles.”

For example “AFRICAN – AMERICANS have a dialect called Black English

Vernacular. They use double negative forms such as I don’t know nothing.

• “Language is a tool and style is a variation in that tool.”

• “In sociolinguistics, language is a mean for communication in society.”
• “Style is a social identity for individuals.”

“The words you choose to say something are just as important as the decision to
speak”.

Four main language styles

Elements of Style in language:

▪ “Voice”
▪ “Word choice “
▪ “Tone”

Voice – “tell us about the feelings and mood about the subject.”

Word choice – “words should be clear and concise. Word choice is the careful of
words that fit audience, topic and purpose. Well chosen words may create
colorful images and they show meaning and attention of speaker.”

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 Tone – “tone tells what authors attitude toward the subject is.”
▪ “Formal”
▪ “Informal”
▪ “Harsh”
▪ “Polite”

Figure 1.3
Source: [Link]
cartoons?tmpl=%2Fsystem%2Fapp%2Ftemplates%2Fprint%2F&showPrintDialog=1

“The language style that was being used was in a fairly formal thus, they use the choice
words that usually or commonly used by everyone.”

Definition of Discourse Style/ Speech Style

Discourse style – “the way we use language in different styles depending on the
context of a communicative act in terms of subject matter, audience, occasion,
shared experience, and purpose of communication.”

Types of discourse style:

▪ “An oratorical style”
▪ “A deliberate style”
▪ “A consultative style”
▪ “Casual conversation”
▪ “An intimate style”
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[Styles]

Oratorical style – “it’s used in public speaking, wording is carefully planned in

advance, in intonation is some exaggerated, and numerous rhetorical devices are
appropriate.”

Deliberate style – “it’s used in addressing audience, usually audiences too large
to permit effective in interchange between speaker and hearers.”

Consultative styles – “it’s a formal dialog from that words are chosen with
somecare.”

Casual conversation style – “they are between friends or colleagues or member

of family. The words not be guarded and social barriers are moderately low.”

Intimate style – “it’s one characterized by complete absence of social

inhibitions. Talk with family, loved ones, and very close friends, where the inner
self is revealed, is usually in an intimate style.”

Types of Speech Styles

1) FROZEN STYLE
▪ “Also known as fixed speech”.
▪ “It is most the most formal communicative style that is often used in
respectful situation or formal ceremony”.
▪ “As most highly formal style, it uses the complex grammatical sentence
structure and vocabulary known only to experts in a particular field”.
▪ “It invites the reader to enter into a personal experience of creative discovery
such as literary texts like poetry”.
▪ “The writing reflects the efforts of revision”.

Examples:
- “Pledge of Allegiance”
- “Shakespeare’s plays”
- “Weddings”
- “Introduction of each other between acquaintance”

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2) FORMAL STYLE
▪ “It uses formal words and expressions “

Example:

Formal
“Toyota’s sales bounced back in March as substantialshaken by the
firm’s mass safety recalls.”

Casual/ Informal expressed counterpart:

“Did you see Toyota’s sales figures? Looks like the discounts have
actually worked.”

▪ “Most often seen in writing than in speaking”

▪ “This speech style is expected to be presented in complete sentences with
specific word usage.”
▪ “Its usually elaborate complex sentences and noun phrases are well
structured, logically sequenced, and strongly coherent.”
▪ “It does not allow ellipsis (like omissions), contractions, qualifying modal
adverbials (likeprobably, possibly, evidently, surely, certainly andsubjectively
markers ).”
▪ “This whole blogging thing is getting kind of

Examples of Formal:
- “Job interview”
- “Business Trip”
- “Dinner Party”
- “Prestigious Ceremony”
- “Meeting”
- “Academic Papers”

3) CONSULTATIVE STYLE
▪ “Known as the Third Level of language”
▪ “It is unplanned speech”
▪ “This speech style uses listener participation and feedback”
▪ “The two defining features of this style are”
(a) “The speaker supplies background information”
(b) “The listener participates continuously”
▪ “Less appropriate for writing”
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[Styles]

Examples of Consultative:
- “When a student is talking to his or her teacher”
- “When a student recites in class”

4) CASUAL OR INFORMAL STYLE

▪ “This style is used in conversations between friends and insiders who have
something to share and have shared background information.”
▪ “There is free and easy participation of both speaker and listener.”
▪ “It is marked by various degrees of implicitness because of intimacy between
speaker and listener.”
▪ “The use of language is general.”
▪ “It is appropriate to use casual language in situations where speech is
improvised and not prepared ahead of time, or when the writer is writing
quickly without editing.”
▪ “You also use casual language when you want to get to know someone on a
more personal level, or you want the person to feel at ease.”
▪ “A simple greeting with those you know well might probably be”
▪ the causal:
“Hi”
“Hey”
“What’s up?”
“How is it going?”
“How do you do?”
“Nice to meet you, Mr./Mrs./Ms., Dr., Rev.”
“ Will you please excuse me for a moment?”
“Excuse me”

▪ “Casual or informal style have ellipsis, allows the use of slang, profanity, and
unconventional English words”
▪ “The diction or vocabulary is informal (colloquial)”
▪ “Some of the vocabulary used only in casual situations are”
“dude” (a person)
“freaking out” (getting scared)
“nope” (no)
“puke” (throw up)
▪ “Its casual language uses words or phrases that are shortened like”
“I’m doin’ it my way” (doing)
“Lemme go!” (let me go)
“Watcha gonna do?” (What are you going todo?)
“Whassup?” (What’s up?)

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 Examples of Casual:
- “Use of contractions”
- “Use of slang words”
- “Use of simplified grammar”

5) INTIMATE STYLE
▪ “This style is used in conversations between people who are very close and
know each other quite well because having a maximum of shared
background information.”
▪ “It is characterized by an economy of words, with a high incidence of
significant nonverbal communication, such as gesture, facial expression, eye
contact and so on.”
▪ “There is free and easy participation of both the speaker and listener, and is
far more elliptical.”

Examples of Intimate Speech:

- “Telling your bf/gf that you love them”
- “Telling your best friend about your deepest and darkest problems”
- “Asking your family for advice about serious matters”

References and Supplementary Materials

Books and Journals
Ecker, Penelope; Rickford, John; 2001; Style and Sociolinguistic Variation; The Pitt
Building, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Cambridge University
Press.

Online Supplementary Reading Materials

Style and Sociolinguistic Variation;
[Link]
.pdf;

Style and sociolinguistic variation (review);

[Link] 2007

Online Instructional Videos

Style and register chalmers writing guidesociolinguistics styles style as distinct
'functional' varieties of language;
[Link] September 3, 2017
 [Introduction to Language, Society and Culture]
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[Styles]

Speech styles with their examples; Speech Styles are important to our daily lives. It
shows different way of communication;
[Link] August 27, 2017

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