ISO/TR 20694:2018

A typology of language registers

ISO/TR 20694:2018 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.

Une typologie des registres de langues

Tipologija jezikovnih registrov

Ta dokument podaja splošna načela za jezikovne registre v deskriptivnih in preskriptivnih okoljih. Definira ključne koncepte in opisuje primere različnih jezikovnih registrov, ki jih je mogoče uporabiti za vse ali številne jezike ter tiste, ki so značilni za jezik. Določa smernice za uporabo ustreznih jezikovnih registrov, ki so potrebni v širokem naboru okolij. Sem spadajo: — terminološko delo, kadar prispeva k razvoju širokega nabora standardov;
— prevajanje, tako da je mogoče v ciljnih jezikih izbrati ustrezne jezikovne ravni, ki se ujemajo s tistimi v
izvornem jeziku;
— leksikografija, za izboljšanje deskriptorjev negeografskih jezikovnih različic;
— poučevanje in učenje drugega jezika, tako da se lahko učenci izognejo pastem, povezanim z neustrezno rabo jezika;
— programska oprema, za izboljšanje označevanja jezikovnih različic v računalniških aplikacijah.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 27-Mar-2018
• ICS: 01.140.20 - Information sciences
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 37/SC 1 - Principles and methods
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 37/SC 1 - Principles and methods
• Current Stage: 6060 - International Standard published
• Start Date: 28-Mar-2018
• Due Date: 27-Apr-2019
• Completion Date: 27-Apr-2019
• Ref Project: SIST-TP ISO/TR 20694:2018 - A typology of language registers

Overview

ISO/TR 20694:2018 - A typology of language registers is a Technical Report from ISO/TC 37 that establishes general principles, definitions and examples for language registers in both descriptive and prescriptive settings. It clarifies ambiguous uses of the term register, proposes a multi-faceted typology (spoken/written/modalities), and provides guidelines for documenting and using registers across many languages. The report supports consistent treatment of registers in standards work and in computational language resources.

Key topics and technical coverage

• Definitions and scope: precise definitions of terms such as language variety, register, formal/informal (high/low) registers, technical register, neutral register, slang, in-house register, subregister, etc.
• General principles: how registers vary by situation, formality, modality and social context; descriptive vs. prescriptive registers; continuums and subregistries.
• Markers of registers:
  • Lexical markers (domain-specific vocabulary, archaic forms, contractions, slang, foreign words).
  • Phonological markers for spoken registers.
  • Grammatical features (morphology, tense/use of passive, sentence length, nominal complexity, conjunctions).
  • Honorifics and forms of address (politeness systems, vocabulary and grammar in honorific registers).
• Mapping and translation: register equivalence across languages, conveying register in translation, inconsistencies and potential loss of register information, and implications for translation memories.
• Registers and diglossia: interactions between register variation and diglossic situations.
• Relationship with other ISO standards (e.g., ISO 24620-1, ISO 639) for metadata and language coding.

Practical applications

ISO/TR 20694:2018 is directly useful for:

• Terminology and standards development - selecting appropriate register for normative text and terminology.
• Translation and localization - matching target-language register to source register; improving translation memory tagging.
• Lexicography - describing non-geographic language variants and register labels in dictionaries.
• Second-language teaching - informing curricula so learners can choose appropriate register and avoid pragmatic errors.
• Software and NLP - tagging language variants, improving language-resource metadata, and designing user-facing content (UI text, help, chatbots).
• Communications and public health - selecting neutral or simplified language registers for clear messaging.

Who should use this standard

Terminologists, translators, lexicographers, language engineers, localization managers, standards writers, curriculum designers, corpus linguists and NLP developers will find ISO/TR 20694 valuable for consistent, interoperable handling of language registers, register mapping and metadata for language resources.

