STYLES & REGISTERSDefinition

Styles A style is not a social or regional dialect,

but a variety of language used for a specific purpose.

Styles are often analyze along a scale of formality, as in the examples from social dialect research.

Martin Joos (1967) described five Martin Joos (1967) described five levels of formality :levels of formality :

1.1. An oratorical styles is used in public speaking before a large An oratorical styles is used in public speaking before a large audience; wording is carefully planned in advance, audience; wording is carefully planned in advance, intonation is some what exaggerated, and numerous intonation is some what exaggerated, and numerous rhetorical devices are appropriate. Ex: Public speaker rhetorical devices are appropriate. Ex: Public speaker speechspeech

2.2. A deliberative style is also used in addressing audiences, A deliberative style is also used in addressing audiences, usually audiences too large to permit effective interchange usually audiences too large to permit effective interchange between speaker and hearers, although the forms are between speaker and hearers, although the forms are normally not as polished as those in oratorical style. normally not as polished as those in oratorical style.

Ex: University classroom lecture.Ex: University classroom lecture.3. A consultative style is typically a dialogue, though formal 3. A consultative style is typically a dialogue, though formal

enough that words are chosen with some care. enough that words are chosen with some care. Ex: Business transactions, doctor-patient conversation, and Ex: Business transactions, doctor-patient conversation, and

the like are usually consultative in nature.the like are usually consultative in nature.

4. Casual Conversations are between friends or colleagues or sometimes members of a family; in this context words need not be guarded and social barriers are moderately low.

5. An intimate style is one characterized by complete absence of social inhibitions. Ex.: Talk with family, love ones, and very close friends, where the inner self is revealed, is usually in an intimate style.

Ex: Journalese, baby-talk, legalese, the language of auctioneers, race-callers, and sports commentators, the language of airline pilots, criminals, financiers, politicians and disc jockeys, the language of the courtroom and the classroom.

Register

Registers are commonly identified by certain phonological variants, vocabulary, idioms and other expressions that are associated with different occupational or socioeconomic groups.

The different categories of communication

1. Verbal Communication : face to face, telephone, radio or television and other media.

2. Nonverbal Communication : body language, gestures, how we dress or act – even our scent.

1. Body Movement/Kinesics1. Body Movement/Kinesics Body posture “yes/ no” Gestures “come here” Flirting or sexual signals Lack of interest, “I don’t know”

An aside…

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATIONNONVERBAL COMMUNICATION

2. Face and Eyes 2. Face and Eyes contact contact

Over 1000 distinct facial expressionsEyes can be especially expressive◦ “Windows to the soul”

Men and women have been found to be equally expressive◦ Men show the most emotion in the lower

left quadrant of their face◦Women show emotion over their whole

face

Face or Eyes ContactFace or Eyes Contact

3. Space/ Proxemic3. Space/ ProxemicEdward Hall (1966)Edward Hall (1966)

Personal Space

Intimate distancePersonal distanceSocial distancePublic distance

Barrier behaviors and territory

You are

here

4. Artifacts4. Artifacts

Include clothing, jewelry, personal belongings, accessories, etc.

Communicate economic level, educational level, trustworthiness, social position, level of sophistication, economic background, social background, educational background, level of success, moral character, masculinity/femininity

Important part of first impressions

4. Touch / Kinesthetic4. Touch / Kinesthetic

Touching is considered essential and therapeutic

Touching can influence liking and compliance

Is used to show intimacy or power/controlPeople with high status touch

others/invade others’ spaces more than people with lower status

5. Olfactory Dimensions / Smell5. Olfactory Dimensions / Smell• The smell of human perspiration is quite acceptable and even attractive

• Our noses also receive sensory nonverbal message.

• Smell and Taste very closely related to each other