Word of the Week: Register

Registers are the stylistic variations of language an individual uses based on circumstance. People tend to adapt their pronunciation, word choice, grammar and/or body language to the different social situations in which they might find themselves. The social occasion, context, purpose, and audience are all important when choosing a register. Choosing a register may be very purposeful, while other times it may be more automatic.

The most common usage is to distinguish between an informal and a formal register. For example, in a casual setting such as with friends, one is likely to use an informal register. In the informal register, slang words, contractions, sarcasm, and a relaxed body language are all acceptable. In a professional setting such as when talking to a boss, however, one would likely use a formal register. For a formal register, technical vocabulary, not interrupting, paying closer attention to grammar, and the use of honorifics are more appropriate.

There isn’t universal agreement on how to define one register from another. Some linguists say that there are more than two registers, all which serve different purposes. Some prefer to use other terms to describe a similar concept, like style or tenor. No matter how many there are or what they’re called, it is agreed upon that registers exist on a continuum, often in shades of grey rather than in black and white.