Related standards

• ISO 24620-1 (language resource descriptors)
• ISO 639 (language codes)
• Other ISO/TC 37 outputs on terminology and language resources

Keywords: ISO/TR 20694:2018, language registers, typology of language registers, register mapping, translation, terminology, lexicography, language tagging, simplified language.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-september-2018
Tipologija jezikovnih registrov
A typology of language registers
Une typologie des registres de langues
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ISO/TR 20694:2018
ICS:
01.140.20 Informacijske vede Information sciences
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
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
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/ patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation on the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following
URL: www .iso .org/ iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 37, Language and terminology,
Subcommittee SC 1, Principles and methods.
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 subset of an individual language that is homogeneous both with regard to a certain criterion for
linguistic variation and with regard to a certain structural criterion for linguistic variation
3.2
code switching
changing backwards and forwards between two or more languages or language varieties in
conversation
3.3
language register
language variety (3.1) used for a particular purpose or in an event of language use, depending on the
type of situation, especially its degree of formality
Note 1 to entry: An individual usually has more than one language register in their verbal repertoire and can
vary their use of register according to their perception of what is appropriate for different purposes or domains.
3.4
common register
language register (3.3) used in addressing or referring to non-royal persons
3.5
royal register
language register (3.3) used in addressing or referring to royal persons
3.6
formal register
language register (3.3) that conforms to accepted standards and conventions and is used in serious and
official situations
3.7
informal register
language register (3.3) that does not pay special attention to standards and conventions and is used in
casual and familiar situations
3.8
high register
formal register (3.6) conceived of as being at the top of a vertical continuum of language registers (3.3)
3.9
low register
informal register (3.7) conceived of as being at the bottom of a vertical continuum of language
registers (3.3)
3.10
slang register
extremely informal register (3.7) of a word, term, or text that is used in spoken and everyday language
and less commonly in documents
EXAMPLE In aviation, the phrase fly by the seat of your pants is slang for the more formal fly without
instruments.
3.11
facetious register
language register (3.3) related to an expression that is intended to be clever and funny but that is really
silly and annoying
3.12
legal register
language register (3.3) used in the domain of law
3.13
literary register
language register (3.3) commonly used in literary works
3.14
neutral register
standard register
language register (3.3) appropriate to general texts or discourse
3.15
simplified language
prescriptive language register (3.3) following guidelines to make text and/or speech easier to
understand
3.16
technical register
language register (3.3) appropriate to scientific texts or special languages
3.17
vulgar register
language register (3.3) of a term or text type that can be characterized as profane or socially
unacceptable
2 © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

