Unit I Title: World Englishes and Global Communication
Lesson 3: Varieties and Registers of Spoken and Written Language (Slang, Cliche,
Jargon, and Sexist language)
“Language is the dress of thought”
-Samuel Johnson
Duration: 1.5 Hours
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Introduction:
Standard English can be described in terms of styles --- Formal and Informal English.
Formal language also called “literese” (as it is remarkably influenced by reading)
is more academic in style and more objective in the expression of ideas. It is
often used in writing than in speaking
On the other hand, informal language also called “colloquial’ which means
‘conversations” is more relaxed and more friendly in tone. Its comfortable level of
English makes it popular for educated people to ordinary use it in everyday
conversations but avoid it in formal written English.
Objectives:
● Demonstrate knowledge about the concept of registers of English in spoken
and written communication
● Identify the different types of English language registers
● Differentiate the uses of each type of English language register
● Use the appropriate register depending on the communication context and
setting
Pretest
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Underline the informal or colloquial language in the following sentences. Then rewrite
each sentence in a more academic style using formal language.
1. He was fired from his job.
-He was terminated from his job.
2. Do you got an extra pen?
-Do you get an extra pen?
3. The food tastes yucky.
-The food tastes disgusting.
4. It takes a lot of guts to give our prof our true opinion.
-It takes a lot of courage to give our prof our true opinion.
5. My buddy flunked the exam.
-My friend failed the exam.
Lesson Proper
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ACTIVITY
Describe how you shift in tone and in your word choice when you speak to the following
people:
1. female friend
-I can talk to my female friend in a friendly or relaxed way.
2. male friend
-I use a humorous and playful way of talking with my male friend
3. professor
-when I’m asking my professor, I commonly used the serious or formal way.
4. university security
-I talk to a security in a casual way.
5. friend’s parents
-I talk to my friend’s parent in respectful way.
ANALYSIS
Most academic writings demand a responsible degree of formality. As language
experts and communication ethicists posit, “The voice of the language is words, and the
best words are found on papers. They are assumed to be the most common world-
wide.”
Common features of formal language
1. It uses appropriate capitalization, punctuations, mechanical devices, and
abbreviations.
2. It avoids shortcuts (contractions such as I’ll, it’s, shan’t, and the like and
abbreviations such as prof., exam, lab and the like)
3. It avoids common colloquial expressions such as gonna, ain’t, wanna, and the
like
4. It uses denotative than connotative tone
5. It is impersonal. It avoids the use of first and second persons (I, you)
Common uses of formal language
1. Research papers, theses, dissertations
2. Formal reports and memoranda
3. Literary criticisms and serious essays
4. Legal documents and news stories
5. Official speeches and public notices
6. Graduation speeches
7. Sermons and scholarly addresses
8. Polite conversations with elder or important people
Common features of informal language
1. It contains short words and simple sentences often in fragments
2. It is heavily loaded with contractions and colloquial expressions
3. It is marked by popular words (such as okay, yeah, stuff, and the like) and
idioms and occasional slang expressions
Common uses of informal language
1. Light, chatty writing for general readers
2. Conversation of educated people when they are at ease with each other (such
as with colleagues or intimate friends)
3. Novels and short stories
4. E-mail addresses
5. Club meetings
6. Classroom discussions
7. Showbiz and comic strips
Furthermore, we use different language registers for different types of
communication, just as we speak differently to different people.
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Jargon (also called Gobbledygook) is a language used by groups that have
similar interests like professions, trades, and sports. Language specialists
affirmed that Jargon saves time and space, but the use of it in inappropriate
situation and with the wrong audience who are unfamiliar with it causes failure to
achieve shared meaning because of its conceptual shorthand and technical
vocabulary.
Cliché refers
to overused
and worn out
expressions. It
consists of
once well-loved idioms and phrases but because
they have been used so often and so carelessy that
they have become meaningless. Cliches suggest
mental laziness, uncertainty, and lack of originality.
