1、Five Levels of Degrees of Formality Introduction Definition Features ExampleIntroduction Martin Joos classification of degrees of formality in his book The Five Clocks(1962)is of five levels:frozen,formal,consultative,casual and intimate.Frozen styleDefinition:Frozen style is used by professional sp
2、eakers for public purposes,such as legal documents regulations,formal ceremonies.Features:A.Fixed form and stucture as if frozen.B.Often used on hightly significant occasions.eg:Inaugural,ceremony,court of law.C.Archaic words,formal and big expressions,long and complex sentences.Example We hold thes
3、e truths to be self-evident,that all men are created equal,that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,that among these are life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness Declaration of IndependenceFormal styleDefinition:Formal style is used before a large audience such as form
4、al lectures,inaugural address of president elect,scientific reports.Features:A.Tightly structured and well-planned,no fragments,no repetition and second thought.B.Vocabulary technical,varied consciously.C.Clear and careful pronunciation.D.Different sentence structures.ExampleExample Thank you very m
5、uch,Mr.Mayor.I appreciate your kind words of introduction.And were delighted to be here today.My wife and I are privileged to have the opportunity once again to travel in China.US Vice Presidents Speech at Fudan University Consultative styleDefinition:Consultative style is used for conducting most b
6、usiness matters,such as talking with strangers,buying things in a shop,asking the way in the sreet.Features:A.This vatiety reflects the most basic and common features among 5 varieties.B.Sentences are not too long,words are plain and are often arranged in normal order.C.Some grammatical phenomena no
7、t preferred like participles used as adverbials.D.No variation in diction.E.Sentences often begin with:well,but,so.ExampleExample Wheres Van Bummel,the shoolmaster?He went off to the war too,was the great militia general,and is now in Congress.Rip Van WinkleCasual style Definition:Casual style is th
8、e language used for situations in which no social barriers are felt by the participants.It is the language used among friends acquaintances,insiders,and people with shared knowledge.Fatures:A.First name in greeting,no formal title.B.Often uses fragments,contractions,slang.C.Often used in more relaxe
9、d situation as in domitory.D.There is a greater variation from region to region,from one social group to another than formal and other styles.ExampleExample Ive tried it,and it dont work;it dont work,Tom.It aint for me.The widder eats by a bell;she goes to bed by a bell;she gits up by a bell-everyth
10、ings so awful reglar a body cant stand it.The Adventures of Tom SawyerIntimate styleDefinition:Intimate style is the language used among members of the family between husband and wife,among very close friends,or among a particular group of people with particularly shared knowledge,such as school boy
11、s,army soldiers,or criminals.Features:A.Like the casual,the intimate is rarely written.B.Grammar is reduced to a bare minimum.C.Pronunciation is slurreed as a great deal of nonverbal communication with eye-brows,shoulders,and facial expressions replace the verbals.D.Since the users know very well,there is no need for careful planning.ExampleExample “Daddy,where you been?”“Hunting for a rabbits skin to wrap my little Bonnie in.Give your best sweetheart a kiss,Bonnie-and you too,Ella.”-Gone with the Wind Thank you!
