Language style

Language Styles (official, formal, written, colloquial, slang, sociolects, dialects, regionalects etc.）

What is language style?

Language style is the way of speaking/writing depending on circumstances of doing that, person (or people) to whom you are speaking or writing. In any language, different styles of expression are appropriate in different situations. We can go from the formal to the informal, the written to the spoken, from technical language (or jargon) to slang. Generally speaking writing styles tend to be more formal than the styles of spoken English, though both reach from the formal to the informal. There are many language styles, for example, official, formal, written, colloquial, slang, sociolects, dialects, regionalects etc.

Official language style

Official language style is a language that is used in a particularly special legal status. Typically report on the work of the government and a statement by The State Council. The expression will be much more objective and clear and have more jargons , and the tone will be firm and steady, so that it sounds and reads solemn and earnest.

Formal language style

We use the terms standard, polite and formal to refer to language that sticks to the rules and is essentially presented as the ‘proper’ form of English. In practice, this is not necessarily practical English, but rather the sort of English we’d expect to see in formal writing or polite situations. • a) The more formal a document is, the more it will use inanimate nouns (i.e. things, processes, ideas, rather than people) as the subjects of sentences. • b) The more formal language is, the more frequently passive structures will be used. • c) The more formal language is, the more verbal nouns (i.e. nouns like development or creation ) will be used. Eg. 1.Prior to the discovery of America, potatoes were not consumed in Europe. Before America was discovered, potatoes were not eaten in Europe. Before they discovered America, Europeans didn't eat potatoes. 2. When writing a letter, we should put Dear Sir/Madam or Dear Mr. Justin in the beginning and Yours faithfully or Your sincerely in the end.

Written language and Colloquial language style

Written and colloquial(spoken) versions of a language use different styles, different registers. Generally speaking, written English is always more formal than spoken English. nevertheless, there are informal forms of written English (notably in fiction and in the popular press), and formal styles of spoken English, in particular "discourse", or prepared speech. Colloquial language style is informal as the aim is to communicate rather than stick rigidly to rules, so it is where we see contractions and idiomatic language being used.

Eg.

Formal writing style : Citizens whose normal place of abode is outwith the United States of America are henceforth required to register their interests with the United States consulate nearest their domicile ; failure to register may lead to forfeiture of fiscal exemptions on revenues paid by sources in the United States.// Informal spoken/ colloquial style: Americans who normally live abroad now have to sign up at nearest US consulate. If they don't they may find themselves having to pay tax on anything they earn from US sources.

Slang

1.A kind of language occurring chiefly in casual and playful speech, made up typically of coinages and figures of speech that are deliberately used in place of standard terms for added raciness, humor, irreverence, or other effect. 2. Language peculiar to a group;

Take a Hike

Meaning：used for rudely telling someone to go away 意思是：哪儿凉快哪儿歇着去吧

please take a hike while I'm drawing, don't interrupt me!

我画画的时候请走开，不要打扰我！

Break a Leg

Meaning：used for wishing sb. good luck 意思是：<非正式>祝你好运 1. I understand you have a job interview tomorrow. Break a leg! 我知道你明天上午有个面试，祝你好运！ 2. Break a leg in your test today. 祝你今天考试顺利。

Social Dialect

Social dialects emerge like dialects, but within a specific class or culture, instead of a region (though they can be further developed to fit certain regions). This may also be referred to as a minority dialect, highlighting the variation is not the predominant use. A major example of this is African American Vernacular English.

Regional Dialect

Regional dialects are varieties of language that emerge based on regionally specific use. It refers to a subgroup variety of a language associated with a particular geographical area. There are many examples within the UK alone, from the broad differences between the English spoken in the North and South to the more specific, localized dialects, such as those spoken in certain cities, some of which have their own names (with Scouse from Liverpool, Geordie in Newcastle and Brummie in Birmingham to name just a few).