Varieties and Registers of Spoken and Written Language in Multicultural

Settings

Varieties of Spoken and Written Language

A variety refers to any variant of a language which can be sufficiently delimited from one
another.

Spoken Language - This is a variety of language described as spontaneous and momentary; it

is maintained mostly in the form of dialogue

There are five language varieties for spoken language:

1. Pidgin. This refers to a new language which develops in situations where speakers of
different languages need to communicate but do not share a common language.

Ex. Nigerian pidgin and Bislama (spoken in Vanuatu).

2. Creole. When children start learning a pidgin as their first language and it becomes
the mother tongue of a community, then it is called a creole.

Ex: Gullah, Patwa (Jamaican creole) etc. In the Philippines, Chavacano is considered to be a
group of Spanish-based creole language varieties.

3. Regional Dialect. A regional dialect is not a distinct dialect but a variety of a language
spoken in a particular area of a country.

Davaoeño Bisaya (Davao Bisaya) is an example of a regional dialect.

4. Minority Dialect. When members of a particular minority ethnic group have their own variety
which they use as a marker of identity, then it is referred to as a minority dialect.

Ex. African American Vernacular English in the USA, London Jamaican in Britain, and
Aboriginal English in Australia.

5. Indigenized Variety. These varieties are spoken mainly as second languages in ex colonies
with multilingual populations.

Ex. Singlish (spoken in Singapore).

Written Language – This is the written form of communication which includes both reading and
writing.

Functions of written language:

1. To keep records. The written records represent different forms of knowledge; it is a new way
to interpret the social and material environment.
2. To trade with property and owning, and taxation. The written language can be a formal
document such as contracts, certificates, titles, bills, etc.
3. To study mathematical, scientific, and astronomical knowledge. The written language serves
as a reference and bases of scientists and scholars to understand arithmetic, science, and outer
space.
4. To perform ceremonial or religious activities. The written language serves as a guideline for
members of the religious organizations and institutions in executing their ceremonies.
5. To appreciate literature. The written language is the literature itself where all forms of written
literary pieces are showcased to be understood and appreciated.

Registers in Spoken and Written Language

The word register refers to the level of formality in language that is identified by the context in
which it is spoken or written. Register can be formal or informal. The tone, the choice of words,
and the way the words are put together vary between different registers. To illustrate,

There are five language registers or styles. Each level has an appropriate use that is
determined by differing situations.

Register Explanation

Frozen Language that is always predictable: The Lord’s Prayer, wedding

vows, etc
Formal The standard sentence syntax and word choice of work and school.
Has complete sentences and specific word choice. Characterized
by a large vocabulary.
Consultative Formal register when used in conversation. Discourse pattern not quite
as direct as formal register. Characterized by large vocabulary.

Casual Language between friends and is characterized by a 400 to 800 word

vocabulary. Word choice general and not specific.
Conversation dependent upon non-verbal assists. Sentence often
incomplete.

Intimate Language between married people or twins. Language of sexual

harassment.

Different forms for different functions of registers. This is sometimes referred to as the
sociolinguistic formality scale.
1. Frozen or “static” register. This is where the use of language is fixed and relatively static.
The national pledge, anthem, school creeds and The Lord's Prayer are examples of a frozen
register. In essence it is language that does not require any feedback. Example: "All visitors are
invited to proceed upstairs immediately."

2. Formal register. This describes language used in official and ceremonial settings. For
example in court, in a business meeting, at a swearing in ceremony, in an interview or in a
classroom etc. The language used in these settings is comparatively rigid and has a set, agreed
upon vocabulary that is well documented. In other words, the language used is often of a
standard variety. Example: "Would everyone please proceed upstairs at once?"

3. Consultative register. This describes language used for the purpose of seeking assistance
as is suggested by the word 'consult'. It also describes the language used between a superior
and subordinate. In both cases one person is deemed as more knowledgeable and having
greater expertise and the other person is the beneficiary of such knowledge and expertise. The
language dynamism between lawyer/client, doctor/patient, employer/employee and
teacher/student are examples of this type of register. Example: "Would you all please go
upstairs right away?"

