Tone | Register | Attitude

The language you use changes depending on the situation you're in, who you're talking to, and what it’s about. It's the situation or context which makes you adjust, and you don't do it consciously, it seems to just happen by itself, as if you have an internal channel changer that resets you automatically.  It will however, be affected by your age, and your cultural and social background.

I want you to imagine a timeline. On one end is highly formal structured language

at the other end is slang.  In between these two points there are things called colloquial language, jargon, casual or informal language. These are known  as language registers.

To use the wrong register is an error. You will sound awkward and inappropriate, or possibly even rude. It’s just not acceptable to speak to a policeman in the same way you’d speak to your baby brother, or to email your professor using the language you’d use in the playground with your friends.

When you write an essay or a creative piece it is especially important to get the register right. Be aware of your audience whenever you speak or write.

Formal language is proper.  It is careful and well thought out. It is a kind of public performance, and it’s one-way communication, a response is not expected. It is usually written rather than spoken, and uses complete sentences and a distant, impersonal tone. It sounds objective, unemotional and serious. This is how academic essays should be written.

To achieve this you should use the  third person, and the passive voice. You might use technical

terms. You should avoid contractions.

Semi formal language is a notch or two below this, a bit more casual. It can be written or spoken. Think of the way your teacher would speak to your parents, or you would speak to your professor, or to some other expert, like a doctor or a person who you meet in an official rather than a personal way. You address them using their title Mr, Ms, Dr, not their first name, and your language would be respectful, focussed on the issue at hand.

You should use properly written sentences but no slang or jokes, or anything that undermines the professional context.  

Informal or casual, or conversational language is everyday speech, and can also be written. It’s used by friends and it has a familiar, easy going tone.  It can include slang and colloquialisms.

Informal spoken language is impromptu. You don’t prepare what you say. It’s not

polished. It often doesn’t even have complete sentences. Take a recording of yourself talking to

some friends and then try writing it down. You will see how many shortcuts and left-out-bits there are.  The written form is used every day in emails or text messages. It is easy to read and understand. It uses common words and sentence patterns to create a friendly connection between writer and reader. Your vocabulary and sentences can mirror

the way you speak.

Intimate language is private. It’s the way you communicate with family, very close friends,

boyfriend and girlfriend, husband and wife, parents to children. It has its own set of words and

phrases that are used at home, away from the public eye.  Keep it there! Using intimate language in a non-intimate situation will give offence.

And lastly, JARGON. Those special acronyms and shortcuts that only work if you're 'in the club'. that is the point. Jargon is often used to exclude people, and hide meaning. If you cannot

understand me then you are not ‘one of us’. Avoid jargon unless it is strictly necessary for technical reasons.