Appendix:List of language registers

Registers are different styles of language that are associated with different social contexts. Registers can vary in terms of formality, respect, and vocabulary. This chart lists and defines different registers.

Register	Use	ISO 20694
academic register	Academic settings, such as lectures, research papers, and scholarly articles. Often includes technical terms, formal language, and precise vocabulary. Wiktionary pages are written in this register. Example:"When we reflect on the vast diversity of the plants and animals which have been cultivated, and which have varied during all ages under the most different climates and treatment, I think we are driven to conclude that this greater variability is simply due to our domestic productions having been raised under conditions of life not so uniform as, and somewhat different from, those to which the parent-species have been exposed under nature."
bench-level register	Practical real-world scenarios rather than theoretical or academic discussions. The language used on the "shop floor" or in hands-on, practical work situations, rather than theoretical or formal settings. Example:" Those noises you're hearing might be because of the crap suspension system. It's like they just threw it together without thinking of how it would perform on the road. I've seen better designs in cars from a decade ago. And look, you can barely reach this hose without disassembling half the engine. And these plastic parts, I swear they must've used the cheapest materials available."	3.19
business register	Business settings, such as meetings, presentations, and reports. It often includes formal language, specialized terminology, buzzwords, and jargon specific to the industry. Example: "As a dedicated and detail-oriented professional, I am eager to bring my passion for numbers and financial acumen to your esteemed organization as I embark on a promising career as an Accountant. With a strong educational background, practical experience, and a commitment to accuracy, I am well-prepared to contribute to the financial success and integrity of your company."
common register	Addressing or referring to non-royal persons. Example: "Hey, can I ask you a question? I really like that shirt. Where did you get it from?"	3.4
consultative register	Two-way participation; background information is provided – prior knowledge is not assumed. Phatic expressions such as "uh huh", "I see", etc. are common. Interruptions are allowed. Examples include teacher/student, doctor/patient, or expert/apprentice interactions.
facetious register	Playful, witty, or humorous communication. Example: "It'll take 4 hours to do and he won't even pay me? Sure, sounds great. I'll get started right away."	3.11
formal register	Serious and official situations. Conforms to accepted standards and conventions. One-way participation; no interruption; technical vocabulary or exact definitions are important; includes presentations or introductions between strangers.	3.6
frozen / static register	Printed unchanging language, often containing archaisms, such as Biblical quotations or prayer recitations. The wording is exactly the same every time it is spoken. Example: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
humble register	Showing humility and excessive respect in communication. It is employed in many cultures and languages worldwide and is particularly prevalent in societies that place a strong emphasis on social hierarchies, respect for elders, and deference to authority figures.
in-house register	Communication within a company that follows an established style guide of language use.	3.18
informal / casual / colloquial register	Casual and familiar situations, social media, and text messages. Does not pay special attention to standards and conventions, interruptions are common.	3.7
intimate register	Non-public; intonation more important than wording or grammar; private vocabulary. Also includes non-verbal messages. This is most common among family members and close friends.
legal register	Legal settings, such as court proceedings, legal documents, and contracts. Often includes legal jargon and formal language. Example: "The Government has a duty to disclose any evidence that goes to negating the Defendant's guilt, the credibility of a witness or that would reduce a potential sentence. The Defendant is entitled to this information without a request. Not doing so in a timely manner may result in consequences, including, but not limited to, exclusion of evidence, adverse jury instructions, dismissal of charges, contempt proceedings, disciplinary action or sanctions by the Court."	3.12
literary register	Literary works. Can contain aesthetic ornamentation not generally found in spontaneous speech such as rhyming and poetic meter. Example: "To be, or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them."	3.13
medical register	Medical settings, such as doctor-patient interactions, medical textbooks and journals, and research papers. Often includes specialized vocabulary, technical terms, and precise language.
motherese / baby talk	Used by adults in addressing very small children. Simply vocabulary, frequent statements of positive reinforcement, and familiolects. Example: "Who's that! Is that da-da? Can you say da-da? What's da-da got? Is that your rattle! Here you go! Yay! You're doing it! Shake, shake, shake! You're so clever!"	3.22
neutral / standard register	General texts and conversations. Example: Alice: "Hi, would you like to take my seat?" Bob: "Oh, no, that's alright. I can stand." Alice: "Are you sure? It's not a problem at all. I insist."	3.14
polite register	Show politeness and helpfulness. For example, the language used by a flight attendant, server, or cashier to a customer. Example: "Thank you for choosing to fly with us today. We value your safety and comfort, and we look forward to providing you with a pleasant travel experience. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to any of the flight attendants. Enjoy your flight!"
religious register	Religious and worship settings. Employed the formal, frozen, and humble registers, and commonly features ecclesiastical vocabulary, prayers and hymns, forms of invocation, epithets. Example: "Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the Holy spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."
royal register	Addressing or referring to royal persons. Example: "I have the honor to subscribe myself, Your Excellency, with sentiments of the highest consideration. My Lord, your humble and obedient servant, J. M. de Rojas."	3.5
simplified register	Conveying ideas in simple laymans terms, avoiding technical or academic language. Used, for example, with children, individuals with intellectual disabilities, and people who speak a different language. Example: "The big blue shape here, can you count how many sides it has? Let's count together. One...Two...Three...Four! Good job! It has four sides! And what do we call a shape with four sides? That's right, we call it a square!"	3.15
slang register	Extremely informal spoken and everyday language, containing slang pertinent to ones in-group. Example: "Dude, picture it: I'm out there riding the gnarly waves, feeling the stoke, catching some epic tubes, and then, whoa, it all goes south. I'm cruisin' on this bomb set, carving like a boss, when suddenly, I hit this rogue closeout. Total kook move, man. I get all squirrely, start pearl diving, and next thing you know, I'm eating it big time, getting worked by the whitewash."	3.10
stilted register	Overly elaborate style of language that can come across as awkward, unnatural, or excessively formal. It is characterized by the use of complex sentence structures, archaic or outdated vocabulary, and an overall lack of natural flow. Example: "It is utterly imperative that we, as the progeny of that stratum of contemporary lexicographically minded academicians who invest our earthly hours broadening the ponderousness of this collaborative online vocabulary concordance, endeavor to augment our cerebral faculties through the assiduous perusal of erudite tomes."
taboo register	Speaking about taboo subjects. Speaks about topics in a roundabout way that avoids certain words. Features Avoidance speech. Example: "Where do babies come from? Well, when a man and a woman love each other very much, they decide that they want to have a baby. So, the man gives a tiny, invisible seed to the woman, and she has a special place in her body where she puts that seed where it can grow into a baby."
technical register	Scientific and technological texts. Features instructions and lists of sequential steps. Example: "Ensure that the graduated cylinder is clean and free from any residue from previous experiments. If necessary, clean it with distilled water and dry it with a lint-free cloth or paper towel. Place the graduated cylinder on a flat, level surface. The surface should be at eye level to enable accurate volume readings. Examine the graduated cylinder to find the markings. These markings are typically in milliliters (mL) or cubic centimeters (cm³)."	3.16
vulgar register	Profane, sexual, or angered situations. Example: "Motherfucker, you do that again, and I'll kick your fucking ass."	3.17