Suppose you read or watch different types of programming. You probably notice a difference in language use based on the environment, who is being spoken to, and the reason for communicating. This section will discuss different types of language, as this impacts how others view you and whether they will view you positively or negatively.

Formal versus Informal Language

It’s commonly understood that our communication style changes depending on the situation. Take, for instance, the contrast between texting a close friend and writing an email to a professor. These two scenarios call for distinct linguistic approaches, primarily due to the difference between formal (professional) and informal language usage. Below is a general overview of the major differences between formal and informal language.

Formal Language (Professional)

• used in carefully edited communication
• used in academic or official content
• sentence structure is long and complicated
• emphasis is on grammatical correctness
• uses the passive voice
• speakers or writers avoid the use of contractions
• avoids the inclusion of emotionally laden ideas and words
• language should be objective
• language should avoid the use of colloquialisms
• language is gender-neutral.

Informal Language (Nonprofessional)

• used in impromptu, conversational communication
• used in everyday communication
• sentence structure is short, choppy, and improvised
• emphasis is on easily understood messages using everyday phrases
• uses the active voice
• contractions are often used
• allows for the inclusion of emotions
• language can be subjective
• it is perfectly appropriate to use colloquialisms
• language includes gender references.

Formal Language — Professional

In the process of job applications, utilising formal language in your resume and cover letter is a common approach. This style of language, characterised by its official, academic, and professional tone, is essential for presenting oneself as knowledgeable and skilled. Employing formal language typically involves the use of complete sentences and adherence to grammatical correctness. It is a language style that is objective, intricate, and particularly expected in communication within healthcare settings.

Informal Language

Common, everyday language, often characterised by the use of slang, is known as informal or nonprofessional language. This type of language is typically fluid and relaxed, commonly employed in conversations with others. Its simplicity often includes the frequent use of contractions and abbreviations. A glance at your text messages would likely reveal numerous instances of this informal style of communication.

Jargon

Jargon is the specialised or technical language of a specific group or profession that outsiders may not understand (Murray, 2012). If you are really into cars or computers, you probably know a lot about their different parts and functions and might use words specifically related to those. Jargon is normally used in a specific context and may or may not be understood outside that context. Jargon consists of a specific vocabulary that uses words or acronyms that only certain people understand. Health care is full of jargon such as the examples below.

• sundowner
• abrasion
• abscess
• acute
• benign
• SOBOE
• ADHD.

Chances are you have heard a few jargon phrases in your workplace or even found yourself using a few of them. Your workplace may even have some specific jargon only used in your organisation. Take a minute and think about all the jargon you hear on average.

Colloquialisms

Colloquialism uses informal words in communication (Trudgill, 2000). Colloquialism varies from region to region. Examples might be “wanna” instead of “want to” or “gonna” instead of “going to.” It shows us how society uses language in everyday life. Here’s a short list of some common colloquialisms you may have used yourself:

• G’Day – good day/hello
• bamboozle — to deceive
• be blue — to be sad
• beat around the bush — to avoid a specific topic
• buzz off — go away
• fell through the cracks — to be neglected
• go bananas, or go nuts — be very angry
• gobsmacked — shocked
• gonna — going to
• hit a writer’s block — unable to write
• hit the hay — to go to sleep.

Slang

Slang refers to words employed by certain groups, such as young adults and teens (Mattiello, 2008). Slang is more commonly used when speaking rather than writing. Slang is often used between people who are similar and have experience with each other. Here is a list of some common slang terms you might use in your day-to-day life:

• BAE (baby / before all else)
• on fleek (looking perfect)
• bye Felica (saying goodbye to someone you do not like)
• the tea (gossip)
• cash (money)
• cheesy (cheap or tacky)
• frenemy (someone who is both a friend and an enemy)
• thirsty (being overly eager or desperate)
• woke (being acutely aware of social injustice within society)
• all Gucci (everything is fine).

How many of these slang words do you use? What other slang words do you find yourself using? When it comes to slang, it is important to understand that it is constantly evolving. What is common slang today could be completely passé tomorrow. What is common slang in Australia is not universal in English-speaking countries. Also, consider if any of the above has a place in professional communication.