3.18
in-house register
language register (3.3) that is company-specific and not readily recognized outside this environment
Note 1 to entry: In-house terminology is not necessarily equivalent to bench-level terminology, inasmuch as the
former can thrive at very high levels of research and development. In-house terminology is frequently the source
of new technical terminology that eventually gains widespread acceptance on a broader scale.
3.19
bench-level register
shop term
register of terms used in applications-oriented as opposed to theoretical or academic levels of language
3.20
subregister
subsidiary division of language register (3.3)
3.21
honorific
word, title, or grammatical form that signals respect or high social status
3.22
motherese
baby talk
language register (3.3) often used by adults in addressing very small children
4 General principles
4.1 Ability to vary and use language registers appropriately
Language registers are varieties of language where one person can have more than one type of language
at their command, sometimes called their ‘verbal repertoire’. Individuals are often able to vary their
register according to different circumstances or environments which can depend on social attitudes, as
well as geographic issues, which are covered by dialect and accent. Use of different language registers
can be prescribed and proscribed for some environments, either through education and conformity to
social norms, or, increasingly, through adherence to guidelines in various professional settings such as
translation or publishing environments.
No individual has a perfect grasp of all possible language registers used in their language community.
However, an individual’s ability to understand a wide variety of registers and their social significance
is greater than their ability to use, speak or write in these registers. Some higher registers are formal
markers of learned environments, and lack of mastery of these registers is therefore taken as an
indicator of a lack of education. Individuals from deprived backgrounds are sometimes characterized
as having less mastery of different language registers, with this holding back their prospects of well-
paid jobs. Thus, the active teaching of different language registers and the appropriate context for their
use, is sometimes advocated.
The understanding and appropriate use of different language registers is also important in second
language teaching, where errors of register mark students out as not being proficient even where
their accent, vocabulary and grammar are exemplary. Understanding of register is also important
in translation work, where the translator needs to translate into a similar register unless instructed
otherwise. Different language registers also need to be kept separate in translation memories,
otherwise texts of mixed language registers can result, leading to incongruity and lack of consistency.
4.2 Language registers and non-linguistic signals
The use of different language registers can be accompanied by the use of other non-linguistic signals,
such as different gestures, dress, or even seating arrangements. Whilst these do not come under the
remit of the current document, it is well to remember that language can rarely be considered in isolation.
4.3 Differences across languages
Some language registers are language-specific. In other cases similar language registers are found
in many languages, especially where language communities share social characteristics, such as
respect for certain members of society, or peer group solidarity. Language communities with very
different social structures, for example a highly stratified community compared to one with no strong
hierarchies, are more likely to find that some of their language registers have no equivalent in the
other language. Different language registers can serve different purposes in different communities, for
example to emphasise social distance, or to signal group membership.
4.4 Descriptive and prescriptive registers
A typology of language registers includes the descriptive, for example, of slang, informal varieties,
literary registers, and the prescriptive, for example, simplified languages, and controlled languages for
use in critical communications. From the perspective of a typology of language registers, simplified
natural language is one specific example of a prescribed language register. Attempts to label different
language registers are found in many descriptive dictionaries, although there can be inconsistencies in
lexicographic descriptions. Guidelines on the use of prescriptive registers are sometimes published, for
example, by the Plain English campaign, or as company or newspaper style guides.
4.5 Text types, contexts, and linguistic characteristics
This document follows the definitions in Clause 3 of language register and various subregisters. Different
schools of linguists and literary theorists have understood terms such as ‘language register’, ‘genre’,
‘text type’ and ‘style’ in various ways, thus causing confusion and conflicting arguments. Although
there is some overlap in these and other related concepts, in this document, ‘language register’ is
related not only to a particular genre or text type, but is also identified by its linguistic characteristics.
These internal linguistic characteristics make it possible to identify individual language registers, and
develop computational methods of tagging them where needed, for example, in the management of
translation memories where consistency of register is needed in the translation output.
Humans are usually able to vary the language registers they use according to contextual and situational
parameters. In this language registers differ from dialects, which are associated with different groups
of speakers with a geographical or societal distribution.
4.6 Language registers as formal to informal or high to low continua
There is some correlation between language registers and text type, with some sociolinguists arguing
that language registers are linguistic varieties linked to occupations, professions or topics and are
usually characterized solely by vocabulary differences. Others, however, point out that there is no
general consensus within sociolinguistics on the use of register and related terms such as genre and
style. Understanding language registers as only differences in vocabulary and closely tied to different
domains is at odds with general language descriptions of ‘high’ and ‘low’ registers or ‘formal’ and
‘informal’.
Examples of language registers include high/low registers, formal/informal registers, royal/common
registers, neutral (standard) registers, technical registers, legal registers, mafia talk, slang, motherese
(baby talk), clear and plain language. Language registers can be placed on a continuum from the most
to the least formal, and from the most prescribed to the least prescribed use of language. Prescription
can take the form of human-mediated guidelines, or computer-mediated control of language use.
The register continuum can be represented horizontally or vertically.
4 © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Figure 1 — Language registers on a vertical high to low continuum contrasted with a horizontal
most formal to least formal continuum
Some registers, specifically royal ones, can represent a break in the continuum, where it is argued that
they do not represent a ‘yet more formal’ register, but can be a form of diglossia, or a different kind of
language with its own set of rules and conventions outside the normal range of language registers.
4.7 Division into subregistries
Individual language registers are further divided into subregisters, for example the technical register is
often subdivided into domain-specific registers, such as medical register, legal register and engineering
register. A further division of domain-specific registers can be in-house registers, which are confined to
individual companies or organisations.
4.8 Language registers and other language varieties
The list of permissible values for the data category/register historically listed in the Data Category
1)
Repository (DatCatInfo ) as common in terminology databases does not conform to the categories of
language registers discussed in this document.
Dialect is not considered a type of register in this document and is more appropriately classed as
another type of language variety or category.
1) DatCatInfo is available at www .datcatinfo .net. It is maintained by LTAC/TerminOrgs. This information is given
for the convenience of the users of this document and does not constitute an endorsement by ISO of this product.
Table 1 — Example of a possible typology
Register level Names of registers in level Other named registers
High Royal register (Thai) Formal register
Religious register
Frozen or static register
Formal-polite (Korean)
Elegant speech (Japanese)
Academic register
Middle Polite (Korean) Neutral/standard register
Semi-formal or formal-lateral (Korean) Bench-level register
In-house register
Low Informal register Slang register
Casual register Vulgar register
Familiar register
Intimate register
Unknown or variable level Consultative register (could be middle Dialect register
or high)
Technical register
Trance register
Taboo register
Email register
Ironic register
Facetious register
4.9 Languages used in document examples
Examples in this document are primarily given in English. Translations of this document can provide
examples in other language(s). This document does, however, also give examples in other languages
when discussing features not usually found in English.
4.10 Continuing evolution of language registers
Language registers vary over time, with new language registers emerging due to new cultural
and social contexts. Conversely, other language registers can fall out of use, for example, the old
royal register previously used in Mandarin when China had emperors and a royal court is no longer
employed. However, such language registers still need to be catered for and appropriately tagged when
encountered in historical documents, films, works of fiction and similar contexts.
5 Markers of different language registers
5.1 Lexical markers
5.1.1 General
Examples of lexical markers are the vocabulary items used in different language registers. Searching
for them and their frequency of use in text is an easy way to identify different language registers,
especially using computational methods.
Lexical markers in English include use of the word ‘child’ in formal registers, contrasted with ‘kid’ in
informal registers; ‘periorbital haematoma’ in a medical register, contrasted with ‘black eye’ in non-
technical registers; ‘urine’ in formal and technical registers, contrasted with ‘pee’ or ‘wee’ in very
informal registers or motherese. The use of different vocabulary items in different language registers is
common across languages. Some words are marked according to usage in traditional dictionaries, with
6 © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

