In deciding which register is suitable for a given situation you must consider factors such as the audience for which the communication is intended, the nature of the subject matter being spoken or written about, the medium which may or may not include non-verbal elements of communication, the writer's attitude towards the content he or she writes about.
Social ranks, politeness and protocol are all factors that we consider when selecting a register to be used.
There are two factors governing the levels of formality in any speech or writing act. The two factors are Social setting and communicative code.
Attention must be paid to the rules and conventions in both speech and writing, gesture, dress and relationship between those engaged in discourse.
In speech care is taken with intonation-pitch, loudness, rate of speech, and turn-taking.
In writing attention is paid to use of complete sentence structures and diction. Deviation from accepted norms of spelling, pronunciation and meaning is avoided.
Social setting influence formality in discourse. Formal situation requires a display of seriousness, politeness and respect.
Language register may be identified as :
Formal, casual, Intimate, Private, Frozen and consultative
Formal register -normally used with strangers or persons in socially formal situations. There is the use of standard language and complete sentences by persons at this level.
Casual register - used mainly with acquaintances and people not personally known. Use of standard and non-standard structures, slands as well as ellipsis are normally applied in the casual register.
Intimate register- used mainly among very close acquaintances and relatives. Persons normally use incomplete sentences and ellipsis, slangs, coded language, specialized vocabularyas well as a greater reliance on non-verbal elements.
Private register- takes place within ones self and is normally intra-personal. There is the use of standard and non-standard structures, ellipsis and slang.
Frozen register- can be appropriate for formal and informal situations. Many persons possess standard and non-standard features of language.
Consultative register- is appropriate for formal and informal discourse in which the listener is expected to give continuous feedback to the speaker. Persons possess standard or non-standard features depending on the context. There may also be the use of non-verbal elements.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Similarities and distinctiveness in vocabulary used to describe foods endemic to the region
Linguistic similarities and distinctiveness are seen in vocabulary for foods endemic to the region. In different countries different names and labels are used to denote the same referent. Some names are directly infuenced by the mixed linguistic heritage of the territories involved. For example, territories with a French linguistic influence, but Caribbean English borrows from myriad sources starting with the Amerindians, Spanish, Dutch, French, Portuguese, African ancestral languages, East Indians, Chinese, Americans, and of course the British English.
Names of some fruits and vegetables that are used across the Region.
1. Barbados- cashew, bolanger, spur pepper, red beans, ground nut, white eddo
2. Belize- maranon, berenjena, chilli duke, red kidney, cacahaute, cocoyam
3. British Virgin Islands-cherry, melongae, jumbie pepper, red bean, peanut, dasheen
4. Dominica- cashew, balangenes, Pimon toiseau, red peas, pistache, dasheen
5. Guyana- cashew, baigan, bird pepper, bisoloma, ground nut, slip & dip
6. Jamaica- cashew nut, garden egg, bird pepper, red peas, peanut, coco
7. Trinidad& Tobago- cashew, melongene, hot pepper, red beans, peanut, chinese eddo
Notice the difference in the names of the different fruits and vegetables that exist in the region.
Do you think you can add more fruits and vegetables to the list? If so see how many other fruits and vegetables you can find to add to the list.
Names of some fruits and vegetables that are used across the Region.
1. Barbados- cashew, bolanger, spur pepper, red beans, ground nut, white eddo
2. Belize- maranon, berenjena, chilli duke, red kidney, cacahaute, cocoyam
3. British Virgin Islands-cherry, melongae, jumbie pepper, red bean, peanut, dasheen
4. Dominica- cashew, balangenes, Pimon toiseau, red peas, pistache, dasheen
5. Guyana- cashew, baigan, bird pepper, bisoloma, ground nut, slip & dip
6. Jamaica- cashew nut, garden egg, bird pepper, red peas, peanut, coco
7. Trinidad& Tobago- cashew, melongene, hot pepper, red beans, peanut, chinese eddo
Notice the difference in the names of the different fruits and vegetables that exist in the region.
