Today I'm going to tell you something about register. You may ask yourself what register is. I'm gonna try to explain it to you.
In sociolinguistics the term register is used when we talk about a different variety of languages used for a particular purpose or in a particular social situation. There are different kinds of register and it is mostly associated with formality.
When you are at work and talk to your boss you will most likely use a different language, different phrasing than you would whilst talking to your friends or family. Also there you will probably notice a difference between talking to you parents, grandparents or your younger siblings for example. It is not because you will use more technical words at work but you will probably use more formal words talking to your boss than you would talking to your friends. The difference is also noticeable in whether or not you are honouring a person or at least should be honouring the person when communicating with it.
When you talk to a person you will choose your words more spontaneously than when you write to someone, then your word structure will probably be more complex, your words more appropriate and carefully chosen. Because the written language is also more situational, there is a bigger differentiation of style and register than there is in spoken language.
So why is register so important?
When you are writing a text for example, always keep in mind who you are writing for. Who is supposed to read and understand it? If you would use to informal words some people could get easily offended. Also what would you like to achieve with your text? What would you like the person to do? That's why register is so important, it's all about the functionality of your language.
When you talk to a person you will choose your words more spontaneously than when you write to someone, then your word structure will probably be more complex, your words more appropriate and carefully chosen. Because the written language is also more situational, there is a bigger differentiation of style and register than there is in spoken language.
So why is register so important?
When you are writing a text for example, always keep in mind who you are writing for. Who is supposed to read and understand it? If you would use to informal words some people could get easily offended. Also what would you like to achieve with your text? What would you like the person to do? That's why register is so important, it's all about the functionality of your language.
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