register labels to alert readers that certain words are considered to belong only to formal, informal,
archaic, literary, technical, humorous or slang registers.
5.1.2 Domain-specific vocabularies
Different subject fields each have their particular technical vocabularies, for example, medical domains
will include technical terms which are specific to that domain, legal domains will also have domain-
specific technical terms, as will engineering domains, etc. Inclusion, or comparative absence of,
technical terms can therefore be used, in conjunction with subject-specific grammar, to identify and
categorize text as belonging to the technical register.
Closely related subject fields can have different vocabularies if they have different communities of
practice. Civil engineers differ from builders in their use of certain terms, for example using ‘baluster’
for the vertical units on timber stairs, whereas builders merchants can call them ‘spindles’, reflecting
an older craft-based practice.
5.1.3 Archaic words and phrases
Certain words and phrases can be used in the most formal registers where they have dropped out of
everyday usage. Examples in English include ‘foresooth’ to mean ‘indeed’, ‘methinks’ to mean ‘I think’,
and ‘thou’ to address the second person singular, where contemporary English uses ‘you’ for both the
singular and plural forms.
Fossilized expressions such as ‘so be it’, ‘the more the merrier’, ‘long live the Queen’ are usually used in
higher registers, as is formulaic language. The use of prefabricated expressions is especially prevalent
in the legal register, for example, ‘cease and desist’, ‘draw up an agreement’, ‘unless otherwise stated’.
In some languages where older forms of the language have high prestige, such as ancient Greek for
modern Greek speakers, archaic words and phrases can be very popular in more formal registers.
This can lead to incorrect use, or to change via folk etymology to become part of the standard area.
For example, in Greek, aigh-o-klima [αιγηοκλιμα] ‘goat-CM-vine’ has become agi-o-klima [αγιοκλιμα]
‘holly-CM-vine’.
In many languages also, archaic words and phrases can be used in a facetious register, for comic effect
or to poke fun at people who try and use words and phrases that they think convey education and
learning without fully understanding their meaning or appropriate context.
5.1.4 Shortened and contracted form of words
Shortened and contracted forms of words are markers of informal and familiar registers in many
languages. Some of them, such as ‘wouldn’t’ for ‘would not’ and ’don’t’ for ‘do not’ in English are accepted
as standard in all but the most formal registers. On the other hand, contractions such as ‘dunno’ for
‘I don’t know’ and c’mon’ for ‘come on’ are considered as markers of very informal re
...

