Chapter I: the pecularities of formal and informal language

1.2. Important features of formal and informal language
Verbal communication is the act of using language to exchange information or to express ideas, thoughts or feelings to someone else.
In order to communicate successfully, different levels of formality are used to respond appropriately to different circumstances and different people.
In this module we are we are going to examine formal and informal language in the workplace.
Formal Language:
In a work environment formal communication is necessary when presenting work to colleagues, in a meeting, when speaking on the phone, in written and email communication. Formal communication is usually used when speaking to a superior manager and shows a level of respect and politeness.
Formal communication channels:

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  Emails
  
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  Letters
  
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  In a formal setting - meetings, conferences, presentations, interviews.
  

Informal Language:
In a work environment informal communication is used when speaking to co-workers that you have a relaxed relationship with in the office and is used with all of your co-workers outside of the office.
Sometimes you may speak formally to someone in a meeting in front of other colleagues clients and then change to informal conversation afterwards.
Informal Communication Channels:

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  Email
  
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  One-to-one conversation
  
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  Interoffice phone-calls
  

In most work environments a mixture of both formal and informal language is used throughout the day, depending on the position of the person you are communicating with and your relationship to this person, it becomes a matter of personal judgement to decide which type of communication to use and when. For example, you may have a relaxed, friendly relationship with your manager who you normally use informal language with but if you are in a meeting with this person you would usually change to formal language out of respect for the formal situation. In Ireland informal communication in the workplace is more common than in other countries as Irish culture does not recognize positions of hierarchy in the same manner as cultures which place an emphasis on hierarchy. Regardless of this you must become familiar with your workplace and your colleagues before knowing when it is appropriate to use informal language.
Formal language is language use characterized by following features:

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  speech before passive audience
  
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  the assumption of a role by the speaker
  
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  the use of artificial means of communication
  
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  the use of a ,,high” language in preference to a ,,low” one
  
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  complex sentences
  
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  use of reported speech
  
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  indirect questions
  
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  use of modals such as could and would rather than can and will
  
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  full forms should not instead of shouldn’t
  
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  frequent use of passive voice
  
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  limited use of phrasal verbs
  

There are some examples of domains where formal language takes place:

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  a sermon
  
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  a political speech
  
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  a lecture
  
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  a letter
  
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  poetry
  

Informal language is mostly used while talking as it more impulsive and casual, think of everyday conversations with your family and friends. Informal language is not just used when we are talking however, we can also use informal language when we are writing such as writing postcard to a family member or sending a text message to a friend or some business correspondences. In these situations we use casual, colloquial language and our tone is a lot more personal.
There are some characters of informal language:

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  An informal style is widespread in blogs and on the internet. While it sets up a close relationship with readers and reaches a wide audience, it tends to compromise authority. It may also be used sparsely in editorials, opinion articles and letters to the editor to add an element of surprise or create a contrasting effect.
  
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  to socialize (phatic conversation): language used to establish an atmosphere or to create a social contact
  
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  to maintain friendship share social rapport
  
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  to exchange or elicit information
  
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  to discuss a common interest
  
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  phatic-transactional; persuasive; expressive
  

STRUCTURE OF INFORMAL (SPOKEN) DISCOURSE

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  adjacency pairs - opening and closing rituals are done in such a way that one statement triggers a response; it is a question and answer style of dialogue; paratactic style of dialogue- conjunctions such as “and” link simple sentences together
  
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  they follow one another; are produced by different speakers; have a logical connection; conform to a pattern.
  
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  questions, answers, greetings and a command are all part of adjacency pairs
  

Syntax and syntactic patterning:

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  Grammar: simpler; minor sentences and coordinated clauses; tendency towards coordination rather than subordination
  
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  Colloquial ellipses occur frequently; passive is less frequent.
  
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  phrasal verbs and informal ‘filler’ verbs; noun phrases are often simple; (one one adjective, and not a string); frequent use of adverbial intensifiers: very, and a bit ;
  
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  structure of utterances is often difficult to establish-where one sentence ends and another begins
  
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  introductory links to clauses-you know
  
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  tag questions and phatic communication maintain the pace of spoken discourse
  
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  variety of grammatical modes: reported speech, direct quotations; first person accounts; changes in modality are common
  
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  use of incorrect grammar such as incomplete sentences (sentence fragments); “Makes no sense to me!”; incorrect punctuation and spelling;
  
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  sentence fragments; more likely to string words together (commentator);
  
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  repetition of words…
  
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  creative word formation…change word order in sentence for emphasis; fronting creative word order- echo and mimic spoken texts.
  
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  anaphoric reference: refers back to …
  
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  use of minor sentences; he seldom uses strings of dependent clauses embedded within a main clause; loosely coordinated clauses
  
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  use of direct speech: yeah- minimal vocalization; or voiced hesitation.
  

Lexicology morphology

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  participants often underplay importance of key words-introduce clauses like you know, like, sort of.. - conversational lexis-yeah, cos, all right, colloquial idioms, in a minute, the thing is, as far as i can see; clichés, that’s life; hyperbole; on and on and on, really stupid, thousands and phatic communication and vocalizations.
  
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  Often ambiguous: speakers use language inexplicitly- often clarified through extra paralingual features
  
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  Deictic expressions are common: this one, over there, right now-typical of face to face interaction where speakers can refer directly to specific characteristics of the context
  
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  use of first person pronouns; (“I” and “we”);
  
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  use of contractions such as we’d, shouldn’t and didn’t; and
  

Semantics patterning:

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  use of clichés: we’re in the same boat;
  
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  colloquial language: conversational language that does not adhere to formal standards. It consists of spoken, slang or mild swear words; “You’re either kidding or you’re stuffed!”
  
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  word connotations: inclusive language and possible use of exclusive language: I can’t helping thinking he’s a moron! ;  Common greetings such as ‘g’day mate’, ‘hit the turps’, ‘happy as Larry’ are often confusing to foreign visitors. (refer Australian English and slang)
  
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  Slang-If you are extremely happy then, according to the Australian slang expression, “you are as happy as Larry” and “she’ll be apples”. Such slang, which “differs from standard or written speech in vocabulary and construction” (Macquarie Dictionary), typically recalls our convict past or settler origins and is colourful, inventive and humorous.
  
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  Word play, metaphors; figurative language; ellipsis (omission)
  

Characteristics of spoken informal texts: the more formal the context-the less likely there is to be examples of hesitancy, slips of the tongue, simultaneous speech.

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  are interactive (the listener responds);
  
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  consist of overlaps-overlaps where speakers are trying to get the floor are common in an average conversation. Sometimes one speaker thought it was his or her turn, but the speaker hadn’t finished and so they spoke over the top of each other. Often speakers have to compete for a turn in a speech encounter in which many participants are involved (such as a group of friends chatting in a pub); or a speaker may have misjudged the end of a turn (as when the speaker adds extra information ..) or one speaker who is dominant may insist on interrupting-one speaker challenges or disrupts
  
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  the more cooperative the speech, the quicker overlaps are resolve, with one participant ceasing to speak
  
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  consists of ellipsis- (leaving out letters or words) speakers can point to things directly or can just leave them out of they are already obvious from the situation; sometimes in rapid speech, sounds are left out of words; sometimes speakers leave out words to be vague and evasive;
  
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  uses discourse particles: spoken interaction is more personal than writing and speakers continually refer to themselves and to their audience with special expressions
  
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  slang and colloquial language.