Purposive Communication PDF - Unit 1, Chapter 4

Chapter 4 VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF ENGLISH One day a Filipino teacher from Iloilo and an Indian teacher from Kerala were conversing with each other in English. Their talk began with the Indian complimenting the Filipino. In a heavily accented voice, she said, "Yo...

Chapter 4 VARIETIES AND REGISTERS OF ENGLISH One day a Filipino teacher from Iloilo and an Indian teacher from Kerala were conversing with each other in English. Their talk began with the Indian complimenting the Filipino. In a heavily accented voice, she said, "You have a lovely frock." Leaning forward, the LY Filipino lady responded, "Huh?" Her Indian friend slowly repeated what she said but this time emphasized the word, "frock" while pointing to her friend's floral printed black dress. "Oh, ON thanks," the Filipino promptly replied a bit embarrassed for not understanding right away what her friend meant by what she said. E The two teachers both know how to speak English, but their accent and vocabulary US can be different because they learned English in two varying cultures. Perhaps they share a common grammar, but they would most likely differ in diction or choice of words, intonation, T and pronunciation. In their written communication, it is possible that there may be fewer EN differences such as the spelling of some words. LEARNING OUTCOMES UD At the end of this lesson, the students shall have been able to: ST 1. define the term variety and registers in the context of language usage; U 2. explain Braj Kachru’s model of world Englishes; CP 3. distinguish between the American and British spelling of some English words; 5. distinguish between selected American and British English vocabulary; R 6. differentiate between formal and informal language registers; and, FO 7. exhibit appreciation for Filipino English and other varieties of English. MOTIVATION Watch Mikey Bustos Pinoy Lessons on the YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqlFT8zT8V8). List down the expressions that are introduced as Filipino English. After watching it, pair up and list other expressions in English that you think are also uniquely Filipino. 33 INPUT Language Variety Each of the languages all over the world exhibits variation. For example, Hiligaynon, the language of people living in Panay and Negros Occidental, can be spoken in varying intonations depending on where people live. Moreover, it can also vary in vocabulary and grammar depending on the context it is used. Any language for that matter exhibits variation as its users engage in a host of communication activities every day. In sociolinguistics, language variety or a lect refers to the distinctive form of a LY language. According to Tom McArthur (1992), it can have two broad types: (1) user-related varieties and use-related varieties (as cited in Nordquist, 2017). The first type is associated with ON the specific people who use it and naturally with the places where they live. So English spoken by people in Australia is often called Australian English and is an example of a user-related variety. Most people are aware that when the word ‘Today’ is said as “To die,” the speaker E must be an Australian. The second type is associated with function such as literary English US (the language used in literary texts) or business English (the language used in business and corporate communication) and many others. T EN Varieties of English English is widely used in the world, and thus it has gained the reputation of being an UD international language. Its spread may have been brought about by colonization, migration, and globalization among others. As such English has evolved into a language with many ST varieties such as American English, Korean English, Filipino English, etc. In the 1990s, an Indian linguist, Braj Kachru, developed a model to explain the spread of English and introduced U the idea of World Englishes. As shown in his concentric model, he categorized the speakers of CP English as those belonging to the Inner Circle, the Outer Circle, and the Expanding Circle. English users in the Inner Circle are native speakers of the language: British, Americans, Australians, etc. Those in the Outer Circle are mostly people whose countries were colonized R by the British or the Americans. These include Filipinos, Indians, Singaporeans to name a few. FO Finally, many of the speakers of English in the Expanding Circle belong to countries which have not been subjugated by English-speaking colonizers but have found the language valuable for social and economic mobility. Those who can afford English lessons invest on learning the language abroad or via the Internet. The Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese are examples of English speakers in the Expanding Circle. The Swedish, Danish, Finnish in Europe are also part of the expanding circle. 34  LY ON E US Kachru's (1992) concentric circle model representing the spread of World Englishes T EN ACTIVITY 1. In groups of five members each, present to the class an English variety UD spoken by people of an Asian country belonging to the Outer Circle. Include the following in your presentation: ST 1. Location of the country with a few photos as visual support U 2. Brief historical background on its colonization by an English-speaking nation CP 3. A video clip of the English variety spoken by the natives of that country. R FO Filipino English and American English As a former colony of the United States of America, the Philippines belongs to the outer circle of the World Englishes model. It has continued to place a high premium on English as it occupies a privileged position of being one of the official languages of the country as stated in the Philippine Constitution. Although the country’s language policies have prioritized the strengthening of Filipino, the national language and the preservation of other Filipino languages, English is still an important language which serves as an alternative lingua franca 35 among Filipinos who speak different regional languages; as a secondary language in the educational system; and as a bridge language for doing business with foreigners. English has been used in the Philippines for more than a hundred years, and it has evolved into a variety which is