1. THE ANALYTICAL

2. AREAS OF ANALYSIS Language Registers Dialectal Variation
Attitudes to Language
Communicative Behaviour

3. Registers- Definitions
In linguistics, the register of a piece of speech or writing is its level and style of language, which is usually appropriate to the situation or circumstances in which it is used.
A language *variety associated with a particular situation of use.
The variety of language used at any given time is your register.

4. Registers The appropriate language register depends upon:
the audience (who)
the topic (what)
purpose (why)
location (where)

5. Types of Register Static Register Formal Register
Consultative Register
Casual Register
Intimate Register

6. STATIC REGISTER
This style of communications RARELY or NEVER changes. It is “frozen” in time and content.
e.g. The School’s Prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, a bibliographic reference, laws etc

7. FORMAL REGISTER
This language is used in formal settings and is one-way in nature. This use of language usually follows a commonly accepted format. It is usually impersonal and formal. A common format for this register are speeches
. e.g. sermons, rhetorical statements and questions, speeches, pronouncements made by judges,  announcements.

8. CONSULTATIVE REGISTER
This is a standard form of communications. Users engage in a mutually accepted structure of communications. It is formal and societal expectations accompany the users of this speech. It is professional discourse.
e.g. when strangers meet, communications between a superior and a subordinate, doctor & patient, lawyer & client, lawyer & judge, teacher & student, counselor & client.

9. CASUAL REGISTER
This is informal language used by peers and friends. Slang, vulgarities and colloquialisms are normal. This is “group” language. One must be member to engage in this register.
e.g. buddies, teammates, chats and s, and blogs, and letters to friends.

10. INTIMATE REGISTER
This communications is private. It is reserved for close family members or intimate people.
e.g. husband & wife, boyfriend & girlfriend, siblings, parent & children.

11. LINK Language Registers are closely linked to Dialectal Variation.
In the Trinidadian Community, societal norms has a great role to play on the language variety that may be suited for a particular register.
Remember that the appropriate language register depends upon the audience (who), the topic (what), purpose (why) and location (where).

12. Dialectal Variation Dialect- Definitions
Any variety of a language spoken by a group of people.
A form of a language that is spoken in a particular area.

13. Dialectal Variation
Variation- Definitions A variation on something is the same thing presented in a slightly different form to that thing, although it is related to it.

14. Dialects found in Trinidad and Tobago
British Standard English (BSE)
American Standard English (ASE)
Caribbean Standard English (CSE)
*Trinidadian Standard English *(TSE)
Trinidadian Creole English (TCE)
*Not an official term

15. Acrolect , Mesolect, Basilect?
Use of the terms acrolect, mesolect and basilect attempts to avoid the value judgement inherent in earlier terminology, by which the language spoken by the ruling classes in a capital city was defined as the "correct" or "pure" form while that spoken by the lower classes and inhabitants of outlying provinces was "a dialect" characterised as "incorrect", "impure" or "debased".

16. Acrolect , Mesolect, Basilect?
Proposed terms to be used in sociolinguistics.
Terms used in the Creole Continuum as a measuring tool for what is closest, farthest and most intermediate in language use.
Terms may be used for explaining the phenomena of code switching.

17. Trinidad and Tobago
In Trinidad and Tobago citizens appear to assign separate and distinct functions for the two main varieties [SE&CE]
Standard English- Formal Setting
Creole English – Informal Setting

18. There are the occasions where the terms acrolect, mesolect and basilect will help to explain code-switching, especially when a person may be trying to use the standard variety and fails. But how can we measure it? What justification do you have to say whether or not a person’s language is close to, not so close to, or very far from the standard variety?

19. Some Truths
The Creole Continuum serves to help measure and explain the switches that people make when using language.
CSE and TCE are varieties of English.
Acrolect, Mesolect and Basilect are part of the continuum used to measure the complexity of Creole.

20. Link All areas of language analysis are linked.
Within the Trinidadian context, situation determine register and register determines the appropriateness of language variation.
When a person refuses to code-switch in our society, social implications arise.

21. Attitudes to Language “Language is immensely personal.”
It signals sensitive information like:
Social class
Education
Financial status etc

22. Attitudes to Language
Another sensitive aspect of language is that come codes have come to be historically associated with power or oppression.
As a result, many people have strong attitudes to the variety of language that they use and to varieties that they encounter.

23. Communicative Behaviours
Module 3, pgs 21 &22 in the syllabus outlines communicative behaviours
Forms of Communication
Verbal (speech, writing)
Non- verbal:
body language (gestures, posture, facial expressions etc)
use of space (proximity)
Use of objects
Dress

24. Communicative Behaviours
Non- verbal communication is communicative behaviour.
Can you tell if a person is lying?
Does a persons behaviour always compliment their speech?
How can I enhance my communication through my behaviour?

25. Application/ Applyin De Ting
A short story I wrote some years ago. “Follow De Leader” Look out for your copy via .

26. Works Consulted Lalla, Barbara. “English for Academic Purposes”
Finegan, Edward. “Language: Its Structure and Use”
Roberts, A. Peter. “West Indians & Their Language”
Department of Ohio State University. “Language Files”
Brinton, Laurel. “The Linguistic Structure of Modern English”