M ODULE 7

VARIET IES AND REGIST ERS OF SPOKEN

AND WRIT T EN LANGUAGE
In sociolinguistics, language variety—also called lect—is a general term for any
distinctive form of a language or linguistic expression. Linguists commonly
use language variety (or simply variety) as a cover term for any of the overlapping
subcategories of a language, including dialect, register, jargon, and idiolect.

To comprehend the meaning of language varieties, it's important to consider how

lects differ from standard English. Even what constitutes standard English is a topic of
hot debate among linguists.

Standard English is a controversial term for a form of the English language that is
written and spoken by educated users. For some linguists, standard Eng lish is a
synonym for good or correct English usage. Others use the term to refer to a specific
geographical dialect of English or a dialect favored by the most powerful and prestigious
social group.

Varieties of language develop for a number of reasons: differences can come

about for geographical reasons; people who live in different geographic areas often
develop distinct dialects—variations of standard English. Those who belong to a specific
group, often academic or professional, tend to adopt jargon that is known to and
understood by only members of that select group. Even individuals develop idiolects,
their own specific ways of speaking.

Definition of Dialect
The word dialect—which contains "lect" within the term—derives from the Greek
words dia- meaning "across, between" and legein "speak." A dialect is a regional or
social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar,
and/or vocabulary. The term dialect is often used to describe a way of speaking that
differs from the standard variety of the language. Sarah Thomason of the Linguistic
Society of America notes:

"All dialects start with the same system, and their partly i ndependent histories
leave different parts of the parent system intact. This gives rise to some of the most
persistent myths about language, such as the claim that the people of Appalachia speak
pure Elizabethan English."

Certain dialects have gained negative connotations in the U.S. as well as in other
countries. Indeed, the term dialect prejudice refers to discrimination based on a
person's dialect or way of speaking. Dialect prejudice is a type of linguicism—
discrimination based on dialect. In their article "Applied Social Dialectology," published
in "Sociolinguistics: An International Handbook of the Science of Language and
Society," Carolyn Temple and Donna Christian observe:

"...dialect prejudice is endemic in public life, widely tolerated, and institutionalized in

social enterprises that affect almost everyone, such as education and the media. There
is limited knowledge about and little regard for linguistic study showing that all varieties
of a language display systematicity and that the elevated social position of standard
varieties has no scientific linguistic basis."

Due to this kind of dialectic prejudice, Suzanne Romaine, in "Language in

Society," notes: "Many linguists now prefer the term variety or lect to avoid the
sometimes pejorative connotations that the term 'dialect' has."

Definition of REGISTER

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, the use
of jargon, and a difference in intonation and pace.

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
temper of exasperation during a debate or a grin while signing "hello" speaks volumes.

Language register is the level and style of your writing. It should be appropriate
for the situation you are in.
 The language register determine the vocabulary, structure, and some grammar in
your writing.

We use different language registers for different types of writing, just as we

speak differently. To different people. You would not speak to the President of the
Philippines the same way you would like to speak to your brother

To your brother: What”s up? It”s awesome that you came to visit.

To the President: Good morning, Mr. President. We appreciate your visit.

Categories of Registers
There are formal and informal registers in spoken and written language.
Formal language registers can comprise everything from an academic essay
to wedding vows. The academic essay is formal
because it includes polished speech, complex
sentences, and precise vocabulary. The wedding
vows are an example of extremely formal language
that must be said the same way each time as part of a
ritual.
Formal register is more suitable for professional
writing and letters to a boss or a strange. Formal
writing is probably the most difficult type of writing. It is impersonal, meaning, it is not
written for a specific person without emotion. Some kinds of writing are always written in
formal English.
Formal writing include: business letters, letters of complaint, some essays,
reports, official speeches, announcements and professional emails.
There are many rules for writing in formal writing. We will discuss some of the
common rules here.
Rules of the Formal Language Register
1. Do not use contractions. Contractions are not usually used in formal writing
even though they are very common in spoken English.
In formal writing, you should spell out contractions.
Examples: in formal writing you should use:
a. Cannot instead of can’t
b. Have not instead of haven’t
c. Will not instead of won’t
d. Could not instead of couldn’t
e. Is not instead of isn’t
 These are just a few examples of contractions.
Contractions can be used if you are quoting someone’s exact words in your writing.
Example:
“Two-third of my eighth grade students can’t read at grade level,” the professor
stated.
Keep in mind that an apostrophe does not always make a contraction.
Apostrophes are also added to nouns to show ownership. These are used in all
language register, including formal
Examples:
Children’s classroom
Professor’s report
Elephant’s trunk
2. Spell our numbers less than one hundred
Examples: nineteen seventy eight
Twenty one ten
3. Write in third person point of view. In formal writing, we usually do not use
first person or second person unless it is a quote.
Avoid using:
I you We Us
4. Avoid using too much passive voice. IN formal writing it is better to use an active
voice.
Passive sentences
The bone was eaten by the dog.
The research was completed by the students in2020.
Active sentences
The dog ate the bone.
The students completed the research in 2020.
5. Avoid usi ng slang, idioms, exaggeration (hyperbole). Slang is common in informal
writing and spoken English. Slang is particular to a certain region or area.
Examples of slang:
Awesome/cool check it out
Okay/ok in a nutshell
 1. Avoid abbreviations and acronyms. If you use an acronym or abbreviations. If
you use an acronym or abbreviations, write it out the first time, followed by the
acronym. From then on, you can use the acronym by itself.