4. Casual register. This describes language used between friends. It is often very relaxed and
focused on just getting the information out. Slangs are quite often used in these instances.
Example: "Come on upstairs now."

5. Intimate register. This is used to describe language used between persons who share a
close relationship or bond. This register would take into account certain terms of endearment,
slangs or expressions whose meaning is shared with a small subset of persons.

For example lovers having special terms of endearment, mothers giving pet names to their
children based on some character trait and best friends formulating slangs based on some
shared past experience. Example: "Come up nuh/ Unu naa go up?/ Unu naa forward?

Spoken Registers involve oral and verbal speech. Contexts that necessitates spoken
registers include conversation, office meetings, service encounters, and many more.

Spoken Register – Situational Linguistic Characteristics

On the other hand, written registers are also called text registers – they are put into writing
and usually illustrate informative production, and clear references. Varieties of written registers
include news reports, news editorials, research articles, and textbooks.

Political Correctness

Political correctness refers to the use of particular language intended to avoid offense or
disadvantage to members of particular group in the society. The main objective is to eliminate
exclusion, marginalization, or insults to groups of people considered disadvantaged or
discriminated against, especially groups defined by sex or race.

If you say that someone is politically correct, it means that the person is extremely careful not to
offend or upset any group of people in society who have a disadvantage, who have been
treated differently because of their sex, race, or disability.

Here are some politically correct words and phrases:

Gender Neutral Language

Gender neutral language or gender-inclusive language refers to the language that generally
avoids discrimination towards a particular sex or social gender. In English, this includes use of
nouns that are gender-specific to refer to roles or professions, as well as avoidance of
pronouns, he, him, and his to refer to people of unknown or indeterminate gender.
Examples of gender-sensitive language:

World Englishes in Multicultural Setting

The term World Englishes refers to the differences in the English language that emerge as it is
used in various contexts across the world. Scholars of World Englishes identify the varieties of
English used in different sociolinguistic contexts, analyzing their history, background, function,
and influence.

Languages develop to fulfill the needs of the societies that use them. Because societies contain
a diverse range of social needs, and because these needs can differ across cultures and
geographies, multiple varieties of the English language exist. These include American English,
British English, Australian English, Canadian English, Indian English, and so on
Philippine English

Philippine English is any variety of English native to the Philippines, including those used by the
media and the vast majority of educated Filipinos. English is taught in schools as one of the two
official languages of the country, the other being Filipino (Tagalog).

Intercultural Competence

Intercultural competence is a range of cognitive, affective, and behavioural skills that lead to
effective and appropriate communication with people of other cultures. Effective intercultural
communication relates to behaviors that culminate with the accomplishment of the desired goals
of the interaction and all parties involved in the situation. Appropriate intercultural
communication includes behaviors that suit the expectations of a specific culture, the
characteristics of the situation, and the level of the relationship between the parties involved in
the situation. It also takes into consideration one's own cultural norms and the best appropriate,
comfortable compromise between the different cultural norms.

Constituent elements of Intercultural Competence

(adapted from Deardoff (2006); as cited in www.gcu.ac.uk 16)

Knowledge
Cultural self- awareness: articulating how one’s own culture has shaped one’s
identity and world view
Culture specific knowledge: analysing and explaining basic information about other
cultures (history, values, politics, economics, communication styles, values, beliefs
and practices)
Sociolinguistic awareness: acquiring basic local language skills, articulating
differences in verbal/ non-verbal communication and adjusting one’s speech to
accommodate nationals from other cultures
Grasp of global issues and trends: explaining the meaning and implications of
globalization and relating local issues to global forces

Skills
Respect: seeking out other cultures’ attributes; value cultural diversity; thinking comparatively
and without prejudice about cultural differences
Openness: suspending criticism of other cultures; investing in collecting ‘evidence’ of cultural
difference; being disposed to be proven wrong;
Curiosity: seeking out intercultural interactions, viewing difference as a learning opportunity,
being aware of one’s own ignorance.
Discovery: tolerating ambiguity and viewing it as a positive experience; willingness to move
beyond one’s comfort zone