He Informal language Is one whose use is common in everyday situations of life. Although their use is quite frequent, not all situations support informal language; In many cases, misuse can lead to misunderstandings or uncomfortable scenarios.
It is not the same to write a letter to someone close to the director of a company. Nor is it the same thing to talk with friends and family, rather than giving a lecture to an academic audience.
Using informal language may be correct, but it is necessary to keep in mind that not all spaces are fit for use.
For this reason, it is very important to identify the most appropriate occasions for the use of informal language, the ideal contexts for its use, the ideal interlocutors and the main elements that characterize it.
Main features of informal language
The characteristics of informal language are varied. This type of language is very broad and can range from spontaneous communications to vulgarisms.
Here are some of the most striking features of informal language:
Use associated with the receiver
The receiver of the message is fundamental to choose what kind of language we should use. It is well seen to use informal language when the interlocutor is a close person, when there is trust between those who interact, or when the conversation includes children.
The informal language contains elements that have to do with the language: there are expressions associated with a particular dialect, people from the same geographical area or the same age.
Thus, when using informal language, account should be taken of the fact that interlocutors handle the same language and the same colloquial codes.
It is more common when talking
Informal language is often used more in speaking than in writing; In fact, some people recommend avoiding the use of informal language in written communications.
The use of informal language in a conversation contributes to deepening trust among the interlocutors; Therefore, it is common to use it when talking to people close or in relaxed contexts.
Although informal language is characterized by more use in speaking, it can also be used, for example, when writing text messages, on informal social networks - such as Facebook and Twitter - and when writing letters or personal messages.
Usually uses ellipsis
In the field of linguistics, an ellipsis is the voluntary subtraction of one or several words within a sentence; These words are necessary grammatically, but without them the phrase in question can be perfectly understood.
For example, in the phrase"he knows how to cook, she does not", the words"know how to cook"are suppressed at the end of the sentence because they are not absolutely necessary to understand the message.
Informal language usually uses ellipsis since it generally employs simple, straightforward constructs.
Use of grammatical contractions
A grammatical contraction is the union of two words into one. By the simple nature of the informal language, this usually uses grammatical contractions.
There are some obligatory use contractions, such as saying"to"instead of"to", or"of"instead of"of". There are other contractions that are of optional use, such as"anywhere"instead of"wherever", or"once"instead of"another time".
These words are contractions accepted by the Spanish Royal Academy; However, there are other expressions that are exclusively associated with informal language, such as"pa"rather than"for", or"pal"instead of"for."
These expressions are not recognized as correct by language academies, but are widely used in informal language.
Short words
Informal language is usually direct, simple, and simple. For this reason, use short words instead of very long phrases.
In some cases, even unfinished sentences are used, for example,"in the end, then, that..."; Or abbreviations, such as"I'm going to listen to the classic CD."
It seeks to economize words and phrases because of the direct and spontaneous nature of informal language.
Use of popular slang expressions
Within informal language there are expressions whose meaning is not what is literally understood, but which are used to refer to specific situations.
They are constructions associated to the language and the time, and in many cases they are made starting from comparisons with images common to a group of people.
These types of phrases are also referred to as idioms, established phrases that are not strictly based on the rules of grammar, and whose meaning appeals to something other than what they say verbatim.
"The cat ate your tongue"or"we are playing cat and mouse", are examples of phrases typical of Castilian-speaking slang.
Informal and. Formal language
Each type of language has a very specific application. The same idea can be transmitted through formal or informal language; The use of one or the other will depend on the context in which you are in the interlocutor.
Here are some examples in which the same idea will be expressed in both types of language:
Formal language
- I'll talk to you about the details of the assignment.
- How are you?
- It may be necessary to leave soon.
- This is very easy.
Informal language
- I'll talk to you about the homework.
- How is everything going?
- I may have to leave soon.
- This is bread.
When not to use informal language?
Informal language should be avoided in work situations, such as Job interviews , Business meetings or expositions to managers or managers of companies.
It should also be avoided when talking to people who are newcomers or with whom you have little confidence; Using informal language in these cases can create discomfort in the interlocutor.
Likewise, informal language can be counterproductive among speakers who speak different languages, since it can favor misinterpretation among those who talk.
The colloquial is not so frown
Informal language should not be viewed as vulgar or negative; In fact, given its increasing use thanks to the popularity of Internet communications, the use of informal language is in many cases a better option to generate complicity and closeness among certain interlocutors, without being disrespectful or abusing trust.
Just as the Spanish Royal Academy has adapted to the new times by including in its dictionary colloquial words like"chévere"or"guachimán", it is possible that the informal language covers more and more spaces.
References
- Pearlman, M."Biting off more 'informal language' than you can chew"(October 11, 2016) Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved: July 11, 2017 from Columbia Journalism Review: cjr.org.
- Edwards, A."When is it ok to use informal language?"(12 Enero 2015) Grammarly Blog. Retrieved: 11 July 2017 from Grammarly Blog: grammarly.com.
- Oxford Dictionaries,"Informal language"en: English Oxford Living Dictionaries. Retrieved: 11 July 2017 from English Oxford Living Dictionaries: en.oxforddictionaries.com.
- English Grammar Today,"Formal and informal language"in: Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved: 11 July 2017 from Cambridge Dictionary: dictionary.cambridge.org.
- BBC Skillswise,"Informal language"in: BBC Skillswise (2012). Retrieved: 11 July 2017 from BBC Skillswise: bbc.co.uk.