Language Social Varieties and Stylistic Registers

Social Varieties of Language

Social varieties are the varieties presented by a language in different social groups.

Slang and Related Varieties

Slang: a particular linguistic variety used by members of a distinct social group (examples: professional jargon, youth slang, and marginal slang).

• Professional Jargon

  Professional jargon: Speakers who share the same profession or office often use technical terms and expressions specific to their field or branch of activity.

• Youth Slang

  Youth slang: A feature of young people, used to differentiate their variety from the standard model associated with adults. It often includes suffixes and abbreviations, use of colloquial words, new expressions, and slang items borrowed from other marginal groups.

• Marginal Slang

  Marginal slang: Used by sectors on the margins of society, such as those involved in crime or those in prison contexts.

Socio-cultural Variety and Social Level

Socio-cultural variety and social level: a person's education and cultural background determine which socio-cultural variety of the language they use. Cultured / Vulgar

Stylistic Varieties or Registers

Stylistic varieties, or registers, are language varieties that depend on the communicative situation in which language is used. They depend on the use of language.

Factors that define the register include:

• Theme: The topic may be more specialized or more general.
• Degree of formality: This implies the level of trust and social distance between sender and receiver.
• Communication channel: Spoken channel is typically more spontaneous than the written channel.
• Intention of the sender: The discourse may be more objective or more subjective.

Kinds of Registers

Formal Register

Formal register: Considered formal because the situation requires more careful and precise use of language.

1.1 Cult or Expert Register

Cult/expert register: The most appropriate for texts with specific content, such as scientific-technical, administrative, juridical, and political texts.

1.2 Standard Register or Common

Standard register (common): An intermediate model representing the correct and accepted use of the language.

Colloquial or Familiar Register

Colloquial or familiar: Considered informal because communication is more spontaneous and direct, typical of family and casual situations.

Vulgar Register

Vulgar register: A variety found in popular everyday use that often reflects a lower level of formal education and is characterized by slang and nonstandard forms.