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 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.

______________________________________________________
2. Do you got an extra pen?
______________________________________________________
3. The food tastes yucky.
______________________________________________________
4. It takes a lot of guts to give our prof our true opinion.
______________________________________________________
5. My buddy flunked 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
2. male friend
3. professor
4. university security
5. friend’s parents
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.

__________1. Students are required to present their CORs to their professors.

__________2. Administer amoxicillin 250 mg. q2h.
__________3. What goes around, comes around.
__________4. In Testimony Whereof, the seal of the university and the signatures of the President and the
Registrar of the university are hereunto affixed.
__________5. This pizza tastes yucky.
__________6. Please sign the form on page 4. ASAP.
__________7. Every cloud has a silver lining.
__________8. Herewith please find attached the data that we gathered in the research findings.
__________9. I have 2K in my wallet.
_________10. Millions have suffered the ravages of COVID-19.

Change the following job titles to gender-inclusive:

1. Businessman - _______________
2. Cleaning women - _______________
3. Delivery man - _______________
4. Stewardess/ Steward - _______________
5. Policeman - _______________
6. Foreman - _______________
7. Watchman - _______________
8. Firemen - _______________
9. Newsman - _________________
10. Saleslady/ Salesman - _______________
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.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________ 2. The man who never
makes mistakes always takes orders from one who does.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________ 3. Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

4. College education shows a man how little other people know.

-____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. He 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 and writer can afford to ignore them?

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