Transcript Formality

Formal vs Informal usage
Stylistic variations
TESL 2200 Lecture 5
Vocabulary Quiz
For each of the six questions choose the one correct
answer.
1. Dear Mr Smith, We are sorry to _____ that...
a) say you
b) let you know
c) inform you
d) explain you
2. Thank you for bringing this _____ to my
attention.
a) thing
b) matter
c) stuff
d) items
3. I am extremely _____ the service I received...
a) dissatisfied with
b) dissatisfied from
c) cross about
d) cross for
4. Hi John, how's it going? _____ my holiday in
Spain.
a) I am writing to give you some details regarding...
b) I intend to describe...
c) I want to tell you about...
d) I'd like to say you...
5. As you will see from my CV, I have _____
experience in this area.
a) masses of
b) a considerable amount of
c) loads of
d) great
6. That's all for now. See you tonight! _______ ,
Mary xxxx
a) Yours faithfully
b) Yours sincerely
c) Best wish
d) Love
Dress with style
Styles of language
• Styles are varieties of language
which can be ranged on a continuum
ranging from very formal to very
informal.
Formal vs. informal style
• Formal styles are used in social
situations which are formal, and
informal styles are used in social
situations which are informal.
Formal vs. informal style
• A typical formal language might be
the sentence read out by a judge at
the end of a trial.
• A typical informal speech would be
produced in a relaxed conversation
among close friends or family
members.
When to use formal English
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Have you ever…?
Sent a note to school
Ordered something from a catalogue
Written away for a brochure
Applied for a job in writing
Written a letter of complaint
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Written to a newspaper
Written to your employer
Written to your accountant
Written a report for an insurance
company
• Written to a bank
• Other
Formal vs. informal style
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A formal style will be characterized by
detachment, precision, and "objectivity",
but also rigidity and cognitive load;
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An informal style will be much lighter in
form, more flexible, direct, and involved,
but correspondingly more subjective, less
accurate and less informative.
Advantages of being formal
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More formal messages have less chance
to be misinterpreted by others who do
not share the same context as the
sender.
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Validity or comprehensibility of formal
messages will extend over wider contexts:
more people, longer time spans, more
diverse circumstances, etc.
Disadvantages of being formal
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Formal speech is more static or rigid, and
will less easily accommodate to
phenomena that demand expressions with
a meaning different from the ones found
in dictionaries.
Disadvantage of being formal
• Informal speech, by definition, is
flexible: meanings shift when the
context changes.
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Formal speech is structurally more
complex. Therefore, formal expressions
require more time, attention and
cognitive processing to be produced and
understood.
Formality and the language producer
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Speech is likely to be more formal if the
speaker is male, introverted and/or of a
high education level.
Stylistic differences in lexis
Consider the differences between
• Father was exceedingly fatigued subsequent
to his extensive peregrination.
• Dad was very tired after his lengthy journey.
• The old man was bloody knackered after his
long trip .
Some examples of formal and informal
English words
• felicitations = congratulations to the
bride;
• indisposed= ill;
• erudite = well-read;
• abscond= run away,
• flit; remorseful = sad;
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condescending=snobbish;
consanguinary= related;
distinguish between = tell the difference;
contributed = gave;
euphoria = happiness.
Conclusion
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The degree of formality of a speechstyle will depend on the requirements of
the situation, but that there will still be
a subjective element, depending on
whether the sender prefers accuracy
over immediacy, detachment over
involvement,or fears possible
misinterpretation more than additional
cognitive load.
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All the languages of the world would
appear to demonstrate some degree of
stylistic differentiation in this sense,
reflecting the wide range of social
relationships and social situations found,
to a greater or lesser extent, in all
human societies.
Task 1: Which one is formal and which
one is informal?
1.totally opposed to
2.throughly approve of
3.I'm all for
4.I'm a great supporter of
5.don't approve of
6. dead against
7.all for
Task 2: formal or informal letter?
• Read the following two letters and give
examples of phrases that are specifically
formal and informal
• What makes this letter formal or informal?
Dear Anne
Thanks ever so much for your letter. It was
lovely to hear from you after all this time.
We’re all keeping well here. Andy has left
school now, though he hasn’t got a job yet I’m
afraid.
How’s life with you? We’d love to see you all
again. Why don’t you spend a weekend with us
when you’re free?
Give my love to Dave and the kids
Love,
Sue x
Dear Mrs Smith
Thank you for your letter concerning my
National Insurance contributions.
I confirm that I am able to attend for
the interview on 15th November 2003 as
requested.
Yours sincerely
S JOHNSON (Ms)
• Is clear and gives exact details – ‘I
confirm that I am able to attend for the
interview’
• Is brief and to the point • Is cool, polite and business-like – ‘as
requested’
• It is not ‘chatty’
• Sounds more formal
Task 3: Re-write them in formal
language
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Hope to see you soon
Write back soon and let me know
Hi! How are you doing?
Give my love to the kids
Don’t forget to send me some more samples
Don’t worry, it won’t happen again
I assure you
Task 4: Change the words which are
underlined for a word or phrase
• The first one is done as an example
I got your letter of 15.6.03 about my
insurance claim
Here you could say: I received your letter
concerning my insurance claim
• When I took back the vacuum cleaner ….
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I have got hold of a copy of your brochure
I have ordered the goods as you asked
I am not happy with the repair work
Please send me the right form
I have put in a Postal Order for £15
I would a like a new one
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I found that the lens was broken
It was bought on 16.03.2003
I ought to get my money back
I am not paying until the work is carried
out
• I should like to arrange to come and see
you
• Please let me have a sample copy
am entitled to
received
discovered
enclose
As requested
returned
purchased
withholding payment
dissatisfied
obtained
forward
concerning
appropriate
a refund
make an appointment
Task 5: Who wrote this letter?
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What kind of letter is it?
What is the main purpose of the letter?
Is this a formal or informal letter?
Look at this letter and write down what is
wrong with it.
• Xxx
• Dear Bank Manager
• I hope you are well and your business is ok. My
business isn’t good so I need your help. I want
about £10,000 so that I can do some repairs to
my shop and buy some things I need.
• I want you to loan me some money and I will pay
it back later when my business gets better
• Let me know asap.
• Thank you for your help
• xxx
Formal or informal?
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I am sorry to inform you that...
phrasal verbs
I am very grateful for...
Why don't we...
I will not be able to attend the...
• idioms and slang
• contracted verb forms like we've, I'm,
etc.
• Give my regards to...
• I look forward to hearing from you...
• Let me know as soon as...
• short sentences
Key
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I am sorry to inform you that... F
phrasal verbs I
I am very grateful for... F
Why don't we... I
I will not be able to attend the... F
• idioms and slang I
• contracted verb forms like we've, I'm,
etc. I
• Give my regards to... F
• I look forward to hearing from you... F
• Let me know as soon as... I
• short sentences I
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Dear Tom,
Dear Ms Smithers,
Best wishes,
Yours faithfully,
I'm really sorry I...
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Unfortunately, we will have to postpone...
We had a little bit of luck...
Our computers are used for a variety...
I use my pencil sharper for...
polite phrases
fewer passive verb forms
Key
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Dear Tom, I
Dear Ms Smithers, F
Best wishes, I
Yours faithfully, F
I'm really sorry I... I
• Unfortunately, we will have to postpone...
F
• We had a little bit of luck... I
• Our computers are used for a variety... F
• I use my pencil sharper for... I
• polite phrases F
• fewer passive verb forms I