ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the way language is adapted according to context, intended audience and purpose. It explores the differences between spoken and written language, including discourse markers, deixis, ellipsis and ‘vague’ language’; Standard and non-Standard English (including using Standard English in writing and speech); and formal and informal registers. Features of informal and formal registers are provided, including contracted forms, question tags, multi-word verbs, passives using ‘get’, vernacular language, slang and idioms, as well as modal and lexical verbs, expanded verb forms, agentless passives, and the avoidance of preposition stranding.
