Learning Goals
–identify various levels of language

Please hand in your “Things that Fly” archetypal questions.

Today, we will choose our second novel, and we will consider what register or level of language is and how writers (and speakers) use it.

Register / Level of Language

Register refers to the level of formality of language. Language can be characterized according to the social context for which it is appropriate. For example, language with a colloquial register might contain slang expressions and unconventional grammar. We can say that the register is formal (as in academic essays), informal (as in casual conversation, emails, texts) or standard (something in-between like personal essays, fiction, etc.)

First, we’ll take a look at some fairly straightforward examples of different levels of language, then we’ll try our hand at playing with register.

Propel, Propel, Propel Your Craft

Propel, propel, propel your craft, placidly down the liquid solution,

Ecstatically, ecstatically, ecstatically, ecstatically,

Existence is merely an illusion.

In small groups, you will receive a copy of some pop song lyrics. Your task will be to use whatever tools you can find: dictionary, thesaurus, cell phones, Chromebooks etc. to find synonyms that are more elevated. See if you can bump up the diction enough to make it hard for your classmates to identify the song.

Once the song lyrics are presented we will discuss the effect that elevated diction has on a subject which will help you understand its purpose in our next short story, “Transients in Arcadia.”