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
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
CP 401 • Ch. de Blandonnet 8
CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
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
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
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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 subset of an individual language that is homogeneous both with regard to a certain criterion for
linguistic variation and with regard to a certain structural criterion for linguistic variation
3.2
code switching
changing backwards and forwards between two or more languages or language varieties in
conversation
3.3
language register
language variety (3.1) used for a particular purpose or in an event of language use, depending on the
type of situation, especially its degree of formality
Note 1 to entry: An individual usually has more than one language register in their verbal repertoire and can
vary their use of register according to their perception of what is appropriate for different purposes or domains.
3.4
common register
language register (3.3) used in addressing or referring to non-royal persons
3.5
royal register
language register (3.3) used in addressing or referring to royal persons
3.6
formal register
language register (3.3) that conforms to accepted standards and conventions and is used in serious and
official situations
3.7
informal register
language register (3.3) that does not pay special attention to standards and conventions and is used in
casual and familiar situations
3.8
high register
formal register (3.6) conceived of as being at the top of a vertical continuum of language registers (3.3)
3.9
low register
informal register (3.7) conceived of as being at the bottom of a vertical continuum of language
registers (3.3)
3.10
slang register
extremely informal register (3.7) of a word, term, or text that is used in spoken and everyday language
and less commonly in documents
EXAMPLE In aviation, the phrase fly by the seat of your pants is slang for the more formal fly without
instruments.
3.11
facetious register
language register (3.3) related to an expression that is intended to be clever and funny but that is really
silly and annoying
3.12
legal register
language register (3.3) used in the domain of law
3.13
literary register
language register (3.3) commonly used in literary works
3.14
neutral register
standard register
language register (3.3) appropriate to general texts or discourse
3.15
simplified language
prescriptive language register (3.3) following guidelines to make text and/or speech easier to
understand
3.16
technical register
language register (3.3) appropriate to scientific texts or special languages
3.17
vulgar register
language register (3.3) of a term or text type that can be characterized as profane or socially
unacceptable
2 © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

