AoS1 Nature and Functions of Language Flashcards
Register
Level of formality within a text.
- Formality associated with language choices made eg. adjectives
- The “vibe”
Jargon
Technical language of a domain
Formality scale
- Informal
- largely informal
- relatively informal
- mixed
- relatively formal
- largely formal
- formal.
Informal Register
Non standard lexemes, such as “sup”
Formal Register
Standard lexemes
Language to use when describing: low frequency/elevated/sophisticated.
Situation Context
Field, Tenor, Mode, Setting, Text Type.
Field
Semantic field or domain (topic area)
Tenor
The relationship between the participants and degree of social distance.
Increased/ decreased social distance
Close/distant tenor
Collaborative, friendly, awkward interactions
Mode
Speech or writing?
Setting
Time and place
Spoken: When and where is the text created
Written: When and where is it appearing?
Text Type
Nature of the discourse and the form it takes
Shapes language used
Judge contents and function.
eg. Poem, Interview etc.
Participants
- speaker + listeners
- speakers + interlocutors
- writers + readers [org]
- writers
Audience
Intended audience, could be several, immediate audience
e.g. Studio audience, radio listeners, viewing audience
- setting
Elision
Sounds missing
Ellipses
grammatical elements missing
Written and Spoken modes both have:
Text type, setting, register, audience, tenor, functions, purposed, field, sentence types and structures.
Speech Key Language Features
- ephemeral, transitory
- less formal
- immediate feedback
- participants
- time bound
- social
- unplanned
Sentences in Speech
Utterances
Paralinguistic features of speech
Vocal effect, stance, gestures, facial expressions
Syntax in Speech
- fragments (brilliant)
- ellipses
- coordinating conjunctions
- interrogative tags (didn’t they?)
Phonology in Speech
- Pitch
- Volume
- Tempo
- Stress
- Accent
- Elision and assimulation
Morphology in Speech
- shortenings
- initialisms and acronyms
- non-standard lexemes
- expletives
- hypocoristic suffixes
Writing Key Features
- requires literacy
- permanent
- more formal (more rules)
- delayed feedback
- space bound
- records information
- planned/drafted
Phonology in Written Mode
- descriptions/verbs to convey vocal effects
- onomatopoeia
- Volume, stress and intonation through formatting, orthographic and punctuation features
Orthographic
Spelling (NO. Noooooo)
Morphology/Lexicology in Written Mode
- shortenings
- affixation
- initialisms + acronyms
- neologisms
- Blands and compounding
- Contractions (can’t)
- Elevated lexemes
Neologisms
new words
Syntax in written mode
- ellipses
- fragment
- phrases + clauses
- punctuation
Semantics in written mode
- denotation and connotations
- colloquialisms + idioms
- synonymy + antonymy
- euphemism + dysphemism
- figurative language
Discourse and Pragmatics in written mode
- layout (subheading, dot points)
- font type + size
- formatting (bold/italics)
- punctuation
- handwritten vs type
- colors
Purpose
Intended goal of a text
- to advise
- to entertain
- to build rapport
- to advise
Informal language choices
- encouraging intimacy and supporting in group membership
Formal Language Choices
Reinforce social distance/authority
Establishing expertise
Clarifying
Intent
- something one plans to do
- choose repertoire of language.
Preparedness
Prepared/spontaneous
- low/high
- written = planning/drafting
- speech = scripted/sei-scripted/written
- spontanoeus.
Cultural context
- extralinguistic circumstances
- values, attitudes, and beliefs of participants
