Introduction

The language we use varies according to the medium and setting of its transmission. So, mediums of information transmission and social settings often generate variation in language use. This implies that there is a variety of a language used for a particular purpose and in a particular social setting. This kind of variety brings us to the concept of registers which is our focus in this chapter.

At the end of our analysis and discussion, it is hoped that the user of the English language will have become familiar with the varied situations of language use and their characteristic linguistic styles.

The Concept of Registers

Registers are varieties of language use which are distinguished according to function and variety of activities (e.g., sports, buying and selling, greetings, socialising, worshipping, singing, cooking, etc.) and occupations (e.g., trading, teaching, farming, designing, mining, lecturing, etc.).

Thus, register could be defined as the form of language used in a certain situation or circumstance. We require appropriate word forms and structures for each register. The role of a piece of language is the place it has in the manifold patterns of human activities and institutions. Some of the types of language which can be said to be performing different roles are legal English, scientific English, liturgical English, advertising English, the English of journalism, all corresponding to public institutions which we acknowledge and identify with little difficulty.

All these varieties of English may be grouped under the class called REGISTER, which is language ‘according to use’, and it complements that of dialect, or language ‘according to user’.

Understanding Different Registers in Writing

Students must expect to meet specific concepts, vocabulary, and writing styles in different situations, which may not be found in familiar disciplines. As a result, it is now widely recognized that the language forms required in describing a scientific experiment will be different from the forms used in a legal report. We shall demonstrate this with three extracts from three different registers:

1. The hydrogen in an acid is replaceable by a metal. Acids can be divided into classes according to the number of atoms in each molecule which a metal can replace. Those which have only one replaceable hydrogen atom in each molecule are known as monobasic acids. Other acids may contain either two or three such replaceable hydrogen atoms in each molecule, and these are known as dibasic and tribasic acids, respectively.  All the atoms of hydrogen in the molecules of inorganic acids are replaceable by a metal. Sulphuric acid is an organic acid that is dibasic. Hydrochloric acid is an example of an inorganic acid that is monobasic. Orthophosphoric acid,

2. In witness whereof we, the Secretary and the Committee of Management of the society, have here unto attached our signatures.

This extract, which illustrates legal register (the language of law) is strikingly marked with archaic expressions, for example, witnesseth and such suffixed preposition as hereunto. The subject matter (insurance) is clearly evident from the choice of words: insured, duly authorised, agent, collector, and premium.

Apart from the use of words, there are characteristic expressions or collocations in the language of law, for example, therefore, hereunto, life insured. At the level of grammar, we can observe the imperative use of shall to express order or command ‘if the life insured shall pay or cause to be paid’.

Note particularly the absence of preponderant punctuation marks in the extract. The language sparingly makes use of punctuation marks. Legal language has many other oddities. Legal writers are forced to use language in some peculiar way by attempting to be ambiguous, and copying from established books and formulae; hence, archaisms abound in the legal register.

Equally central to the variation in the English language use as that of the field of discourse as shown in the extracts above are the medium of communication (mode of discourse), especially whether by speech or writing and the social relations between the participants technically referred to as the tenor of discourse. So, registers, like dialects, are different ‘Englishes’; they are differentiated by special features of semantics, vocabulary, grammar, sometimes even of pronunciation.

At this point, we will cull extracts from different fields and attempt to characterise the linguistic traits of each of them. This is a practical analysis that will expose us to the differing linguistic levels at which we can demonstrate the concept of registers in English.

Some Practical illustrations

Scientific Data

Close to the junction of the superior vena cava with the right atrium is a mass of small, basic straining and spindle-shaped cells called the senatorial node. Experiment shows that it is in these cells that the normal heart-beat originates. If they send out contraction waves with a slow rhythm, the heart-beat is slow. If they send out contraction waves with a fast rhythm, the heart-beat is fast. Consequently, this node is called the pacemaker of the heart.

Having originated in the pace-maker, the contraction wave spreads rapidly in directions over the atria and so reaches a second node of tissue closely resembling the atria node. This second node is called atrioventricular node. The cells of the atrioventricular node receive the contraction wave from the atria and pass on the stimulus to the atrioventricular bundle. This consists of purkinje fibres, long strained fibers which run parallel with one another. They have a very rapid rate of conduction (about 2.5m/sec) (cf. Moody, 1970: 160).

ANALYSIS

INTRODUCTION

This is a technical writing, in the field of science (sub-field of medicine). It involves a special choice of words which is different from the ‘ordinary’ in structure and meaning.

Lexical Features

One of the most exciting features of the language of science is the special choice and meaning of words. Processes and results in experimental science are usually encoded in new expressive jargon. There are compound words which may or may not be hyphenated to describe the process, action, organ or material involved in the production. For instance, the senatorial node which is referred to as the pacemaker because it controls the rhythm of heart-beat is also described as basic straining and spindle shaped.

The choice of words and the structure of the words seem to be part of the objectivity for which science is known so that such expressions as atrial, atrioventricular and purkinje may have been used as adjectival forms to describe the origin, sources, nature or inventory of a process or material.

Besides, there are usually such jargon and mathematical formula that may have no meaning for the layperson or if they have any meanings at all, they may be different from the intended meaning. Although vena cava, atrium-septum, myogenic and endocardium (all taken from the same passage) may mean little or nothing to the ordinary educated mind, they provide fundamental information to those who are literate in the field of science.

