Understanding Linguistic Registers and Syntax

Linguistic Registers

Informal Register

The informal register is characterized by a spontaneous, subjective, and intentional nature. It typically utilizes an oral channel and maintains a low level of formality.

Formal Register

Formal linguistic models, such as those used by the IASB, are employed by subject matter specialists. These texts are prepared rather than spontaneous and are transmitted through both written and oral channels. Key characteristics include:

• High formality: Objective intentionality.
• Specialized language: Use of formalizing codes, algebraic symbols, and phonetics.
• Impersonal tone: Avoidance of personal voice; use of impersonal sentences.
• Syntactic structure: Predominantly enunciative sentences.
• Technical vocabulary: Extensive use of technicalities and roots derived from Greek or Latin, utilizing exclusively denotative language.

These texts are categorized into two types: written (journal articles, theses) and oral (presentations, conferences).

Syntax and Punctuation

• Explanatory clauses: Use commas.
• Specific clauses: Do not use commas.

Relative Pronouns

• Explicative: Which, whom, whose.
• Specific: Who, where, that, which.

Substantive Clauses

• Completives: Use the nexus "that".
• Infinitive: Use a link plus an infinitive.
• Interrogative: Use ties such as who, what, when, or how.
• Relative: Use links such as who or what.

Note: Relative "that" can be changed into an adjective or a pronoun/noun phrase.

Adverbial Clauses

• Temporal: Earlier (before), concurrency (when, while), later (after, since), and reiteration (whenever).
• Locative: Where.
• Modal: As, as if.
• Consecutive: So that, too/pro... why.
• Causal: Because, since, as.
• Final: So that, in order to.
• Conditional: If, unless.
• Concessive: Though, although.
• Comparative: Superiority (more than), equality (as... as), inferiority (less than), and proportionality (the more/less... the more/less).