Varieties and

Registers of Spoken
and Written
Language.
Varieties of English
• the different kinds of English used around the world.
Often these are geographically based.
• the varieties are more or less similar and while most
English speakers can understand each other, there are
occasional problems.
Varieties of English
• the language used in different countries began to develop
independently from the original language, often
influenced by local languages as well.
Varieties of English
•American English (AmE)
•Australian English (AuE)
•British English (BrE)
•Black English (BlE)
American English
•is a variant of the English language, spoken mainly in
the United States. About two-thirds of the world’s
native speakers of English live in America and speak
this variant.
Australian English
•began to diverge from British English shortly after
Australia was settled in the late 18th century. It is
similar to New Zealand English and bears some
resemblance to certain dialects of South East
England.
British English
•is a variant of the English language, spoken mainly in
the United Kingdom.
Black English
•a very broad term used to refer to British English
and American English as spoken by the black
communities in the US and the UK.
•to a lesser extent it’s also used to refer to black
communities in places like the Caribbean and Africa.
Varieties of English Grammar
Present Perfect vs.
Past Simple
•BrE: Have you eaten all those biscuits?
•AmE: Did you eat all those cookies?
•BrE: Have you ever seen the film,
Casablanca?
•AmE: Did you ever see the movie, Casablanca?
While vs Have
• BrE: Have you got new training shoes?
• AmE: Do you have new sneakers?
• BrE: I’ve got some Wellington boots you can borrow.
• AmE: I have some galoshes you can borrow .
• BrE: I haven’t got time for a holiday this year.
• AmE: I don’t have time for a vacation this year.
Irregular Verbs
• BrE: dive – dived – dived
Last night she dived into the pool.
• AmE: dive – dove – dived
Last night she dove into the pool.
• BrE: get – got – got
The baby has got a lot bigger.
• AmE: get – got -gotten
The baby has gotten a lot bigger.
Shall vs. Should
•BrE: Shall I call a taxi?
•AmE: Should I call cab?
Indian English
•You have taken my book, isn’t it?
•You are soon going home, isn’t it?
•These mistakes may please be
corrected.
Varieties of English Vocabulary
American English British English Australian
English
• afternoon afternoon arvo
• apartment flat apartment/flat
• attorney barrister, solicitor lawyer
• billboard hoarding billboard
• candy sweets lollies
• corn maize corn
• crib cot
• dishtowel tea-towel
• drug store chemist’s chemist/pharmacy
• Kerosene paraffin kerosene
• liquor store off-licence bottle shop
• mail post mail
Varieties of English Vocabulary
Linguistic
Preferences and
Nonverbal Behavior
Linguistic
Preferences
• Nuances in linguistic preferences provide hints about
behavior, manners and thinking as a cultural group.
For example:
1. Spaniards and Italians prefer eloquence and
expressiveness to exactness, tend to be flowery with their
language.
Linguistic
Preferences
2. English uses understatement to avoid confrontation, so
they sometimes end up being ambiguous.
3. Japanese and Chinese, often say “yes” to many things.
4. Latin America, Southern Europe and Japan are not
comfortable with ambiguity because they are considered to
expect absolute truth.
Nonverbal
Behaviors
• France
Your hands should be visible at all times even when seated at
a table.
• Germany
It is impolite to put your hands in your pockets. Gum chewing
is public is rude. Sit down only when offered a seat.
Nonverbal
Behaviors
• Hongkong
Maintain a two arm’s-length distance with the person.
Touching and patting are taboo.
• Indonesia
When you are in a mosque, be sure to remove your shoes.
Hugging and kissing in public are inappropriate.
Nonverbal
Behaviors
• Japan
The bow is still the tradition in greeting. Even if you are
experiencing displeasure, you should smile to show self-
control. Saving face is important to the Japanese.
A Japanese uses repertoire of smiley nods and polite noises
as he listens.
Nonverbal
Behaviors
• Saudi Arabia
Expect greetings to be very emotional.
To show mutual respect, two men hold each other’s hand in
public. When reaching for something or offering something,
make sure to use your right hand.
Nonverbal
Behaviors
• Singapore
Pointing with one or two fingers is rude. Your feet should be
used for walking – nothing else.
• United Kingdom
Men should wait for women to extend their hand before
shaking hands. Your hands should always be visible.
Nonverbal
Behaviors
• South Korea
When meeting someone a slight bow is appropriate.
It is considered good manners to acknowledge an older
person by standing when the person enters a room.
Loud laughter is rude. When laughing in public, cover your
mouth.
What are Registers?
What’s up bro?
Hi, how have you been?
Good morning, sir.
Registers
• Differences in the type of language selected as appropriate to
different types of situation.
• The language register determines the vocabulary, structure, and
some grammar in your writing.
Registers
Registers
• The term register was first used by the linguist Thomas
Bertram Reid in 1956, and popularized in the 1960s by a
group of linguists who wanted to distinguish between
language variations according to the user.
Registers
Five varieties :
• Very Formal
• Formal
• Neutral
• Informal
• Very Informal
Registers
• When speaking in a formal setting, an English speaker is more likely
to use features of prescribed grammar, like pronouncing words
ending in -ing with a velar nasal instead of an alveolar nasal (e.g.
«walking», not «walkin’»).
• She or he may choose more formal words (e.g. father vs. dad, child
vs. kid, and so on).
• She or he would also usually refrain from using contractions like
«ain’t».
Very Formal
• This register is “frozen” in time and content because it rarely or
never changes. Examples are poetry, The Lord’s prayer, laws,
marriage vows, insurance policies, leases, and wills.
Formal or
Regulated
• This is the formal and interpersonal language, which is one-way in
nature and used in formal situations. Examples are books, news
reports, magazine or journal articles, business letters, official
speeches and sermons.
Formal Language Registers
Formal writing includes:
• Business Letters
• Letters of complaint
• Some essays
• Reports
• Official speeches
• Announcements
• Professional emails
Neutral, Professional, or
Consultative
This is the normal style of speaking between communicators
who use mutually accepted language that conforms to formal
societal standards.
Examples are communication between strangers, teacher and
student, superior and subordinate, doctor and patient, lawyer
and client.
Neutral Language Registers
Writing in the natural language register includes:
• Reviews
• Articles
• Some letters
• Some essays
• Technical writing
Informal, Group, or Casual
Registers
This is the informal language between friends and peers, which
uses slang, vulgarities, and colloquialisms.
Examples are conversations, chats and emails, blogs, tweets,
and personal letters.
Informal Language Registers
Informal writing includes:
• Personal e-mails
• Phone texts
• Short notes
• Friendly letters
• Most blogs
• Diaries and journals
Very Informal, Personal,
or Intimate
This is the private, intimate language reserved for
family members or intimate people. Examples are the
kinds of interactions between husband and wife,
boyfriend and girlfriend, siblings, and parent and child.
• One may sound too informal or even rude, without intending
to. The only solution to this, is to familiarize yourself with the
social and cultural associations of words and expressions –
which is the basis of language registers. Reading and
listening to popular culture, interacting with native speakers
and so on. And getting the register right will certainly get you