ABSTRACT
The term ‘register’ is used by linguists and literary critics to describe the fact that the kind of language we use is affected by the context in which we use it, to such an extent that certain kinds of language usage become conventionally associated with particular situations. Our tacit knowledge of such conventions of usage enables us to judge whether what someone says or writes is ‘appropriate’ to its context. This is highlighted by our reactions when a text deviates from its appropriate register – as happens towards the end of the following announcement by a guard on a train:
May I have your attention please, ladies and gentlemen. The train is now approaching Lancaster. Passengers for the Liverpool boat train should alight here and cross to platform one. Delays are being experienced on this train and passengers intending to use this service should consult the notice board on platform one to find out what the score is.
