Language Register | Definition, Types & Literature

Written language also uses language registers, and register is an important factor to authors and readers when discussing literature. Sometimes the register is called tone in a literary discussion or class. An author can use the same types of registers as a speaker, though authors use different tactics to convey their registers. Where a speaker can rely on factors like volume, articulation, and conversational turn-taking, the author of a written text cannot rely on these factors in the same way. There are some ways to convey these components in writing, such as using capital letters to indicate a character is shouting a phrase instead of speaking it at normal volume. These components, however, are difficult to convey clearly to each reader because everyone perceives a text differently and must make judgments about register on their own. There are components of written language that are not used in spoken language that help establish an author's register. Authors can use formatting and text layout, titles and other headings, or visual media to aid in establishing register. Establishing and meeting a reader's expectations is essential in conveying language register in literature.

In novels, plays, and poetry, language register functions to not only situate a reader within the plot of the work, but also to convey the author's intended purpose. This relates back to Joos's differentiating factors because authors write literature for specific reasons, often to make an argument. An author of a piece that is social commentary, for example, might manipulate the language register of their work to sound both formal and consultative to invite readers to engage in debate outside of the text.

Language register is important in fiction because it establishes the reader in the author's created world. A fictitious world in a book must feel real for a reader to believe the story, so using the appropriate register is important to ensure that the reader is not alienated from the characters in the book. Readers will expect the characters in the world to follow similar social cues regarding their register, though intentionally violating these expectations can allow an author to create tension and characterization. Language register is also much more flexible in fiction than in other types of literature (a work of nonfiction, for example) because fiction can tell any type of story that involves any type of characters. A fiction novel might, therefore, use many language registers or have characters that use different registers at different times.

The way a character speaks or narrates in a work of fiction is also a factor of characterization used by authors to indicate to readers what type of person this character is. For example, a character who uses lower language registers appears casual, less educated, or even rude, depending on other contextual factors. Conversely, a character who uses higher registers can appear educated, professional, or even snobby.

Case in Point

For example, in Great Expectations by English author Charles Dickens (1812–1870), the main character Pip speaks in a much more formal register than his peers in the countryside to reflect his desire for an elevated social status. As the narrator, Pip's language register comes in stark contrast to the speech of his uncle, Joe Gargery: Pip uses standard, even embellished grammatical structures and vocabulary, but Joe uses many nonstandard, regional forms.

This is an image of Charles Dickens, an English author who used different language registers in his work Great Expectations to convey different social classes and relationships between characters.

Language register can be defined as the indication of formality as determined by the speaker's relationship to their audience. Language register is conveyed through the manipulation of complex linguistic factors (like vocabulary choice, articulation, and use of standardized grammatical norms). Most often, language register is determined by the context of an exchange, especially the social context. As a sociolinguistic construct, language register relies on deeply engrained social norms that are language-specific and differ widely between both languages and dialects. Language register is a type of linguistic variation, a concept that refers to the many ways the same ideas can be articulated. Linguist Martin Joos defined five main types of language register: frozen, formal, consultative, casual, and intimate. These are not an exhaustive list of language registers, but rather they describe a general range of language use from extremely formalized language (frozen register) to informal language use (causal and intimate registers). Generally, formal registers are appropriate for professional or academic work (such as an essay) and casual or intimate registers are appropriate for conversing between known acquaintances (such as sending a text to a friend).

A speaker judges and conveys their language register using four primary factors: audience composition, topic of conversation, purpose of speech, and location of conversation. Language register is also an important component of literature because all language use employs register. In literature, language register is conveyed through some of the same means as in spoken conversation (such as use of standard grammar and vocabulary) and some different means (such as text layout, titles, and formatting). In fiction, language register is an important tool that authors use for world building, characterization, and plot development. Formal register is usually employed to establish a tone of objective narration, as if the narrator is reporting on facts rather than stating their opinions. Language register is often indicative of a character's social class. Understanding the correct type of register to use is a nuanced practice that is important for successful conversations.