Syntactic Features

It is proper to associate the language of science with certain distinctive sentence patterns. Since the nature of the ideas and concepts described reflect to some extent, the nature of the sentences used, there is a great deal of subordination of clauses and modification of phrases to make the process and results specific (see sentence 3 of the data). It is interesting to note that even with the apparent complexity of the sentence pattern there is strict compliance with syntactic rules. (See sentences 1-8).

Block letters, italics and unconventional abbreviation are sometimes employed to call attention to the traditional pattern, even though the mathematical figures and formulae still make use of some diacritic marks. On a general note, it could be said that technical writers exploit to great advantage specialised vocabulary and expressions. This analysis cannot pretend to have highlighted all the linguistic features of the language of science.

 Legal Language Data

1. Whereas pursuant to the irrevocable power of Attorney (hereto annexed) made on the 20th day of May, 1990, I, as the donor of the power of Attorney, hereby appoint and constitute Emma Agu of Amure Ache in Adau Local Government Area of Enugu State Nigeria, my irrevocable Attorney (hereinafter called the donee).

2. The landed property the subject matter of the irrevocable power of attorney is situated at in Adau Local Government Area of Enugu State.

3. This land the subject matter of this irrevocable Power of Attorney was acquired by absolute of Rafael Ama under the Native Law and Custom of Ilo before the Land Use Act of 1978, entitled thereafter to possession under the Customary Right of Occupancy.

4. NOW KNOW YE ALL MEN that I, the Donor hereby nominate, appoint and constitute the Donee my irrevocable attorney, to represent me by his heirs, successors-in-title, assigns and legal inheritable by his heirs, successors-in-title, assigns and legal representatives in consideration for the payment for forty thousand naira (N40,000.00) the receipt whereof I hereby acknowledge.

(Quoted from Deed of Irrevocable Power of Attorney prepared by Apu Araoke, Barrister-at-Law).

ANALYSIS

Introduction

The above passage belongs to the legal register and the subject matter is the confirmation of irrevocable power of attorney of certain property. The language of law is one of the varieties which show peculiarities that are outside the normal language use. The analysis below shows some of these peculiar linguistic features.

 LINGUISTIC FEATURES

Lexical Features

The choice of words in the language of law is informed by the need to be unambiguous and precise. Apart from the suffixed prepositions (hereof, hereinafter, hereby, thereafter) which is a common feature of the legal register, there are such unequivocal words as irrevocable, and obsolete alternatives which are designed to achieve specificity.

The choice of words that state exhaustiveness is a very strong linguistic device specially employed to achieve exhaustiveness and block every mischievous and erroneous interpretation. The use of nominate, appoint and constitute exploits every possibility apparently to make the power of the attorney absolute. In every case, possible inheritors of the property are stated in the alternatives, heirs, successors-in-title and legal representatives.

There are some words and phrases which have strict legal implications and some of these are found in the above data:

i. Power of attorney: (power and authority to act for another person).
ii. Landlord: (owner and holder of land)
iii. Right and occupancy: (established power to reside, occupy and own a thing, especially land).
iv. Donor: (giver of a right).
v. Donee: (receiver of the right).

It seems that the choice of words in the language of law is done to achieve the much-desired precision and in doing so each word reinforces the other.

Syntactic Features

The most important feature of the syntax of the language of law is the prolixity of the sentences. There is predominance of tediously wordy and complex sentences which are full of subordination and coordination. But the understanding of the nature of ‘hazards’ of the profession reinforces the need to exploit all the alternatives and possibilities and, therefore, block all chances of further insertions and misinterpretations.

To guard against this, the legal practitioners use unbroken chains of sentences as a necessary protection against dishonest introduction of extra sentence items that can change the meaning of a sentence. (See sentences 1-5)

Punctuation

The language of law employs a special orthographic convention that serves special professional needs. Since every punctuation mark has serious semantic implications, the lack or presence of any such punctuation marks in statements may show that a glaring absence of commas, for instance, is meant to avoid extra introduction of such commas which will definitely affect the meaning of sentences.

Finally, the use of capital letters creates a special attraction in the study. Apart from the conventional use of the capital letters, they are usually used as visual clues to call attention to important or sensitive words in a legal statement. The expression ‘KNOW YE ALL MEN’ calls attention to the important fact that the donor nominates, appoints or constitutes the donee, or his or her irrevocable attorney over the property in question (cf. Sam Onuigbo, Varieties of English, 1966)

Therefore, it goes to say that each profession such as sports, politics, medicine, and agriculture has peculiar words and expressions and uses them differently from others. For instance, words and expressions used in religion are different from those used in transport.

 Conclusion

The concept of registers which is about language use in different situations and settings eventually leads to the linguistic phenomenon called Engli‘shes’ and these ‘Englishes’ are difficult to describe precisely, because they shape into one another, and have internal variations which could or may culminate into other sub-classifications such as formal, colloquial and informal in language. The analogy of regional dialects is instructive; rigid geographical frontiers between one dialect and another are recognised but not equally absolute in terms.

We, however, need to take into account the rigid and restricting special features of usage in different situations, more particularly in different roles. It would, however, be misleading to suggest that in science, law, or journalism, acceptable performance depends on rigidly following the dictates of convention in all these spheres, for a certain latitude is still allowed, in which individual freedom and individual talent can still be asserted.

See Also

VARIETIES OF ENGLISH
SEMANTICS: MEANING IN ENGLISH