AUDIENCE AND LANGUAGE: FIVE STYLES OF COMMUNICATION
The same message below is written in different styles:
Criteria:
Hyperformal
Careful and elaborate structuring of the sentence, paragraph, and the whole text. Frequent use of figures of speech. Attention is drawn to the language itself through careful choice of sound and rhythm.
Formal
The syntax is complex and varied. No looseness of structure. Connectors such as "therefore," "nevertheless," and "moreover," are frequent. Points of linguistic etiquette such as "who/whom" distinctions are carefully observed. Extensive vocabulary use.
Semiformal
Looseness of sentence structure. Relatively simple clause structure. Frequent use of "and" or "but" to connect clauses. Use of contractions. Frequent omission of the subordinator "that" and the relative ("who," "which," "that").
Informal
Slang and profanities appear. Omission of unstressed words especially at the beginning of a sentence. Continued use of contractions and use of abbreviations.
Very informal
Codelike. Not often written. Minimum sentence structure. Special vocabulary.
Exercise: Look at the attached Parable of the Prodigal Son written in the five styles.
Each level or style of communication aims at a different audience and has different language characteristics.
From the samples below, identify the type of audience at which each level is aimed. Identify specific language characteristics which separate the styles.
King James Version (Early Modern English, 1611)
A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father give me the portion of goods that falleth unto me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substances with riotous living...
(1) Hyperformal
A particular man fathered two sons. The younger addressed his father with the plea, "Father, allocate to me the portion of goods to which I am entitled." The father, therefore, divided his property unto his sons. Within a brief passage of time, the younger sibling had gathered his inheritance and journeyed into a foreign land; thereafter, he wasted his wealth with lecherous living.
(2) Formal
There was a man who had two sons. The younger of the two sons said, "Father, may I now receive these goods that are entitled to me?" Since the man loved both sons equally, he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son departed far into another country, where he wasted his share with riotous living.
(3) Semiformal
A man had two sons, and the youngest said, "Father, give me my share." Then he divided up his goods between the two sons. A few days afterwards the younger son got all his goods together and left the country, wasting his share on high living. His only concern was wine, women, and song.
(4) Informal
There was a man with two sons. The youngest son said to his dad, "Look, Dad, give me what I've got coming to me." So his Dad said, "Okay." A couple days later the son packed up and took off for another state. After he split, he had a hell of a good time. But finally he blew all his money, livin' it up.
(5) Very Informal
Little Brother got his cut, split...and blew the whole wad.
Homework Exercise: Choose three of the proverbs and aphorisms below and recast them in the five styles.
1. He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing hidden.
2. What is done by night appears by day.
3. Let bygones be bygones.
4. Variety is the spice of life.
5. After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.
6. It is best to do what you feel.
7. Good sense makes a person slow to anger, and it is to one's glory to overlook an offense.
8. It is by acts and not ideas that people live.
9. I agree with what you think.
10. The person who is too old to learn was probably always too old to learn.
11. A stitch in time saves nine.
12. War is hell.
13. Silence is golden.
14. Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
15. Bad!