Features of Informal Writing and Speech

In VCE English Language, informality is not merely a lack of formality; it is a deliberate linguistic choice used to meet specific social purposes. It is characterized by a move away from Standard English norms toward a register that prioritizes social connection, efficiency, and spontaneity.

1. The Nature of Informality

Informal language exists on a continuum. While formal language is often highly planned and permanent, informal language is frequently spontaneous, transient, and interpersonal.

• Spontaneity vs. Planning: Informal speech is typically spontaneous (unrehearsed), leading to more non-fluency features. Informal writing (like SMS) can be a hybrid—spontaneous in thought but constrained by the medium of typing.
• Non-linear Structure: Informal texts often wander between topics (digressions) rather than following a strict logical progression.
• Idiosyncratic Choices: Users often develop their own “personal” style or “familect” (language used within a family) that defies standard conventions.

KEY TAKEAWAY: Informality is driven by the tenor (relationship) between participants. The closer the relationship, the more informal the language tends to be, as there is less need to maintain social distance or “face.”

2. Features of Informal Speech

Informal speech relies on a “support system” of non-verbal and vocal cues that help convey meaning beyond the literal definitions of words.

A. Prosodic Features

These are the melodies of speech. In informal contexts, they are used for emphasis and to signal emotion.
* Pitch: High pitch may signal excitement or a question.
* Stress: Placing emphasis on specific syllables to highlight important information.
* Volume: Varying loudness to show intensity.
* Tempo: Speeding up to show excitement or slowing down for emphasis.
* Intonation: The rise and fall of the voice (e.g., High Rising Terminal or HRT, used to check for understanding or signal a desire to keep the floor).

B. Paralinguistic Cues

Non-vocal signals that accompany speech:
* Facial expressions (smiles, eye-rolls).
* Gestures (hand movements).
* Body language (leaning in, open posture).

C. Non-Fluency Features

Because informal speech is spontaneous, the “machinery” of speech is often visible:
* Pauses: Silence or filled pauses (voiced hesitations) such as um, ah, er.
* False starts: Beginning an utterance and then restarting (e.g., “I went— we went to the shops”).
* Repetitions: Repeating words while the brain processes the next thought.
* Repairs: Correcting oneself mid-sentence.

EXAM TIP: When analyzing a transcript, do not just list non-fluency features. Explain why they are there. For example, “The presence of filled pauses (um, er) indicates the spontaneous nature of the exchange as the speaker plans their next utterance in real-time.”

3. Features of Informal Writing and Electronic Communication

Modern informal writing, particularly Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC), often attempts to mimic the prosody and spontaneity of speech.

VCAA FOCUS: VCAA often provides texts like social media threads or text messages. Look for context-specific graphemes (like “xxx” for kisses or “!!!” for excitement) and explain how they compensate for the lack of physical paralinguistic cues (like smiling or gesturing).

4. Lexical and Morphological Features

Informal texts are characterized by specific word choices that build rapport and solidarity.

• Slang: Highly informal language that is often transient and specific to a particular age or social group (e.g., no cap, slay). It promotes in-group membership.
• Colloquialisms: Informal expressions that are more permanent than slang and understood by most of the population (e.g., reckon, bloke, hard yakka).
• Diminutives: Morphological markers common in Australian English (e.g., barbie for barbecue, rellie for relative). These create a sense of familiarity and playfulness.
• Swearing (Expletives): In informal contexts, swearing can function as an intensifier or to establish a sense of equality and solidarity (social bonding).

REMEMBER: The use of slang and colloquialisms acts as a “linguistic handshake.” It signals to the audience: “We are the same; we belong to the same group.”

5. Syntactic Features of Informality

The way sentences are structured in informal texts is often more flexible and creative than in formal texts.

Ellipsis

The omission of words that are understood from context.
* Example: “[Are] You coming?” or “[I] Hope you’re well.”
* Function: Increases efficiency and assumes a shared context between participants.

Interrogative Tags

Short questions tacked onto the end of statements.
* Example: “It’s cold, isn’t it?” or “You’re coming, right?”
* Function: Encourages turn-taking, checks for agreement, and builds rapport.

Discourse Particles

Words or phrases that have little literal meaning but significant pragmatic function.
* Examples: like, well, you know, I mean, anyway.
* Function: Managing the flow of conversation, hedging (softening a statement), or signaling a change in topic.

Syntactic Creativity

The deliberate breaking of traditional grammar rules for stylistic effect.
* Example: “Because [of] reasons.” or “The most [adjective] thing ever.”

COMMON MISTAKE: Students often call discourse particles “fillers.” While they can fill space, in English Language, we focus on their pragmatic function (e.g., “the discourse particle ‘like’ acts as a hedge to reduce the force of the utterance and save face”).

6. Social Purposes of Informality

Why do we choose to be informal?

1. Encouraging Inclusivity and Solidarity: Using shared slang or “inside jokes” makes people feel part of a group.
2. Establishing Equality: Reducing the “stiffness” of language to show that no one is superior to another.
3. Promoting Linguistic Innovation: Informal language is the “engine room” of language change, where new words and structures are born.
4. Maintaining Positive Face: Informal language often uses Positive Politeness Strategies (compliments, nicknames, showing interest) to make the listener feel liked and appreciated.
5. Efficiency: In many informal contexts (like a busy kitchen or a quick text), the primary goal is to convey information as fast as possible.

APPLICATION: In a Short Answer Question (SAQ), if asked about the “social purpose,” link the feature to the outcome.
* Feature: Diminutive “Chrissy.”
* Purpose: To build rapport and establish a sense of intimacy and solidarity between the friends.