English Vocabulary in Use Advance (Unit 97: Register: degrees of formality)


Look at these text extracts and decide which register types you would classify them in. Underline key words which help you decide the register. For example, if you think the text is ‘written, formal, poetic and archaic’, which word(s) make you think that?

Some register types: literary / poetic / non-literary  academic / non-academic   archaic / modern  technical / non-technical  spoken / written  formal / informal
1 When you have created a file that is to be stored in a shared folder, or one that is located on a server, you can use the tools in the client soft ware to restrict access to the file. 2 Views are certainly divided on the answers to the questions listed above; even whether it matters that pluralism and different paradigms reign in SLA is a matter of heated debate. 3 Sweetest love, I do not go, For weariness of thee, Nor in hope the world can show A fitter love for me; But since that I Must die at last, ’tis best, To use myself in jest Thus by feigned deaths to die.
4 And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. 5 Mind you there was a lot of rain in Germany over Christmas wasn’t there, cos I saw the river in Bonn on the news on telly, the Rhine. Yeah, the river in Bonn.
Possible Answer

  1. This computer text could be called written, modern, technical. Terms such as shared folder and server are technical. The style is typically written, especially with the use of passive voice verbs and the word located; in non-technical spoken language, we would probably just say ‘one that is on a server’.
  2. This is typical modern, written academic text; above indicates it is written. Typical academic words are paradigm (which means a dominant set of beliefs or methods in an academic field) and the initials SLA (which mean Second Language Acquisition).
  3. This is rather archaic poetry (by the English poet John Donne, 1572–1631). Thee is an archaic form of singular you; ’tis is an archaic form of it is; in jest is rather formal and/or literary and means ‘as a joke / not serious’. Other rather formal or literary words are weariness and feigned (pretended).
  4. This is formal spoken language. It is from a speech by US President John F. Kennedy (1917–1963). Key items are the formal ask not instead of ‘don’t ask’, my fellow, and the freedom of man instead of human freedom or freedom for everyone. Formal speeches and lectures are often very close to formal written texts, and this text could possibly also have been a written text (e.g. a political pamphlet or electioneering literature).
  5. This is informal, modern conversation. Key items are mind you (rare in written language), telly instead of television, cos instead of because, and yeah instead of yes. The text is quite fragmented too (the Rhine. Yeah, the river in Bonn). Written registers tend to be more integrated (e.g. the River Rhine in Bonn).
Exercise-97.4


Bình luận


Các task khác trong bài học