The register used in Text A and Text B differs significantly, reflecting their distinct contexts, intentions, and audiences. **Text A: Academic and Formal** Text A employs a formal, academic register

The concept of "register" in linguistics refers to the level of formality or informality in language, which can vary depending on the context, audience, and purpose of the communication. Let’s examine the differences in the register used in Text A and Text B: 1. **Level of Formality:** - **Text A**: Utilizes a highly formal register. This is evident in its use of sophisticated vocabulary, structured sentences, and the consideration of a wide audience. For example, phrases like "a noble mission," "value-driven institution," and "social justice and equality" suggest a serious, academic tone. - **Text B**: Employs a casual, informal register. The conversation is friendly and uses colloquial language appropriate for a chat between friends. Examples include informal contractions and phraseology such as "What’s up?" "bro," and "Cheers!" which indicate a relaxed, conversational tone. 2. **Purpose and Audience:** - **Text A**: Aims to inform and inspire a broad audience, likely including students, faculty, and stakeholders of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. It discusses values and goals in an inspirational manner, suitable for an official document. For instance, it references Nelson Mandela’s quote and educational philosophy, which adds to the formality. - **Text B**: The purpose is to convey a quick, personal message between two friends about a casual matter (soccer practice). There's no intention to persuade or inform a larger audience, which is reflected in the brevity and simplicity of the dialogue. 3. **Structure and Syntax:** - **Text A**: Features complex structures and longer sentences, which are typical in formal writing. For example, the sentence “Like all universities the world over, in line with your values, you had to quickly adapt in the face of the pandemic...” demonstrates a convoluted structure. - **Text B**: Contains short, simple sentences that are characteristic of informal speech. For example, “Hey Sbo! Just saw your missed call,” and “I can’t go bro, I’m feeling a bit under the weather,” are straightforward and lack the complexity found in Text A. 4. **Content and Lexicon:** - **Text A**: Uses specific terminology related to education and social values, such as "education," "inequalities," "adapt," and "social justice." These terms are more likely to be understood in an academic or professional context. - **Text B**: Uses everyday language and colloquialisms, evidenced by words like “checkin’,” “feeling a bit under the weather,” and “meds.” These terms are common in daily, informal conversations. **Conclusion:** Text A employs a formal register suited for an informative and motivational context targeting a wide and varied audience related to the university, while Text B uses an informal register appropriate for a casual, personal conversation between friends. This difference is clearly illustrated through vocabulary, sentence structure, and the overall tone of each text.