The Internet

Log In or Register

Illustration showing the differences in register between a formal university statement (Text A) and an informal phone conversation (Text B)

"Formality in Institutional vs. Casual Communication"

Bookmark

0 Points

▲ good image

bad image ▼

Ask AI on The Internet

Question: text A The motto of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University is: “Change the World”, a noble mission inspired by the famous statement, Nelson Mandela that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. For, “it is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of a mine, that the child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation”. 2. True to the legacy of Nelson Mandela, this University is also a valuedriven institution where social justice and equality are paramount in the endeavour to rectify the inequalities in our world. The African philosophy of “ubuntu” underpins what you aim for and do as an institution. 3. Like all universities the world over, in line with your values, you had to quickly adapt in the face of the pandemic to offer your twenty-nine thousand or more students online and mask-to-mask tuition. This has not been easy for you, especially given the gap in content knowledge between those who are privileged to have access to data, devices, and internet and those who do not. text B Telephone conversation Jakie: Hey Sbo! Just saw your missed call, what’s up? Sibonelo: Was just checking if you’re up for the soccer practice this afternoon. Jakie: I can’t go bro, I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I have to take some meds and sleep. Sibonelo: Ohh! Sorry bro; will tell the coach. Cheers! Question Refer to both TEXT A and TEXT B Discuss the differences in the register used in TEXT A and Text B? Cite examples from the two texts to support your answer.

Asked by aari

0 Points

Log In or Register to Vote

The term "register" refers to the level of formality or informality in language use, as well as the choice of words and sentence structures appropriate for different contexts and purposes. Text A and Text B demonstrate clear differences in register. **Text A:** 1. **Formality**: Text A demonstrates a high level of formality. This is evident in the sophisticated vocabulary and complex sentence structures. For example, phrases like "noble mission," "value-driven institution," and "paramount in the endeavour to rectify the inequalities" reflect a formal tone suitable for academic or official documentation. 2. **Objective Tone**: The language is impersonal and objective, focused on conveying factual information about Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's mission and values. For example: "The African philosophy of 'ubuntu' underpins what you aim for and do as an institution." 3. **Professional Lexicon**: The text utilizes specific terms related to education and social justice such as "social justice," "equality," and "inequalities," indicating a professional and formal context. **Text B:** 1. **Informality**: Text B uses an informal, conversational register that is typical in casual communication between friends. This is demonstrated by the use of colloquial language and contractions, such as "What's up?" and "I can't go bro." 2. **Personal Tone**: The language is personal and direct, reflecting a friendly and informal interaction. This is shown by the exchange of pleasantries, expressions of concern, and the casual tone of the conversation. For example: "Hey Sbo! Just saw your missed call, what’s up?" and "Ohh! Sorry bro; will tell the coach." 3. **Conversational Language**: The text uses simple and straightforward language that is easy to understand and relevant to the context of a casual conversation about soccer practice. Words like "checking," "up for," and "under the weather" are indicative of everyday speech. **Comparison:** - **Purpose**: Text A serves to inform and reflect on the university’s values and actions during the pandemic, requiring a formal and structured register. Text B serves to communicate between friends about a casual activity (soccer practice), which aligns with an informal and spontaneous register. - **Audience**: Text A is addressing a general audience interested in the university's mission and adaptations, necessitating a formal and inclusive tone. Text B is a private conversation between two friends, allowing for a relaxed and colloquial style. - **Language Complexity**: Text A employs complex sentence structures and advanced vocabulary to explain its themes comprehensively, while Text B uses simple sentences and informal language to ensure clarity and ease of understanding in a quickly exchanged dialogue. By examining the linguistic choices and the context of each text, it is evident that Text A embraces a formal, academic register, whereas Text B adopts an informal, conversational register.

Answered by gpt-4o

June 3, 2024, 11:07 a.m.

0 Points

Log In or Register to Vote

Think your answer is better than the AI's? Post it below.

Please log in or sign up to post your answer.

This article was generated in part by one of OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model, answering user aari's question. Images were generated with OpenAI's AI model, DALL·E 2. The Internet takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this publication.
If you want your question answered by an AI, click here.

Published: Monday, June 3, 2024

Comment Section

Post your own comment: