Register ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

ENGLISH COLLOCATIONS IN USE (ADVANCED)

UNIT 5

Register

A	What is register? Our use of language changes according to the situation that we are in. If your close friend hosts a party, you could say, ‘Thanks for the party. It was a blast.’ (very informal) However, if your boss was the host, you would probably say, ‘Thanks for the party. I really enjoyed it.’ (neutral) In this example, neutral and very informal are both examples of register. The register of most language is neutral (it can be used in any situation). However, register can also be formal, informal, characteristic of a certain professional field (e.g. legal, journalistic or media) or specific to official notices and forms. Our choice of register depends on what we are talking about (business, the news, the neighbours), who we are talking to (friends, strangers, figures of authority) and how we are talking to them (in a letter, in an email, in public, in private). Study the table below and notice how different words and phrases are used to describe the same situation. example register comment The police are investigating / looking into the arms deal neutral Either version would not seem out of place in any spoken or written contexts. The cops are trying to dig out info about the arms deal. informal Phrasal verbs are often an informal alternative – although some are neutral. The police are conducting an investigation into the arms deal. formal Longer words of Latin or Greek origin often indicate more formal language Police to probe arms deal. neutral, journalistic Probe is typical of newspaper headline style. The arms deal may be subject to police investigation. formal, legal and official Subject to investigation is typical of a bureaucratic or legal style. Be careful not to think of formal language as written and informal language as spoken. There is a lot of overlap. For example, markedly formal language is most typical of official or academic writing and official legal or bureaucratic speech. Informal language is typical of conversation, personal letters and emails, messages on social media and some journalism.
B	Formal versus neutral collocations formal (from official documents) neutral (spoken) Students must submit their assignments by 1 May. ‘You have to hand in your assignments by 1 May.’ Students may request an extension after consulting their tutor. ‘You can ask for an extension after you’ve talked to / had a word with your tutor.
C	Informal versus neutral collocations That film was totally awesome! (mainly used by teenagers, predominantly US) [neutral equivalent: absolutely amazing/fantastic] That party was well good! (Well used to mean ‘very’/‘really’, mainly by younger UK speakers.) I haven’t a clue / the foggiest idea what you mean. [neutral equivalent: I have no idea] We can grab a snack before the meeting if you’re hungry. [neutral equivalent: have a snack] Tip Make a note in your notebook if a collocation is very formal or informal in register.

EXERCISES

5.1	Write F (formal), I (informal) or N (neutral) in the brackets at the end of each sentence. Underline the collocations which indicate the register. Then rewrite the formal and informal sentences to make them neutral. Example: Do not alight from the bus until it stops. (F) Do not get off the bus until it stops. 1 I feel dead tired all the time. ( ) 2 We were all bored stupid by the poetry reading. ( ) 3 Currency exchange off ices are located in the arrivals lounge. ( ) 4 She conducted a study of single-parent family units. ( ) 5 She did her degree in London and found work there in 2015. ( ) 6 I just got the latest software so my computer is bang up to date. ( ) 7 Affix a passport-size photograph to the application form. ( ) 8 Jake asked his tutor for an extension to complete his dissertation. ( )
5.2	Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending. Then label each sentence with the appropriate register from the list below. Underline the collocations which indicate the register. Registers: informal conversation (IC) journalism/news (J) entertainment (E) technical (T) legal (L) notices (N) 1 This is breaking a ring after dinner. 2 These are the songs that are climbing according to model and road conditions. 3 There are tons of good reasons blockbuster from Star Studios. 4 Visitors must keep to the designated news here on Global TV Extra. 5 In any such case, customers shall forfeit electronic circuit. 6 Fuel consumption may vary of the fitness machines to 20 minutes. 7 I’ll give you to win support for the plan. 8 The minister will tour Asia in a bid the charts this week. 9 Joss Engold stars in the latest for not studying law. 10 A microchip is a miniaturised testify for a second time. 11 Please restrict your use areas at all times. 12 A witness may be asked to the right to compensation.
5.3	Complete this conversation between a doctor and a patient, using the verbs in the box in the appropriate form. The language is quite informal, without technical medical terms. come clear do feel get run take write Doctor: What can I (1) _______________ for you, Mr Wilson? Patient: Well, Doctor, I’ve been (2) _______________ a temperature for the last couple of days and I’ve (3) _______________ out in a rash on my neck. Do you see? These red spots here. Doctor: Hmm. Let’s (4) _______________ a look. Patient: It’s very irritating and I have trouble (5) _______________ off to sleep at night. Then I (6) _______________ down all day and can’t concentrate on my work. Doctor: Right. I don’t think it’s anything serious. I’ll (7) _______________ you out a prescription for some lotion which should help to (8) _______________ up the rash.
5.4	Look at how the doctor describes the case in his records using more technical language. Choose the correct word from the choices provided. Use a dictionary to help if necessary. A patient (1) presented / represented this morning with an (2) elevating / elevated temperature. He was also (3) exposing / exhibiting a neck rash. He further (4) complained / grumbled of an (5) inability / impossibility to concentrate.

ANSWER KEY

5.1 1 I feel dead tired all the time. (I) I feel very/extremely tired all the time. 2 We were all bored stupid by the poetry reading. (I) We were all very/extremely/utterly bored by the poetry reading. 3 Currency exchange offices are located in the arrivals lounge. (F) There are exchange offices in the arrival lounge. 4 She conducted a study of single-parent family units. (F) She did a study of single-parent families. 5 She did her degree in London and found work there in 2015. (N) 6 I just got the latest software so my computer is bang up to date. (I) I have just bought the latest software and so my computer is fully up to date. 7 Affix a passport-size photograph to the application form. (F) Stick a passport photo on the application form. 8 Jake asked his tutor for an extension to complete his dissertation. (N) You may find it useful to look up some of these expressions in a good dictionary to see what else they collocate with. Computer technology and software, for example, can be bang up to date but a car is unlikely to be described as such. 5.2 5.3 1 do 2 running 3 come 4 take 5 getting 6 feel 7 write 8 clear 5.4 1 presented 2 elevated 3 exhibiting 4 complained 5 inability