3.7 Register & Signalling Vocabulary

Prepared by:Lezita Latik BT09110034 (Group Leader)

Hilda Sulaiman BT09110128Andi Salmiah Andi Mappadjandji BT09110118

• Register – A linguistic features of the text that reflect the social context in which it is produced.

• Signalling vocabulary – The words/vocabulary that we use to hint on what we want to say.

• E.g: the usage of vocabulary such as dilemma/difficulty signal problems

• The relationship between vocabulary and register depends on;

• 1. context – textbook/magazine/news report• 2. author assumption on readers –

cultured/educated/fan• 3. style – written or spoken style• Most of the text we encountered are towards

the written/formal/cultured type of discourse

• Here are two types of discourse that more to informal

tone.Using Pseudo – conversational register

• To illustrate the fact that anything that we need to convey is not need to be formal words

• Creating the feeling/expression that there are serious problems might occur.

• See example 3.17, pg 83• The words underlined are the

pseudo-conversational register

Using Idiomatic Phrases

• Used as signals of response• See example 3.18• Help to organize the discourse

and can signal evaluation• Provide a good metaphors for

the textual segments in suggesting the problem-solution pattern:

• e.g (to be) in a fix, to be up against a brick wall, to have a crack at

• Idiomatic phrases and the pseudo – conversational sentences are used in informal situations to present the organising and signalling function just as in the formal vocabulary does in written discourse.

• To explain discourse analysis, the most suitable way to explain is in their natural context.