Lesson Three Diction Register The term register is

Lesson Three Diction

Register The term “register” is used to describe how language varies to suit the particular audience and purpose. To analyze a piece of writing containing spoken language (dialect), you must note three key areas related to register: 1. The mode – either spoken or written; 2. The manner – the level of formality used by the writer; 3. The field – the way the words are linked to the subject matter.

Lexis (lexicon) This term describes the vocabulary of the novel, poem or other form of language use. This feature is often referred to as diction. Lexis deals with the study of words and the way that they related to one another. In narrative prose, the following words should be examined: u Nouns – abstract, concrete and proper u Verbs – Stative verbs (like know or believe) may describe states of mind, setting, etc. Dynamic verbs place the emphasis on what is currently happening. u Modifiers may influence the reader’s perception.

Checklist What sorts of vocabulary are being used? Are the words… u Short or long u Simple or complex u Concrete or abstract u In everyday use or relating to a particular area u Literal or figurative u Heavily modified or presented with little modification Always bear in mind the time and place in which the narrative is set!

Activity Read the extract from Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. In it, Dickens describes the marshes of the Thames estuary, the setting for the central character Pip’s encounter with an escaped convict. Examine the lexical choices the Dickens had made and discuss the effects that his choices create. Use specific examples from the text to illustrate your ideas.