Professor Joshua Belknap | Co Req CO | Spring 2025

5/7/25: Language Practice, Audience

An important aspect of Part of the final Unit 3 research project is thinking about audience, and how to best communicate with that audience. