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Standard or casual registers? - English lesson

beginner, or have already studied it in depth, it's a real shock for every traveller, to realise that they

don't understand much of the conversations they're listening to and they're even supposed to take part in

to live in the country. 

Linguists who have worked to know "the pure language", that which is now called 'The King's English',

may even have a more violent shock, depending on the area they set foot in. Of course, they had

been warned that, at first, the accent would certainly give them a hard time... Actually, the expressions,

most of the time the grammar, the words used, everything heard, baffles them... 

For some of them, the shock is such that it can "freeze" usually very talkative Learners "into silence". 

Then, a long and painful process is starting  (or it may be a very interesting and funny one,  depending

on the traveller!)...

This process of 'de-learning', or 'unlearning' what you have learnt for years - without forgetting it !-  will have

to be 'adapted', classified, put aside somewhere in a 'mental box', or in the column of a table, ready to be

used as often as necessary, depending on circumstances ! 

I think this 'shock' is to be prompted as early as possible after a basic knowledge of the language, together

with a clear explanation of what language registers are. 

You can't avoid this clash, whatever foreign language you're studying!  Learning registers and knowing how

and when to use them appropriately is a condition to have harmonious relationships in society. 

            Can you help me?                                                      Did you understand? Yes, I did. 

           I'm exhausted!                                                                                     I'm so angry...

           It's my treat...                                                                                                Contact me! 

  S: standard English// C : casual English. 

First you have the vocabulary and also the expressions which "betray the level of language" you want to, or must adopt...  

Then, there is the grammar that you have to adapt to your audience, of course. A standard, unaffected level of language,

should not make you feel excluded or misunderstood! (Try to avoid subject inversions...)

                                                                     Let's meet!                                          

On the contrary, some link words may not be welcome, or frankly unacceptable in casual language. 

- FURTHERMORE: moreover/ besides/ in addition. 

, will be usefully replaced by BESIDES/ TOO/ AS WELL depending on the different contexts. 

- The process is easy. Furthermore (S)/ (C): Besides, the method is legal too.

                                          ... furthermore/ besides, Susan wanted ice cream...

- MOREOVER: BESIDES, PLUS, WHAT'S MORE, ON TOP OF THAT...

- He found the weather depressing. Moreover (S)/ (C):  What's more, he had a bad cold...

- THEREFORE: SO... 

- The main actor is ill. Therefore (S)/(C): So, his part will be played by the best of you...

                                                           Everything's correct. Don't worry... 

- HOWEVER: BUT, YET

- He thought he had finished his job. However (S)/ C: Yet, he still had to write his report. 

All of us have more or less carried out this necessary conversion (of languages) in our mother

tongue. Normally, it has happened  naturally, painlessly, along the years, helped by a few remarks, 

  perhaps,  from our parents or/ and our teachers!  If you can, learn the different expressions at the

same time, it's perfect! (but remember that languages - and more particularly casual languages -

change very quickly, and even more quickly get out of fashion!) Therefore, there must be a continual

update of your language, and of your knowledge! (-  and I didn't mention slang!) 

Come on then! Don't let your English be outdated! 

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