3.18
in-house register
language register (3.3) that is company-specific and not readily recognized outside this environment
Note 1 to entry: In-house terminology is not necessarily equivalent to bench-level terminology, inasmuch as the
former can thrive at very high levels of research and development. In-house terminology is frequently the source
of new technical terminology that eventually gains widespread acceptance on a broader scale.
3.19
bench-level register
shop term
register of terms used in applications-oriented as opposed to theoretical or academic levels of language
3.20
subregister
subsidiary division of language register (3.3)
3.21
honorific
word, title, or grammatical form that signals respect or high social status
3.22
motherese
baby talk
language register (3.3) often used by adults in addressing very small children
4 General principles
4.1 Ability to vary and use language registers appropriately
Language registers are varieties of language where one person can have more than one type of language
at their command, sometimes called their ‘verbal repertoire’. Individuals are often able to vary their
register according to different circumstances or environments which can depend on social attitudes, as
well as geographic issues, which are covered by dialect and accent. Use of different language registers
can be prescribed and proscribed for some environments, either through education and conformity to
social norms, or, increasingly, through adherence to guidelines in various professional settings such as
translation or publishing environments.
No individual has a perfect grasp of all possible language registers used in their language community.
However, an individual’s ability to understand a wide variety of registers and their social significance
is greater than their ability to use, speak or write in these registers. Some higher registers are formal
markers of learned environments, and lack of mastery of these registers is therefore taken as an
indicator of a lack of education. Individuals from deprived backgrounds are sometimes characterized
as having less mastery of different language registers, with this holding back their prospects of well-
paid jobs. Thus, the active teaching of different language registers and the appropriate context for their
use, is sometimes advocated.
The understanding and appropriate use of different language registers is also important in second
language teaching, where errors of register mark students out as not being proficient even where
their accent, vocabulary and grammar are exemplary. Understanding of register is also important
in translation work, where the translator needs to translate into a similar register unless instructed
otherwise. Different language registers also need to be kept separate in translation memories,
otherwise texts of mixed language registers can result, leading to incongruity and lack of consistency.
4.2 Language registers and non-linguistic signals
The use of different language registers can be accompanied by the use of other non-linguistic signals,
such as different gestures, dress, or even seating arrangements. Whilst these do not come under the
remit of the current document, it is well to remember that language can rarely be considered in isolation.
4.3 Differences across languages
Some language registers are language-specific. In other cases similar language registers are found
in many languages, especially where language communities share social characteristics, such as
respect for certain members of society, or peer group solidarity. Language communities with very
different social structures, for example a highly stratified community compared to one with no strong
hierarchies, are more likely to find that some of their language registers have no equivalent in the
other language. Different language registers can serve different purposes in different communities, for
example to emphasise social distance, or to signal group membership.
4.4 Descriptive and prescriptive registers
A typology of language registers includes the descriptive, for example, of slang, informal varieties,
literary registers, and the prescriptive, for example, simplified languages, and controlled languages for
use in critical communications. From the perspective of a typology of language registers, simplified
natural language is one specific example of a prescribed language register. Attempts to label different
language registers are found in many descriptive dictionaries, although there can be inconsistencies in
lexicographic descriptions. Guidelines on the use of prescriptive registers are sometimes published, for
example, by the Plain English campaign, or as company or newspaper style guides.
4.5 Text types, contexts, and linguistic characteristics
This document follows the definitions in Clause 3 of language register and various subregisters. Different
schools of linguists and literary theorists have understood terms such as ‘language register’, ‘genre’,
‘text type’ and ‘style’ in various ways, thus causing confusion and conflicting arguments. Although
there is some overlap in these and other related concepts, in this document, ‘language register’ is
related not only to a particular genre or text type, but is also identified by its linguistic characteristics.
These internal linguistic characteristics make it possible to identify individual language registers, and
develop computational methods of tagging them where needed, for example, in the management of
translation memories where consistency of register is needed in the translation output.
Humans are usually able to vary the language registers they use according to contextual and situational
parameters. In this language registers differ from dialects, which are associated with different groups
of speakers with a geographical or societal distribution.
4.6 Language registers as formal to informal or high to low continua
There is some correlation between language registers and text type, with some sociolinguists arguing
that language registers are linguistic varieties linked to occupations, professions or topics and are
usually characterized solely by vocabulary differences. Others, however, point out that there is no
general consensus within sociolinguistics on the use of register and related terms such as genre and
style. Understanding language registers as only differences in vocabulary and closely tied to different
domains is at odds with general language descriptions of ‘high’ and ‘low’ registers or ‘formal’ and
‘informal’.
Examples of language registers include high/low registers, formal/informal registers, royal/common
registers, neutral (standard) registers, technical registers, legal registers, mafia talk, slang, motherese
(baby talk), clear and plain language. Language registers can be placed on a continuum from the most
to the least formal, and from the most prescribed to the least prescribed use of language. Prescription
can take the form of human-mediated guidelines, or computer-mediated control of language use.
The register continuum can be represented horizontally or vertically.
4 © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Figure 1 — Language registers on a vertical high to low continuum contrasted with a horizontal
most formal to least formal continuum
Some registers, specifically royal ones, can represent a break in the continuum, where it is argued that
they do not represent a ‘yet more formal’ register, but can be a form of diglossia, or a different kind of
language with its own set of rules and conventions outside the normal range of language registers.
4.7 Division into subregistries
Individual language registers are further divided into subregisters, for example the technical register is
often subdivided into domain-specific registers, such as medical register, legal register and engineering
register. A further division of domain-specific registers can be in-house registers, which are confined to
individual companies or organisations.
4.8 Language registers and other language varieties
The list of permissible values for the data category/register historically listed in the Data Category
1)
Repository (DatCatInfo ) as common in terminology databases does not conform to the categories of
language registers discussed in this document.
Dialect is not considered a type of register in this document and is more appropriately classed as
another type of language variety or category.
1) DatCatInfo is available at www .datcatinfo .net. It is maintained by LTAC/TerminOrgs. This information is given
for the convenience of the users of this document and does not constitute an endorsement by ISO of this product.
Table 1 — Example of a possible typology
Register level Names of registers in level Other named registers
High Royal register (Thai) Formal register
Religious register
Frozen or static register
Formal-polite (Korean)
Elegant speech (Japanese)
Academic register
Middle Polite (Korean) Neutral/standard register
Semi-formal or formal-lateral (Korean) Bench-level register
In-house register
Low Informal register Slang register
Casual register Vulgar register
Familiar register
Intimate register
Unknown or variable level Consultative register (could be middle Dialect register
or high)
Technical register
Trance register
Taboo register
Email register
Ironic register
Facetious register
4.9 Languages used in document examples
Examples in this document are primarily given in English. Translations of this document can provide
examples in other language(s). This document does, however, also give examples in other languages
when discussing features not usually found in English.
4.10 Continuing evolution of language registers
Language registers vary over time, with new language registers emerging due to new cultural
and social contexts. Conversely, other language registers can fall out of use, for example, the old
royal register previously used in Mandarin when China had emperors and a royal court is no longer
employed. However, such language registers still need to be catered for and appropriately tagged when
encountered in historical documents, films, works of fiction and similar contexts.
5 Markers of different language registers
5.1 Lexical markers
5.1.1 General
Examples of lexical markers are the vocabulary items used in different language registers. Searching
for them and their frequency of use in text is an easy way to identify different language registers,
especially using computational methods.
Lexical markers in English include use of the word ‘child’ in formal registers, contrasted with ‘kid’ in
informal registers; ‘periorbital haematoma’ in a medical register, contrasted with ‘black eye’ in non-
technical registers; ‘urine’ in formal and technical registers, contrasted with ‘pee’ or ‘wee’ in very
informal registers or motherese. The use of different vocabulary items in different language registers is
common across languages. Some words are marked according to usage in traditional dictionaries, with
6 © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