Examples are apple of my eyes, by hook
or by crook, once upon a time, last but not the least, better late than never, etc.
Sexist language is a language that discriminates women. It
refers to the use of masculine noun or pronoun to be generic, meaning it applies
to both masculine and feminine genders.
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Sexist language includes the following:
• Use of exclusive pronoun “he” to refer to male and female genders
• Use of gender specific job titles
• Use of “man” to refer to all people
Increasingly, dictionaries, book companies, and people in legal, business, and
academic settings are phasing out the use of mankind, man, sir, he and other
sexist terms to refer to both sexes. It is best for practical and legal reasons to
avoid sex-linked titles; use references that gender-inclusive or nonsexist that is,
not biased to either sex but include both.
ABSTRACTION
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Underline the slang, jargon and cliches in the following sentences. Then, change the
slang, jargon, and clichés into clearer expressions.
Certificate of Registrations 1. Students are required to present their CORs to their
professors.
Every 2 hours 2. Administer amoxicillin 250 mg. q2h.
People’s actions have 3. What goes around, comes around.
consequences.
In this document 4. In Testimony Whereof, the seal of the university and the
signatures of the President and the Registrar of the
university are hereunto affixed.
Disgusting 5. This pizza tastes yucky.
As soon as possible 6. Please sign the form on page 4. ASAP.
Bright side 7. Every cloud has a silver lining.
With this document 8. Herewith please find attached the data that we gathered
in the research findings.
Two thousand 9. I have 2K in my wallet.
Coronavirus disease 2019 10. Millions have suffered the ravages of COVID-19.
Change the following job titles to gender-inclusive:
1. Businessman – Businessperson
2. Cleaning women - Cleaner
3. Delivery man - Courier
4. Stewardess/ Steward – Flight Attendant
5. Policeman – Police Officer
6. Foreman - Supervisor
7. Watchman - Guard
8. Firemen - Firefighter
9. Newsman - Reporter
10. Saleslady/ Salesman – Salesperson
APPLICATION
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Using gender- neutral terms, rephrase the following expressions and
sayings. Avoid changing the wisdom of the sayings.
1. It is better to be a poor man with music than a rich man without.
-It is better to be a poor person with music than a rich person without.
2. The man who never makes mistakes always takes orders from one who does.
-The people who never makes mistakes always takes orders from one who does
3. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
-Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
4. College education shows a man how little other people know.
-College education shows a person how little other people know.
5. He who has a heart full of love has always something to give.
- A person who has a heart full of love has always something to give.
Divide the class into groups who came from different ethno-linguistic backgrounds. Let
them group brainstorm for 15 minutes. Ask them to answer the following questions and
share the results of your discussion in the class.
1.What are the characteristics of an ideal man and woman in your community?
2.What are the examples of unacceptable behavior for men and women?
3. Compare their acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Reflection
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Why is sexist language a problem for public speakers? What are the different gender-
inclusive language usages which have become so widely accepted that no speaker or
writer can afford to ignore them?
-In public speaking your just not talking to a single person as well as your audience is
not just a man, you talking to a variety of people where men and women are present.
Public speaker must be aware of what pronouns they used so they can’t subconsciously
offend and discriminate against people.
-The word “Man” is commonly used to address all human beings but ignores the
presence of other genders. Nowadays gender is not just about men and women, LGBT
people exist so don’t use the word “man” so we can provide equality to all genders.
Suggested Readings
Fajardo, Estrella. College Writing Skills and Methods of Research. St. Andrew
Publishing House, 2014
Guffey, Mary Ellen and bertha Du-Babcock. Essentials of Business Communication
. 2nd ed. CENCAGE Learning Aia Pte Ltd, 2011
Rodriguez, Agustin Martin and Ara Marie Leal Rodriguez. Gender and Society .C&
E Publishing,Inc., 2018 https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/style-and-usage/sexist-
language.html http://www.sciedu.ca/journal/index.php/wjel/article/view/3701
