Unit 12 B COMMUNICATION: REGISTER


The way we say something is often as important as the message. It is important to choose the right type of language (the register) to get your message across appropriately. It’s also important not to confuse politeness with formality. Sometimes if a piece of writing is too formal, it can seem unfriendly or insincere to the receiver.


1


Read each of these beginnings to a piece of writing. Write a–d in the correct place on the diagram.


a Dear Madam, b Dear Gillian, c Hi Gill, d Dear Ms Barnes,


Informal Formal


C21 skills


2 When might someone use each of the greetings in 1? 3 Look at the requests. How does the language change as it becomes more formal?


a Can you lend me some money? b Could you lend me some money? c I wonder if you could lend me some money. d I was wondering if you could lend me some money. e I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I was wondering if you could lend me some money.


4 Make these requests more formal using the pattern in 3.


a Can you give me a lift? b Can I borrow your course notes? c Can you send me your contact details? d Can you tell me what the salary is? e Can you show me what the right answer is?


English for the 21st


Century • Unit 12


167


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