communicating

highly

levels of language formality in dependent on the content, tone, and type of relationship interlocutors have with one another

I Can Count Five Fingers

intimate, casual, consultative, formal, frozen

• intimate

  • very private

  • happens between two very close people

  • e.x. gossip with best friend, expressing your affection to someone close

• Casual

  • among friends

  • ex. interacting with peers on break, small talk

• Consultative

  • consult

  • ex. professional transactional/exchange between sender & receiver, doctor giving his diagnosis to the patient

• Formal

  • follows conventions

  • has structure

  • ex. teacher discussing a lesson, defending a thesis proposal

• Frozen

  • non-negotiable

  • patterns & features of the message

  • ex. reciting wedding vows, police officer stating the rights of a suspect (you have the right to remain silent, etc)