uniquely Filipino. For instance, spoken Filipino English often disregards the ‘schwa' sound in the word, ‘bicycle.' Thus you will hear it said either as ‘bysikel’ or ‘bysikool.' This can be explained as resulting from the absence of this particular sound in Filipino native languages. However, surprisingly many Filipinos can speak English with an American or even British accent. It is not only in pronunciation that makes Filipino English distinct from other varieties. There are English expressions that have come down to this generation with a distinctive twist. For instance, on the stairs, one sees the sign, “Watch your LY Steps.” which the British and Americans phrase as “Watch your Step.” ON Since the 1900s, the English taught to Filipinos has been the variety that the United States of America has brought to the country. Thus, the grammar, spelling, and pronunciation E of English by those who successfully learn the language approximate the American English US (AE) variety. However, because of the interference of Filipino languages, many Filipinos could not pronounce English approximating the AE native speaker. The lack of qualified English teachers also resulted to poor proficiency in both written and spoken English. The advent of the T contact center industry in the Philippines at the turn of the century greatly increased the EN demand for English-proficient workers which when met could translate to economic growth. Thus, the alarming deterioration of the English proficiency of Filipinos has moved the Philippine UD government, the business sector, and educational institutions to join forces to reverse the condition to attract more companies to outsource customer care and other services through ST contact centers in the country. Today contact centers in the Philippines do not only cater to American, but also to U British, Australian, and Canadian companies among others. Also, more Filipino nurses and CP other professionals now work in different countries and former colonies of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Thus it may be helpful for Filipino students to be familiar with both varieties of R English. FO Differences between American and British English A popular anonymous quote says that America and Britain “are two nations divided by a common language.” However, if you examine closely the two English varieties, there are more similarities than differences. The most noticeable difference between American and British English is vocabulary. For example, an American lives in an apartment while a British lives in a flat. The American baby wears a diaper while the British wears a nappy. Americans eat eggplant which the British 36 call aubergine. A list of these words is found in the Appendix. In addition to vocabulary, the spelling of certain words can reveal whether it is American or British English. Americans usually spell these words without a ‘u’ – color, labor, favor, savor unlike the British who spell them as colour, labour, favour, savour. The British also prefers these spelling for ‘judgement’ and ‘acknowledgement’ which Americans spell as ‘judgment’ and ‘acknowledgment.’ Definitely, there is a difference in the way Americans and the British talk in English. Some people say British English is harder to understand than American English. This may be the case if one is more familiar with American English like most Filipinos. However, Europeans who are more exposed to British English understand it more quickly than American English. To better appreciate the difference between the two English varieties, watch some videos on LY YouTube that feature their distinguishing features. ON ACTIVITY 2. In pairs, present a vocabulary list for a particular situation which contrasts E British and American English. Be sure to put pictures to illustrate the US words and be ready to pronounce each using the variety it represents. For example: T Transportation Vocabulary EN British English American English UD aeroplane airplane ST lorry truck sailing boat sailboat U saloon sedan CP rowing boat rowboat R FO Language Register The way you talk or write in a language can often be influenced by the context or the situation of the communication activity. When you write a note to a friend, you must have used the complimentary close, “love,” but it will be an inappropriate choice for a letter written for the purpose of getting a job. In verbal exchanges, you must have pronounced your words more carefully and said them loudly when delivering a public speech than when you were simply 37 conversing with friends. The varying ways by which you use language to suit certain situations reflect what is known in linguistics as language register. Language register is the style or level by which one communicates in a given context. Also known as tone or tenor, it is the kind of language for a specific situation. It uses specialized words, phrases, and contractions that may be exclusive only to one particular social setting and may sound strange or off if used in another. Language register is determined by its use, not by its users. Formal language register is used mostly in written communication. Business letters, research reports, and professional emails call for the use of a formal register. Certain writing conventions are strictly LY followed. For example, formal language avoids the use of colloquialisms, contractions or first- person pronouns such as ‘I' or ‘We.' Colloquialism means using familiar or ordinary words or ON phrases mostly in the context of a conversation. A contraction is a shortened combination of two words which uses an apostrophe in the place of the letter or letters that are removed such as isn't (is not), He'll (He will), or We've (We have). E US On the other hand, informal language register is often the variety appropriate for ordinary conversations, text messaging between friends and similar situations. It utilizes a T casual tone and usually abounds in contractions. In the case of bilinguals like most Filipinos, it EN can be characterized by code-mixing or code-switching. A Hiligaynon-English bilingual can combine two languages in expressing an idea like in the question: "Where kamo ma eat?” UD Sometimes a person can switch from English to another language. “Where are you eating lunch? Maupod ko tani sa imo.” The speaker expresses the first idea in English, but the second ST sentence is in Hiligaynon. Formal and Informal Language in Written English U CP Here are sentences that further show the differences between formal and informal registers in writing. The contrastive presentations demonstrate the appropriate registers for R contractions, phrasal verbs, slang, colloquialism, and first-person pronouns particularly in the FO context of formal reports. 