Levels of Formality Marilyn Borner, Winter 2019

Why is it important? Our world is oriented in communication. Knowing when it’s appropriate to use certain language conventions is key to effective communication. Reading people and rhetorical situations is every bit as important as reading a textbook.

Tailoring your message to your audience We don’t speak to friends the way we speak to our grandparents; We don’t speak to grandparents the way we talk to a boss Consider how we enter a conversation: To a friend: “Hey homey! Whassup?” To your grandparent: “Hello grandpa.” To your boss: “Good morning, sir.” Why are these exchanges different?

An exercise: How might you ask the question, “How are you today?” in the following situations: – Speaking to a possible employer? – Tweeting to a friend? – When a classmate calls you on a cell phone seven minutes before class? – Talking to an aunt or uncle you haven’t seen since your high school graduation?

Standard (semi-formal) Levels of Formality Informal language Standard (semi-formal) Formal language Slang, colloquial language, dialect Language of everyday speech Language of business, government, academics Uses contractions, hashtags, vulgarity Uses common words, some contractions Specialized vocabulary, multi-syllabic words, no contractions used Tweets, texts, IM’s, talking to friends Classroom language, magazines/newspapers Legalese, journal writing, textbooks Friends, blogs, siblings, social media Broad audience Specific audience in a formal setting

Consider a letter applying for a job: Formal (written for an unknown audience): I am applying for the human resources position advertised in the local paper. I am an excellent candidate for the job because of my significant experience in human resources, excellent communication skills, and sense of organization. Semi-formal (written to a known individual): I’m applying for the human resources position that is currently open in the company. As you know, I have worked as a temporary human resources generalist for six months with the company. I not only have knowledge of the position, but I also have an understanding of the company’s needs and the requirements for the job. Informal (inappropriate for a business letter): Hi! I saw in the paper that ya’ll are looking for somebody for HR. I think I’m good for the job because I’ve done things like that in the past, I’m pretty good with people, and I’m organized

Different audiences and different purposes require different levels of formality Level of formality is not a question of “right” or “wrong,” but “appropriate” and “inappropriate.” Even within the three major categories (informal, semi-formal, formal), word choices and language can differ. In most college writing situations, you will more than likely write in the semi-formal to formal range depending on the instructor. In this class, we may use all three for different purposes and different audiences.

Who do you think wrote or said this? All of us – even celebrities – use different levels of formality for different audiences. Who do you think wrote or said this? “When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. The Bible tells us how good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity. We must speak our minds, openly debate our disagreements honestly but always pursue solidarity."

How about this one? “The exiles and dissidents here today have witnessed communism destroy a nation, just as communism has destroyed every single nation where it has ever been tried. But we will not be silent in the face of communist oppression any longer.”

Who said this? And who said this? “ …fellas, and it is fellas because, you know, they don't, they haven’t figured that the women are smarter right now than the men, so, you know, it’s gonna take them about another 150 years…” And who said this? “...left and right, he then woke up from his dream screaming that HE LIED. Next time I go to Vietnam I’ll ask ‘the Dick’ to travel with me!”

Answers “When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. The Bible tells us how good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unit. We must speak our minds, openly debate our disagreements honestly but always pursue solidarity." – Donald Trump speaking at his inauguration ceremony “The exiles and dissidents here today have witnessed communism destroy a nation, just as communism has destroyed every single nation where it has ever been tried. But we will not be silent in the face of communist oppression any longer.” – Donald Trump speaking in packed room full of Cuban dissidents at the Manuel Artime Theatre in Miami “ …fellas, and it is fellas because, you know, they don't, they haven’t figured that the women are smarter right now than the men, so, you know, it’s gonna take them about another 150 years…” – Donald Trump at a campaign rally in South Carolina “...left and right, he then woke up from his dream screaming that HE LIED. Next time I go to Vietnam I’ll ask ‘the Dick’ to travel with me!” – Donald Trump on Twitter

Level of Formality and Rhetoric The level of formality you choose to use should be directly related to what your audience expects. It also depends on your purpose for communicating.