The ManicaPost
Morris Mtisi Education Correspondent
THE word ‘‘altitude’’ is commonly used to refer to height above sea level. Language too has a sea level, meaning the low-lying common plane of language use; but there are heights above that level which determine the purpose and the relationship between user and recipient. There are three such levels in the English language which every student . . . every learner, must be familiar with. These are the formal, informal and emotive levels. Today I will handle the first two. Enjoy the lesson!
Formal Language
This refers to language used in situations or circumstances that call for respect and sophistication. The word ‘‘sophistication’’ here refers to extent of difficulty, superiority, erudition or complexity. Yes, English language distinguishes levels of style, classiness, elegance or refinement depending as I said above, on purpose of use and of course the relationship between the one speaking or using the language and the one listening; the recipient.
What situations demand specific levels of respect and erudition? For example an examination (written essays and compositions), job interviews, debate and public address speeches.
Formal language strictly and carefully chooses appropriate vocabulary to express oneself accurately and coherently. There is need to use varied sentence structures: simple, compound, and complex sentences to nourish command of the English language. Here you will not forget appropriate use of figures of speech; well crafted and fresh similes, metaphors, imagery, common pithy statements and aphorisms.
The English language is full of formal communicative spices that can be effectively used to give your expression flavour and appropriate height (sea-level) of command. Never resort to informal language in situations that demand respect and erudite sophistication. But you have to know what informal language is first.
Informal language
This is language used in all everyday situations that require less formality and strictness of respect and sophistication; may be informal conversations between peers, friends, people you work with of the same age and between parents and their children. In this kind of language, vocabulary is less accurate and less erudite . . . less sophisticated. Sentences used are simple and most of them may contain contractions, can’t, won’t, don’t and didn’t, etc and abbreviations: My GP accepts RTGS payments but prefers US dollars.
In informal language, grammar may be informal as slang and colloquialism are acceptable. Please note that the two (slang and colloquialism) are not the same but the line dividing them is very thin. The tone of informal language is warm and friendly.
Colloquialism: This is not acceptable unless used in direct speech, friendly letters or any other informal communication. Colloquialism is the everyday speech used strictly in particular places and time. It is ordinary language, informal, casual and conversational.
Contractions (I’m , I’ve, wouldn’t, couldn’t, can’t, doesn’t, we’ve . . . and many more) are colloquialisms. They make language fluent, sound natural and convincing. An example of colloquialism would be kombi (Zimbabwe) gig, grassroots, povo, gunners (Zimbabwean soldier), wire (Zimbabwean $100 note), barbeque (America), barbie (Australia), braai (South Africa), bae, guy and babe, mama and papa, ma and pa, mom and dad.
Slang
Slang is simply unacceptable in formal writing unless it is used in dialogue (direct speech).
Do you know why it is unacceptable? It is informal, made-up, cooked-up language used or found in particular places and time. Over the years, films have been referred to as movies, pictures, flicks; in Zimbabwe a calm, decent girl or boy is referred to as bhoo, hip and cool . . . has a cool image.
Slang is often made up by certain groups of people, particularly town teenage boys and girls who think it is fashionable and a sign of urbanite sophistication. They call their girl friends chicks, baes and dudes, sometimes one slang word referring to both male and female.
Please note that the use of slang is often undignified but also occasionally humorous, creative and expressive. For example, a teenage boy talking to another teenage boy can refer to his father as ‘‘old man’’ (mudhara) or ‘‘old woman’’ (m’chembere’) and this is fine . . . acceptable. However, it is inappropriate and insulting to tell the priest in his church, “The old man is not feeling well.
He is not coming to church today.” Well, things are changing fast every day. Today’s child-priests and preachers find nothing insulting or absurd with this kind of language because they use it themselves even in their sermons.
Jargon
Jargon is specific language registered to special areas of learning or life, groups of people or professions. Their words, phrases or expressions are more familiar in their circles of existence, influence or simply work. Lawyers, medical personnel . . . professionals, media men and women, agronomists, meteorologists . . . etc, all have their own jargon.
Tennis players talk about umpires, serving the ball, returning the ball, double kicking, 30-love or love-30 depending on who is scoring, singles, doubles, tie break, deuce, advantage in . . . out.
Soccer players talk about referees, assistant referees, 18 area, penalty kick, scoring a hat-trick (three goals), a brace (two goals), strikers, defenders, mid-field, mid-fielders and nil-all.
Bowlers talk about the kitty, deliveries and taking grass. Golfers talk about birdies, eagles and nineteenth hole.
Doctors and nurses talk about dispensaries, intensive care units, female wards, male wards, prescriptions, reviews, maternity, ante-natal, orthopaedic, post mortem, terminal illness, surgery, surgeons, general practitioners.
We are now living in a computer age. Computer jargon such as mouse, byte, connectivity, service provider, download, software and hard drive are common.
Politically correct language
In this modern day and age we are careful not to use words that particularise age, gender, race, social status, physical appearance and physical or intellectual disabilities. A 21st century lady or gentleman knows offensive words and avoids them. She or he instead uses euphemisms. The chairman or chairwoman is now called a chairperson. Old people are now called senior citizens. A housewife may prefer to be called a home executive. A toilet cleaner may prefer to be called a sanitary engineer. A housemaid may prefer to be called a babysitter or baby-minder.
Refuse or garbage collectors may prefer to be called public environmental engineers. Even teachers may prefer to be called classroom practitioners. I know lawyers who smile more warmly if you call them legal practitioners. The modern women married or not, may prefer to be addressed as Ms, not Miss or Mrs. It is all about political correctness.
Next week I complete the lesson on Altitudes of language with emotive language: Do not miss it.