1. Contractions Informal: The latest gadgets canʼt be introduced due to funding restrictions. Formal: The latest gadgets cannot be introduced due to funding restrictions. Informal: Wedonʼtconsider the results 38 accurate. Formal: The results are not considered accurate. 2. Phrasal or Two-Word Verbs Informal: The balloon was blown up for the experiment. Formal: The balloon was inflated for the experiment. 3. Slang/Colloquialism Informal: The patient came to when we arrived at the emergency room. Informal: Teachers still count on students to use correct grammar in essays. LY Formal: The patient recovered consciousness upon arrival at the Formal: Teachers expect students to use correct grammar in essays. emergency room. ON Informal: 4. First It was raining cats and dogs. person pronouns E Formal: It was raining very heavily. US Informal: I considered various theoretical frameworks for the study. T Formal: Various theoretical frameworks were considered for the study. EN UD Informal: We administered the questionnaires to the respondents. Five Styles in Spoken Language ST Formal: The questionnaires were administered to the respondents. A popular model for the levels of spoken English was introduced by Martin Joos in the 1960s. These are frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimate. U CP Frozen. This style is used when printed unchanging language like Biblical quotations or any text using literary language are delivered in situations like weddings, funerals or formal public ceremonies. It is also called static register and often uses old language. Archaic words R or expressions are those not used for everyday conversation but sometimes become part of FO present-day communication to lend to it an old-fashioned flavor. Some examples are the words thy (your) and art (are) as when Christians recite the line “Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name.” from The Lord’s Prayer. Formal: This register can be described as a one-way, uninterrupted presentation which uses technical vocabulary, complex and divergent grammatical structure, and careful and standard speech. It is common for plenary speakers of conferences to use this tone. Consultative: The most operational among the five styles, it has two-way participation as exemplified by a regular conversation between a teacher and a student or any two persons 39 working in the same company. It is also the style used in small group discussion. It is spontaneous, so people tend to repeat some unnecessary words such as "uh huh," "I see," etc., or choose the wrong word or even use slang or jargon. Slang is an informal, non-standard vocabulary (i.e., bestie for best friend) while jargon is a specialized or technical vocabulary of a group or a special activity. The sentences used tend to be shorter and usually delivered in average speed. Casual: This style is often used in conversations with friends and family in a social setting like a picnic or a sports event. Sentences are usually shortened, and ellipsis and slang are common. Ellipsis is a sudden leap from one topic to another. LY Intimate: This tone is used by close members of a family or friends. Intonation can be more important than wording or grammar. It can use private vocabulary and many non-verbal ON messages. ACTIVITY 3. Here is an activity to illustrate the five levels of spoken language. E Complete the table by providing the possible non-verbal language that US can accompany the words and also the setting or situation in which it could have been used. T EN Style Sample verbal Non-verbal language Context message UD Frozen I beseech you, Spoken with a loud, Worship service in therefore, brethren pleading voice a church ST Formal I challenge all of you U CP R Consultative Can I ask you to do FO this? Casual Hey, got a minute? Intimate Pretty please 40  ACTIVITY 4. In small groups of seven members each, demonstrate the five styles of spoken language, namely frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimate. Choosing the Appropriate Language Variety and Language Style Living in a multicultural setting poses many challenges in communication. One may have to learn a second or a third language to avail of opportunities for educational and economic advancement. In acquiring the second or third language, one must work really hard to reach the required proficiency level for a particular job or educational pursuit. However, one LY must not discount the value of one’s native or first language because it remains a vital tool for expressing ideas and emotions. ON Given this scenario, people who desire to be effective communicators must choose E the best language variety and register to express their ideas in. They can do this by a careful US analysis of the place and the time of the communication event; the people involved; its end or purpose; the sequence or organization of the speech acts; the tone appropriate for the event; the language, whether written or spoken; the rules or norms to be met; and the kind of T communication activity. EN Selecting the most appropriate language variety and register may not necessarily UD result to complete success, but it can be the first step to its realization. ST COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS 1. What is language variety? Differentiate between user-related and use-related varieties. U 2. How did Braj Kachru show the spread of English? CP 3. Why is Filipino English similar to American English especially in terms of grammar and spelling? R 4. How does British English differ from American English? 5. Why is it important to be familiar with other varieties of English? FO 6. What is language register? Distinguish formal from informal register? 7. Describe the five styles of spoken English using the framework of Martin Joos. 8. What factors should be considered when deciding on which style or register to use? 41