1 DIMENSIONS OF REGISTER 2 STANDARD AND SUBSTANDARD

1) DIMENSIONS OF REGISTER. 2) STANDARD AND SUBSTANDARD FORMS OF ENGLISH. CULTURAL ATTITUDES

Key words: • dimension, typical patterns of usage, frequency, stylistic conventions, cognitive synonyms, field, mode, figurative language (metaphors and idioms); phrasal verbs

Why are registers important in understanding the word’s meaning? • Varieties of register are important in comprehending the word’s meaning. Some words may be similar in meaning but be different in their actual use in speech. Some important factors should be taken into consideration in this respect: typical patterns of usage, frequency and stylistic conventions of the register. Words acquire the features of the register they are typically associated with.

What is the conceptual space of a lexical item? • The referential meaning of words are derived from reality and depend on how the conceptual space (a given referential area) is divided or covered by lexical items.

What is the communicative space of a lexical item? • The actual meanings of words reflect relations which hold between lexical items within the communicative space, i. e. functional differentiation of discourse; e. g. purchase and buy associate with different communicative space, purchase- formal discourse; in informal contexts – buy.

What are cognitive synonyms? • • Purchase formal to buy something: You can purchase insurance on-line. to purchase goods on credit Buy Where did you buy that dress? $50 doesn't buy much these days. (informal) Let's just say it was an accident. ' ' He'll never buy that. ‘ Synonyms which differ in respect of the varieties of discourse in which they appear can be defined as cognitive synonyms.

What are three dimensions of registers that we should take into consideration in terms of the word’s meaning? In the analysis of registers three dimensions are distinguished: field, mode and style. Field refers to the subject-matter (law, academic discourse, advertising, etc). According to subject -fields the vocabulary is divided into general and specialized. Mode is concerned with the manner of transmission of a linguistic message (written, spoken, telegraphed, etc). e. g. p 49. The third dimension is the style (formal- informal) e. g. p 51 such words as thing, figurative language (metaphors and idioms); phrasal verbs.

2) STANDARD AND SUBSTANDARD FORMS OF ENGLISH. CULTURAL ATTITUDES standard usage, colloquialisms, slang, cant, jargon, argot, thematic areas, cultural codes, playful use, speech portrayals, casual talk, intimate tone, general slang, ‘pure’ slang, passive knowledge, marginal vocabulary • Key words:

Which layers are there in the English vocabulary? Give a short description of each of them. • Standard usage, i. e. words and expressions which are well defined in dictionaries with their accepted spellings and pronunciations and are used as the main body of vocabulary; • Colloquialisms are familiar words and idioms used in informal speech and writing, but not considered appropriate for polite conversation or business correspondence; Colloquialisms are used and understood by nearly everybody. • Slang is unlike colloquialisms an informal and personal use with the speaker and listener enjoying ‘a special fraternity’.

continued • Cant, jargon, and argot are words and expressions peculiar to specific groups of speakers; cant is the conversational, familiar idiom used by members of a particular occupation, e. g. trade, sports, music. Jargon is the technical or even secret vocabulary of a professional subgroup, a kind of ‘shop-talk’; the language which abounds in difficult words of the expert. Argot is both the cant and jargon of any professional criminal group.

Plain English • UK’s Plain English Campaign; in 1979 a ritual shredding of government forms in Parliament Square in London; the effect was immediate: by 1985 over 21, 000 forms had been revised, and a further 15, 000 withdrawn. In 1978, President Carter issued an order requiring that regulations be written in plain English; companies made huge savings in time and money

Being evasive • Chemistry change, dehiring, deselection, destaffing, downsizing, involuntary separation, negotiated departure, reducing headcount, etc (business); failure – deferred success (school) • BT have started processing the first stage of our MPF orders i. e. the line test and production of a line characteristics report. However with the second stage (i. e. physically installing the metallic facility path between the customers line and the Trilogy equipment) they will …

Why does slang deserve special attention nowadays? • Among the non-standard means of expression slang deserves special attention. Nowadays slang is getting more and more important especially in the register of mass media. The effectiveness of speech often depends on the juxtaposition of slang and formal vocabulary.

What are the main difficulties EFL learners may have with slang? • Slang belongs to marginal vocabulary, which is rather difficult to acquire a feel for. Another problem is that many of slang expressions are short-lived. • Slang is used by the young people as a kind password into their world. E. g. hip, cool, hot, etc. There are two types of slang words: the so called a) general slang (these are both slangisms and colloquialisms) and b) ‘pure’ slang. E. g. a) ok, super

Slanguage • Examples of ‘dead’ slang: Whiffled: tipsy Giggle-water: champagne Truck-gutted: pot bellied Examples of ‘modern’ slang: wicked-brutalevil (for ‘good’); bling (diamonds, etc), anything shiny

Why is it important for EFL learners to have an idea about slang? • Slang is a necessary component of the learner’s passive knowledge since learners are supposed to read newspapers and magazines and fiction. • The chief use of slang Is to show that you’re one of the gang. We usually associate slang with the street, with young people, with the latest fashions. But… we all use slang. We all belong to gangs.

D. Crystal on gangs and slang Here are some of the gangs I’ve been part of this week. One day I was a member of a linguistics gang, using informal jargon; another day I was working with a theatre gang in a quite different lexical world, full of actors drying (‘forgetting lines’), notes (‘director’s comments on performance’), etc. And at random moments I talked to my gang of children: the oldest one does not say wicked (‘good’), the youngest one does.

What are the particular functions of slang in speech? • Slang performs particular functions in speech. It is often used to make the style of one’s speech or writing more conversational, to create an atmosphere of casual talk and, therefore, a more intimate tone to interest the listener or reader. It also serves as an expressive means when the speaker is excited, disgusted, annoyed, etc.

What are the functions of slang in literature? • Slang finds its way into literature as an expressive means of characterization to perform two functions. First, a playful use of slang to make a narrative more lively and colorful. Second, speech portrayals, means of characterization to reveal the background of the speaker, his or her local dialect or level of education.