Do you think you can add more fruits and vegetables to the list? If so see how many other fruits and vegetables you can find to add to the list.
Caribbean Creole Vocabulary
The Vocabulary or lexicon of Caribbean Creole English is derived mainly from Standard English. A number of words used in Creole speech are related to cultural influences from other European, African, East Indian, Chinese and Amerindian languages.
Examples of some of these words are listed below.
1. African- Senseh, bakra, dutty, nyam, foo-foo, makak, shango
2. Chinese- Wok, chop suey, chow mein, wonton, soy, chow chow
3. East Indian- Paisa, bhariat, maticore, sari, dhal, saro-bhai, orni, baratan
4. Amerindian- Maraca, barbecue, cassave, iguana, arepa, manatee, babrikot
How many of these words from the list did you know?
Can you find others to add to the list?
Examples of some of these words are listed below.
1. African- Senseh, bakra, dutty, nyam, foo-foo, makak, shango
2. Chinese- Wok, chop suey, chow mein, wonton, soy, chow chow
3. East Indian- Paisa, bhariat, maticore, sari, dhal, saro-bhai, orni, baratan
4. Amerindian- Maraca, barbecue, cassave, iguana, arepa, manatee, babrikot
How many of these words from the list did you know?
Can you find others to add to the list?
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Functions of Language
Humans use language in a varied way and as a result all language functions facilitate communication and expression. All functions of language are socially related, as they have to do with who the user is, his position or role that he has to perform and his relationship with others in his society.
Functions of Language
1. The Communicative Function
2. The Expressive Function
3. The Reflective Function
4. The Ritualistic Function
5. The Identification Function is used to:
- create bond and distance
-used to make statements about ourseleves
-establish relationships rather than to communicate ideas.
Functions of Language
1. The Communicative Function
2. The Expressive Function
3. The Reflective Function
4. The Ritualistic Function
5. The Identification Function is used to:
- create bond and distance
-used to make statements about ourseleves
-establish relationships rather than to communicate ideas.
Purpose of Language
Language serves many purposes which are vital to man's survival.
Some of the purposes of language are for:
1. persuading
2. questioning
3. directing
4. providing aesthetic pleasure
5. informing
6. reflecting
7. expressing feelings of emotions and aspirations
8. transmitting and receiving information
9. social bonding
10. phatic communication (small talk used to establish relationships)
Some of the purposes of language are for:
1. persuading
2. questioning
3. directing
4. providing aesthetic pleasure
5. informing
6. reflecting
7. expressing feelings of emotions and aspirations
8. transmitting and receiving information
9. social bonding
10. phatic communication (small talk used to establish relationships)
Features of Language
1. It is uniquely a human activity
2. It is non-instinctive
3. It is systematic
4. It is symbolic
5. It is dynamic
6. It is maturational
7.It is verbal
8. It is arbitrary
2. It is non-instinctive
3. It is systematic
4. It is symbolic
5. It is dynamic
6. It is maturational
7.It is verbal
8. It is arbitrary
Friday, August 28, 2009
LANGUAGE
Language can be recognized as having two possible interpretations: language and a language.
When we think of language, we think of it in a general way and we define it as the verbal form of human expression. It is confined to a human context and not extended to any other species. Therefore, we can conclude that language refers to a natural ability which all normal human beings have.
However, when we speak of a language, we think of it in a specific way and we define it to mean any distinct system of verbal expression, distinguished from other such systems by its peculiarities of structure and vocabulary. Thus concluding that a language is a specific version used by some people who normally live in the same community.
When we think of language, we think of it in a general way and we define it as the verbal form of human expression. It is confined to a human context and not extended to any other species. Therefore, we can conclude that language refers to a natural ability which all normal human beings have.
However, when we speak of a language, we think of it in a specific way and we define it to mean any distinct system of verbal expression, distinguished from other such systems by its peculiarities of structure and vocabulary. Thus concluding that a language is a specific version used by some people who normally live in the same community.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)