Azenette Claire Caingles AB-EngLang IV

Registers

Discourse is a conceptual generalization of conversation within each modality

and context of communication.
discourse, an "enouncement" (statement) is not a unit of semiotic signs, but an
abstract construct that allows the semiotic signs to assign meaning, and so
communicate specific, repeatable communications to, between, and among
objects, subjects, and statements. Therefore, a discourse is composed of semiotic
sequences (relations among signs that communicate meaning) between and
among objects, subjects, and statements.

Discourse analysis (DA), or discourse studies, is the approaches to analyze

written, vocal, or sign language use, or any significant semiotic event.
Discourse analysis is sometimes defined as the analysis of language 'beyond the
sentence'. This contrasts with types of analysis more typical of modern linguistics,
which are chiefly concerned with the study of grammar: the study of smaller bits
of language, such as sounds (phonetics and phonology), parts of words
(morphology), meaning (semantics), and the order of words in sentences (syntax).
Discourse analysts study larger chunks of language as they flow together.

Discourse Analysis is the study of discourse, or language used by members of

a speech community. Discourse Analysis looks at both language form and
function, and includes the study of both spoken interaction and written texts.
Much language study and most of language teaching has always been devoted to
sentence
Discourse is a linguistic unit composed of several sentences, that has a unified meaning – written or
spoken.
Discourse can be anything from a grunt or single expletive, through short conversations and scribbled
notes right up to novels or a lengthy legal case.
Discourse Analysis is the study of discourse, or language used by members of a speech community.
Discourse Analysis looks at both language form and function, and includes the study of both spoken
interaction and written texts.

DEVICES OF DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Cohesion and Cohesive Devices
A stretch of language becomes discourse when it has unity and coherence.
Coherence is achieved in discourse by contextual features outside the language as well as formal links
within the discourse.
Such formal links within text that links sentences/clauses are known as cohesive devices.
The purpose of cohesive devices is to hold parts of the discourse together in order to achieve overall
unity.
Among the most common cohesive devices are:
i. verb form
ii. parallelism
iii. referring expressions
iv. repetition and lexical chains
v. substitution
vi. ellipsis
vii. conjunction

REGISTERS IN ENGLISH

The five basic English language register definition levels

High formal
It is the level of language that you would use on formal occasions to address the Queen, an archbishop,
president or prime minister.
Formal
It is used to when you speak or write to your boss, a client or in a transactional letter. It is also
called the consultative register when, for example, referring to talking to your doctor and using the
polite address of Dr.

Neutral
It is the formal or conventional language level you would use in report writing, business plans and
marketing presentations.

Informal
You use informal or casual register when you speak to or write emails to friends, family or work
colleagues.

Vulgar
It is not the language of a smutty joke. It is an intimate register that contains the type of language we
use when we talk to immediate family members, very close friends, a child or a family pet.