Idioms

Idioms are expressions or figures of speech whose meaning cannot be understood by looking at the individual words and interpreting them literally (Nunberg et al., 1994). Idioms can help amplify messages and can be used to provide artistic expression. For instance, “knowledge is power!”

Idioms can be hard to grasp for speakers and contribute to misunderstandings or miscommunication. Consider whether any idioms have a place in professional communication.

Examples:

• a breath of fresh air (Refreshing or fun. She is a breath of fresh air)
• a gut feeling (Feeling in the stomach. I have a gut feeling that everything will turn out all right)
• a change of heart (Change my mind. I’ve had a change of heart. I am not going to the party)
• get out of the wrong side of the bed (In a bad mood. He must have gotten up out of the wrong side of the bed today)
• see eye to eye (Agree. He does not see eye to eye with his parents at all).

Clichés

Clichés are ideas or expressions that have been so overused they have lost their original meaning (Blake & Bly, 1993). Clichés are common and are often heard. For instance, “light as a feather” or “happily ever after” are common clichés. They are important because they express ideas and thoughts that are popular in everyday use. They are prevalent in advertisements, television, and literature.

Improper Language

In some contexts, the use of improper language is not suitable or acceptable. This includes both vulgarity and cursing. Vulgarity refers to words that are considered offensive or in poor taste, often characterised by obscene or lewd content. Cursing, on the other hand, involves expressing wishes of harm, misfortune, or evil upon others, and may include the use of profane words or expressions. While opinions on what is deemed inappropriate language can vary among individuals, such language is generally deemed unacceptable in a professional setting.

Ambiguous Language

Ambiguous language can have various meanings. Sometimes this includes very abstract advertisements. For instance, a restaurant ad reads, “People are our best ingredient!” What comes to mind when you hear that? Are they using people in their food? Or do they mean their customer service is what makes their restaurant notable? When communicating with others, we must be clear in our language. We need others to know exactly what we mean and not imply meaning. That is why you need to ensure you do not use ambiguous language.

Euphemisms

Euphemisms also make language unclear. Individuals often resort to euphemisms as a means to convey their thoughts in a more tactful or less direct manner. For example, rather than admitting to a parent or guardian about failing a test, one might choose to phrase it as performing below expectations. This approach is favoured as it often appears more appealing and provides a more sensitive way to express oneself. Euphemisms are a common part of everyday language. For instance, rather than stating that someone has died, it’s common to say the person has passed away. Similarly, in place of mentioning that someone farted, it’s more polite to say the person has ‘passed gas’. How prevalent are euphemisms in healthcare environments? Do euphemisms have a place in professional communication?

Relative Language

Relative language depends on the person communicating. Individuals come from diverse backgrounds, leading to differing viewpoints. For example, a professor at one university might express dissatisfaction with her earnings, whereas her counterparts at another institution might envy her income level. This illustrates how our language is shaped by our individual perceptions of experiences. Consider the concept of an ideal salary: does one’s expectation stem from their past earnings, their parent’s income, or perhaps the earnings of their peers? Similarly, the notion of what constitutes an expensive meal can vary greatly. Is a $200 dinner for two considered pricey? What about a $100 or $50 meal? These examples highlight how language and perceptions are inherently subjective.

Static Evaluation

Often, we think that people and things do not change, but they do. You might see people who go through amazing transformations through social media sites such as Instagram, perhaps through weight loss, a makeover, or surgery. These people changed.

Static evaluation states that things are not constant. Things vary over time, and our language should represent that change. An example is making a statement such as “Max is bad.” It is important to note that Max might be bad at this point or may have displayed bad behaviour previously, but it may not represent how Max will be in the future.

References

Blake, G., & Bly, R. W. (1993). The elements of technical writing. Macmillan.

Mattiello, E. (2008). An introduction to English slang: A description of its morphology, semantics and sociology. Polimetrica.

Murray, N. (2012). Writing essays in English language and linguistics: Principles, tips and strategies for undergraduates. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139035347

Nunberg, G., Sag, I. A., & Wasow, T. (1994). Idioms. Language, 70(3), 491–538. http://doi.org/10.1353/lan.1994.0007

Trudgill, P. (2000). Sociolinguistics: An introduction to language and society. Penguin.