ISO/TR 20694:2018

TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 20694
First edition
2018-04
A typology of language registers
Une typologie des registres de langues
Reference number
©
ISO 2018
© ISO 2018
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ii © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 General principles . 3
4.1 Ability to vary and use language registers appropriately . 3
4.2 Language registers and non-linguistic signals . 3
4.3 Differences across languages . 4
4.4 Descriptive and prescriptive registers . 4
4.5 Text types, contexts, and linguistic characteristics . 4
4.6 Language registers as formal to informal or high to low continua . 4
4.7 Division into subregistries . 5
4.8 Language registers and other language varieties . 5
4.9 Languages used in document examples . 6
4.10 Continuing evolution of language registers . 6
5 Markers of different language registers . 6
5.1 Lexical markers . 6
5.1.1 General. 6
5.1.2 Domain-specific vocabularies. 7
5.1.3 Archaic words and phrases . 7
5.1.4 Shortened and contracted form of words . 7
5.1.5 Slang, swear words, profanities and taboo words . 7
5.1.6 Use of foreign words and phrases . 8
5.1.7 Register switch markers . . 8
5.2 Phonological markers . 9
5.3 Grammatical features . 9
5.3.1 General. 9
5.3.2 Differences in morphology . 9
5.3.3 Passive and impersonal constructions . 9
5.3.4 Direct and active verb forms and use of specific tenses .10
5.3.5 Use of concise or periphrastic verb forms .10
5.3.6 Long/complex nominal phrases .10
5.3.7 Conjunctions and linking phrases .10
5.3.8 Sentence length .10
5.4 Honorifics and forms of address .11
5.4.1 General.11
5.4.2 Polite forms of address .11
5.4.3 Vocabulary and grammar in honorific forms of address .12
6 Mapping registers between languages .12
6.1 Register equivalence in different languages .12
6.2 Conveying language registers in translation .13
6.3 Inconsistencies in register .13
6.4 Loss of information in translation .13
6.5 Identifying language registers for translation memories .13
7 Language registers and diglossia .14
Bibliography .15
Alphabetic index of the terms and definitions .16
Foreword
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This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Language and terminology,
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iv © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Introduction
This document aims to clarify ambiguities arising from the use of the term ‘register’ to designate
different concepts. It aims to examine different conceptualizations of language registers amongst
linguistic theorists so that useful definitions can be agreed on for use in, for example, standardization
work. It also aims to contribute to developing new means of providing comprehensive coverage of
language variants.
Computational management of language resources requires appropriate descriptors and tags for
different language varieties.
A typology of language registers will aid appropriate communication in business and commerce, for
example where a marketing campaign needs to address consumers in a friendly, informal register, or in
medicine where there is a need to understand clearly the difference between technical communication
between professionals on the one hand, and clear and simple communication for public health
campaigns on the other.
There is as yet no common agreement on terms and concepts for individual language registers, or way
to map their relationship to each other.
As dialects can have a geographic designation, language registers can be designated by their linguistic
patterns, both lexico-grammatical and discoursal-semantic patterns associated with situations.
A description of a language register needs to state whether it is a written or a spoken register, or
expressed by some other modality. It is therefore multifaceted, and polyhierarchical, fitting in with
existing ISO standards such as ISO 24620-1 and ISO 639 in order to attain maximum impact. It lays the
groundwork for developing codes for language registers at a future date. This document proposes an
overview of all relevant language registers and does not intend to create standards for each individual
register. It will, however, help to identify and inform further areas for elaboration.
TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 20694:2018(E)
A typology of language registers
1 Scope
This document gives the general principles for language registers in both descriptive and prescriptive
environments. It defines key concepts and describes examples of different language registers that can
be applied across all or many languages and those that are language-specific. It lays down guidelines
for the use of appropriate language registers needed in a wide range of environments. These include:
— terminology work, where it contributes to the development of a wide range of standards;
— translation, so that appropriate language levels can be chosen in target languages, to match that of
the source language;
— lexicography, to improve descriptors of non-geographic language variants;
— second language teaching and learning, so that students can avoid pitfalls associated with
inappropriate language use;
— software, to improve tagging of language variants in computer applications.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
language variety
largest
...