Understanding Register in Language
See also: Oracy SkillsFew of us would argue with the idea that how we speak or write changes depending on our situation, and particularly those we are with. We all speak differently when we are out with friends than in a formal meeting at work, or when attending an interview. Equally, writing a text to a friend is very different from writing a formal letter, or a business report. These changes in the use of language are known as registers.
Registers are often related to formality. However, they may also be associated with different groups of people, different contexts, and different purposes. They are also distinguished by a very different use of language, including body language and other non-verbal communication. This page explains more.
Defining Registers
We probably all know the word register from school: the list of names in the class. It can also, of course, be any official record or official list, including a list of births, marriages and deaths (hence registry office). However, it also has other meanings, many related to regulation. These include a device to regulate a draught, an organ stop, or a part of any instrument that has a distinct quality of tone. The definition in linguistics is also related to regulation—this time, of use of language (see box).
register, n. … The form of language used in certain circumstances, situations, or when dealing with certain subjects—e.g. legal, technical, journalistic.
Source: Chambers English Dictionary, 1988 edition.
Registers in linguistics are often defined by a specialist vocabulary, sometimes known as ‘jargon’.
This may be technical, or it may be abbreviations that are known largely within a professional group. Some of these are formal, but others are informal and often potentially rude to ‘outsiders’.
For example, both doctors and IT professionals are known to use abbreviations and particular terms to denote difficult patients or users (consider IT technicians’ rumoured use of the term PICNIC, or problem in chair, not in computer to mean that the reported problem is a question of ‘user malfunction’ and not a technical issue). These abbreviations are designed to make it easier for others within their profession to avoid engaging with these more difficult users.
Types of Registers
Linguistics experts have defined five distinct types of register. These are:
Frozen, often known as the static register. This register describes historic communication, where the language is effectively frozen in time. Examples include classic books, old prayers or a national constitution. These examples have remained unchanged and have not been updated to reflect modern language usage. There may be modern versions, but the old versions are still available, and still used in their original form.
Formal. This register is less rigid than the static register, but still quite constrained. It seldom includes slang or abbreviations, and is often used in professional, academic or legal settings. This register often includes the use of titles, rather than first names. Textbooks use this register, as do court proceedings, but you would probably also use it in talking to anyone in authority such as a headteacher.
Consultative. This register is used when one person in the conversation has expertise that the other does not have. The register may include the use of titles, or be more informal, especially with a longstanding relationship. However, the tone is almost always quite respectful because of the imbalance of expertise. Examples include someone talking to a doctor, teacher or plumber, or a conversation between a manager and someone they manage. Another example where this register may be used is in news broadcasts or announcements on mainstream media.
Casual. This register is used with close friends and colleagues, or with family members. It is informal, and you will often hear slang, contractions, and even swearing, depending on the group. This is the register that is commonly used in informal group settings, and can be considered ‘normal’ everyday language between people who know each other reasonably well.
Intimate. This register is used only between two people who are very close, such as siblings, very old friends, or lovers, or between parents and children. It is not often heard by others, because it is a very private register. However, you can identify when you are using it with someone through the use of shared jokes or unusual use of language that others would not understand.
Different languages, different signals?
Registers operate in every language. However, the signals used to show a change in register may be very different.
In French, for example, a change in register may be signalled by a shift from the use of the formal ‘vous’ to the more informal ‘tu’ (and vice versa). In English, however, the shift may be more in pace of speech, or the choice of words.
Using Registers
Registers are used in both speech and writing.
In writing, for example, it is easy to appreciate that register may be either formal or informal (and our page on Formal and Informal Writing Styles explains more). Academic writing or business writing, for example, are more likely to use a formal register. By contrast, journalistic writing often uses a more informal style or consultative register.
Style or register?
Register and style are similar, but not identical.
Style relates only to written language. It is defined as how the text is written to fit a specific purpose: to persuade, to tell a story or to explain something, for example.
Registers are seen in both written and spoken language, and describe the use of language in a given situation. The register therefore changes to fit the style required.
The differences between registers and styles can be used to study the way in which language changes over time, and also how it is used within a given society (see box).
Registers as part of the study of linguistics
Linguistics scholars use registers to understand social context.
In sociolinguistics, registers give important information about the relationship between language and society. They show how language is used to convey position in society, power, and identity, and how different social groups use language.
Registers can also highlight changes in the use of language over time.
We tend to use registers naturally—or rather, most native speakers of a language learn to use registers so early in their lives that they no longer think about how to use them, and simply choose the correct one almost unconsciously. We only really notice when someone gets it wrong, because it tends to jar, and can almost be offensive in some situations.
Case study: Stuart Baggs on The Apprentice
Back in 2010, an Apprentice candidate called Stuart Baggs got the register wrong in his formal interview with Margaret Mountford. In previous series, Ms Mountford had been one of Lord Sugar’s aides on the programme, and been widely known as ‘Margaret’ to viewers.
On entering the interview room and seeing Ms Mountford—the first time he had ever met or spoken to her—Baggs smiled widely and said,
“Margaret!”, going towards her with his hand held out.
She was less than impressed. Her eyebrows shot up, and she said, icily,
“Would you normally address an interviewer who you hadn't met by their first name?”
Baggs tried a comeback, saying that he felt like he knew her, but Ms Mountford wasn’t having it.
“But you don’t, do you?” she responded, still icy.
Clearly, Stuart Baggs used the wrong register there, going for casual instead of formal.
Generally, we learn to identify the correct register for the situation from the context. There are certain clues that can help to distinguish between different registers (see box).
What distinguishes different registers?
What are the factors that vary between registers? In English, and in many other languages, the factors include:
- Grammar and spelling. Different registers use different types of grammar. For example, the formal register avoids contractions and abbreviations. It is also more likely to use standard spellings in written form, and less likely to elide words in the spoken form.
- Word choice. The formal register uses more formal words and avoids slang. The casual and intimate registers are far more likely to include slang and dialect words, and the intimate register may even include made-up words that are unique to the two people having the conversation. People using the casual register may also avoid pronouns (saying, for example, “Sorry to hear that”, rather than “I’m sorry to hear that”).
- Punctuation can also be more or less formal. Formal writing, for example, tends to avoid exclamation marks or ellipses, which are more common in casual writing. Pauses may also be shorter in formal situations, because the speakers are more likely to have prepared in advance.
- Pace and tone. The tone of voice and pace of speech also vary between registers. The formal register is often slower, and more magisterial. Casual speech is often faster. Intimate speech may even use different ‘voices’, such as a ‘baby voice’ for talking to a pet or a young child.
These clues do not necessarily provide all the required information. Register is still hard for non-native speakers to manage, again confirming that the signals vary between different languages.
In Conclusion...
Register is unlikely to be something that you think about very often as a native speaker of a particular language.
Instead, you are likely to shift between registers comfortably, to enable you to fit within a particular situation. However, we all notice when someone gets the register wrong—for example, talks very casually in an interview situation, or is very formal within a group of friends.
This suggests that using the right register sends a very important signal about belonging and fitting in—and that register is therefore a crucial aspect of social mores.