Examples:
World Health Organization (WHO)
University of Eastern Philippines (UEP)

Examples:
Influenza = flu
Tablespoon = tbsp.

Do notuse slang abbreviations or symbols that you would use in friendly emails
or text.

Examples:
LOL (laugh and loud) w/o (without
bec (because tyl (talk to you later)

2. Do not start sentences with words like and, so, but, also
Here are some good transitional words and phrases to use in formalwriting

Nevertheless Additionally However

In addition As a result of Although

3. Always write in complete sentence.

4. Write longer, complex sentences

There are also varieties of informal registers.

Informal language register is written in the way we talk to our friends and family.
We use informal writing when we are writing to someone we know very well.
Informal language occurs between people who know each other well and who
speak without trying to be 'proper'. Sometimes this includes speaking in slang and other
times it's simply a more casual
delivery. For example, you might say,
'Could you bring us more coffee,
please?' to a waiter at a fancy
restaurant, but at your favorite hangout
you might say, 'Can I get a little more
coffee here?' when you've reached the
bottom of your cup.

JARGON

Jargon refers to the specialized language of a professional or occupational

group. Such language is often meaningless to outsiders. American poet David
Lehman has described jargon as
"the verbal sleight of hand that
makes the old hat seem newly
fashionable; it gives an air of novelty
and specious profundity to ideas
that, if stated directly, would seem
superficial, stale, frivolous, or false."

In other words, jargon is a

faux method of creating a sort of
dialect that only those on this inside group can understand. Jargon has social
implications similar to dialect prejudice but in reverse: It is a way of making those who
understand this particular variety of language more erudite and learned; those who are
members of the group that understands the particular jargon are considered smart,
while those on the outside are simply not bright enough to comprehend this kind of
language.

Types of Lects
In addition to the distinctions discussed previously, different types of lects also echo
the types of language varieties:

1. Regional dialect:

A variety spoken in a particular region.

2. Sociolect

This is also known as a social

dialect, a variety of language (or
register) used by a socioeconomic
class, a profession, an age group, or any other social group.
 3. Ethnolect

This is a lect spoken by a specific ethnic group. For example, Ebonics, the
vernacular spoken by some African-
Americans, is a type of ethnolect,
notes e2f, a language-translation firm.

An ethnolect is a lect spoken by a specific

ethnic group. For example,
Ebonics (the vernacular spoken by a
large proportion of African Americans), is
considered a typical ethnolect. Immigrant groups in the US each have developed their
own ethnolect.

4. Idiolect

This is a language or languages spoken by each individual. For example, if you

are multilingual and can speak in different registers and styles, your idiolect includes
several languages, each with multiple registers and
styles.

An idiolect is not a lect spoken by idiots, but the

language spoken by each individual. For example, as
I’m multilingual and can speak in different registers
and styles, my idiolect is comprised of several
languages, each with multiple registers and styles. I
have my idiosyncrasies that are different from any
other speaker, so my idiolect is categorically unique,
as is yours.

The language varieties, or lects, that people speak

often serve as the basis for judgment, and even exclusion, from certain social groups,
professions, and business organizations. As you study language varieties, keep in mind
that they are often based on judgments one group is making in regard to another.