Language+Registers

Language Registers To support students’ acquisition of academic language, it’s important to teach students why and when to speak more formally. This can be divided into 2 categories, Public voice vs. Private voice, or broken down into the 5 registers. All countries have these, though Japan has 7.

--published works/books --laws || --essays/research papers --lab reports and exams || --questions and answers --polite and courteous || --includes incomplete sentences, unfinished thoughts, slang, & vulgarity || --girlfriend & boyfriend, or husband & wife, or even twins talking ||
 * REGISTER || DEFINITION || EXAMPLES ||
 * Frozen || Unchanging language, using standard English || --Pledge of Allegiance
 * Formal || Standard academic 1-way communication || --presentations/speeches
 * Consultative || Standard academic 2-way communication || --discussions
 * Casual || NON-standard 1-way & 2-way communication || --conversation with your peers
 * Intimate || NON-standard communication || --words spoken between people in a shared, special relationship

Public Voice: Frozen, Formal, & Consultative Private Voice: Casual & Intimate

If you use your private voice in a public setting, you risk offending others. Using vulgar words (casual), or talking to your friend on your cell phone (casual) while standing in line at the grocery store, gives others the opportunity to misjudge you. This includes writing your essays with texting language (i, u, how r u). Make the right choice when you communicate.

Teachers Boss Grandparents Acquaintances Principal Minister/priest/rabbi || Parents? || PEOPLE YOU USE THIS WITH: Friends/best friends Boy/girlfriend Husband/wife Twin or siblings || School—classroom School—principal’s office ||  || PLACES YOU USE THIS: School—break time || Funeral Wedding School sports event || Sporting event || OCCASIONS YOU USE THIS: party ||
 * PUBLIC VOICE || Both possible || PRIVATE VOICE ||
 * PEOPLE YOU USE THIS WITH:
 * PLACES YOU USE THIS:
 * OCCASIONS YOU USE THIS:

Follow this lesson with a list of Academic Language Scripts, and how this is the way to speak in a classroom and get the respect you deserve. “Could you repeat that?” Not “huh?” “Could you please help me?” not “Teacher! Miss!” “Excuse me, but…” not “But…” “In my opinion, …” not “Nuh-uh. You’re wrong” “I agree with what …… said because…” not “yeah!”

A movie that helps explain dialects and different types of casual language immigrants will hear in the U.S.: //Do You Speak American?// (volumes include West Coast, East Coast, and Southern dialects in the U.S.) Outline of notes for West Coast (Spanglish, Chicano, African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Surfer/Skater, Californian, robotic, etc.)