UNIVERSITATEA VASILE ALECSANDRI DIN BACU

FACULTATEA DE LITERE

REGISTERS AND STYLES

OF
ENGLISH LANGUAGE

NADIA NICOLETA
MORRAU

Editura ALMA MATER BACU

2014

Descrierea CIP a Bibliotecii Naionale a Romniei

MORRAU, NADIA NICOLETA
Registers and Styles of English Language / Nadia Nicoleta
Morrau. - Bacu: Alma Mater, 2014
Bibliogr.
ISBN 978-606-527-366-5
811.111

CONTENTS
1.CONCEPTUAL DELIMITATIONS
1.1. Factors determining language use
1.2. Variation
1.2.1. Linguistic variation
1.2.2. Stylistic variation
1.3. Varieties
1.3.1. Text varieties
1.3.1.1. Perspectives on text varieties
1.3.2. Social varieties of English
1.3.2.1. Sources of variation
2. PERSPECTIVES ON LINGUISTIC REGISTERS
2.1. Register definitions and theories
2.2. Register characteristics
2.3. Types of registers
2.4. A functional perspective on register analysis
2.4.1. Metafunctions of language and register variables
2.4.2. The analysis of register as a functional variety of text
3. AN APPLIED LINGUISTIC ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK
3.1. Registers and register analysis: an overview
3.2. Describing the situational characteristics of register
3.2.1. A framework for situational analysis
3.3. Analysing linguistic features and their functions
4. REGISTER vs. STYLE AND DIALECT
4.1. Defining styles
4.1.1. Classification of functional styles
4.2. Dialect studies
4.2.1. Register variation and dialect variation
4.2.2. Idiolects
5. LEVELS OF FORMALITY AND LANGUAGE STYLES
5.1. The category of formality
5.2. Degrees of formality
5.3. Russells language styles

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5.3.1. The ultra-formal style

5.3.2. The formal style
5.3.3. The modified formal style
5.3.4. The colloquial style
5.3.5. The ultra-colloquial style
5.4. Conversational styles
5.4.1. The frozen style
5.4.2. The formal style
5.4.3. The consultative style
5.4.4. The casual style
5.4.5. The intimate style
6. SOCIOLINGUISTIC ASPECTS OF SLANG AND ARGOT
6.1. Slang
6.1.1. Defining slang
6.1.2. Slang characteristics
6.1.2.1. General characteristics
6.1.2.2. Sociological properties
6.1.2.3. Linguistic and situational features of English slang
6.1.3. Slang typology
6.1.3.1. Rhyming slang
6.1.3.2. Back slang
6.1.3.3. Pig Latin
6.1.3.4. Special slang
6.2. Argot
6.3. Bottom-heavy semantic fields
7. SPECIALIZED/ PROFESSIONAL REGISTERS
7.1. Definitions and characteristics of jargon
7.2. Variable modes of using language based on social structure
7.2.1. Legalese
7.2.2. Technicalese
7.2.3. Officialese
7.2.4. News style/journalese
7.2.4.1. Quality vs. popular press
7.2.4.2. Newspaper writing vs. academic prose
8. NEW REGISTERS
8.1. E-registers
8.1.1. General characteristics
8.1.2. Situational features of individual e-mail messages

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8.1.3. Linguistic and situational features of online postings

8.1.3.1. Common features of blogs and forums
8.1.3.2. Blogs vs. forums
ANNEX 1 Essays on text types and registers
ANNEX 2 Exercises in style
ANNEX 3 Language use and formality styles
ANNEX 4 Samples of register analysis
Lcrmioara Ilie (Filip) (LEPC II, 2010), A register analysis of teen talk
Cristina Pintili (LEPC II, 2011), Slang features of the Hollywood Bank Robbery song
Alexandra Ilie (LEPC II 2012), A register perspective on travel brochures
Mihaela Timofte (LEPC II 2013), A situational analysis of self-help text varieties

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Defining characteristics of register features, register markers, genre

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markers and style markers

Table 2. The systemic functional model

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Table 3. Situational characteristics of academic prose

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Table 4. Distribution of selected situational features in officialese

Table 5. Distribution of selected linguistic features in the academic prose

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register
Table 6. Distribution of selected linguistic features in officialese

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Table 7. Language functions vs. functional styles

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Table 8. Formality scale

Table 9. Characteristics of language styles

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Table 10. The style machine: criteria for measuring style

Table 11. Linguistic features of English slang

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Table 12. Situational features of English slang

Table 13. Distribution of selected situational features of individual e-mail
messages

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