register labels to alert readers that certain words are considered to belong only to formal, informal,
archaic, literary, technical, humorous or slang registers.
5.1.2 Domain-specific vocabularies
Different subject fields each have their particular technical vocabularies, for example, medical domains
will include technical terms which are specific to that domain, legal domains will also have domain-
specific technical terms, as will engineering domains, etc. Inclusion, or comparative absence of,
technical terms can therefore be used, in conjunction with subject-specific grammar, to identify and
categorize text as belonging to the technical register.
Closely related subject fields can have different vocabularies if they have different communities of
practice. Civil engineers differ from builders in their use of certain terms, for example using ‘baluster’
for the vertical units on timber stairs, whereas builders merchants can call them ‘spindles’, reflecting
an older craft-based practice.
5.1.3 Archaic words and phrases
Certain words and phrases can be used in the most formal registers where they have dropped out of
everyday usage. Examples in English include ‘foresooth’ to mean ‘indeed’, ‘methinks’ to mean ‘I think’,
and ‘thou’ to address the second person singular, where contemporary English uses ‘you’ for both the
singular and plural forms.
Fossilized expressions such as ‘so be it’, ‘the more the merrier’, ‘long live the Queen’ are usually used in
higher registers, as is formulaic language. The use of prefabricated expressions is especially prevalent
in the legal register, for example, ‘cease and desist’, ‘draw up an agreement’, ‘unless otherwise stated’.
In some languages where older forms of the language have high prestige, such as ancient Greek for
modern Greek speakers, archaic words and phrases can be very popular in more formal registers.
This can lead to incorrect use, or to change via folk etymology to become part of the standard area.
For example, in Greek, aigh-o-klima [αιγηοκλιμα] ‘goat-CM-vine’ has become agi-o-klima [αγιοκλιμα]
‘holly-CM-vine’.
In many languages also, archaic words and phrases can be used in a facetious register, for comic effect
or to poke fun at people who try and use words and phrases that they think convey education and
learning without fully understanding their meaning or appropriate context.
5.1.4 Shortened and contracted form of words
Shortened and contracted forms of words are markers of informal and familiar registers in many
languages. Some of them, such as ‘wouldn’t’ for ‘would not’ and ’don’t’ for ‘do not’ in English are accepted
as standard in all but the most formal registers. On the other hand, contractions such as ‘dunno’ for
‘I don’t know’ and c’mon’ for ‘come on’ are considered as markers of very informal registers and are
more prevalent in spoken modalities or social media. Online communication such as texting, email and
instant messaging is especially prone to shortened forms and contractions, for example ‘2nite’ instead
of ‘tonight’, ‘u’ instead of ‘you’, and ‘u2’ instead of ‘you too’.
5.1.5 Slang, swear words, profanities and taboo words
These are absent in all higher registers except where quoted, for example, in interview transcript fo
...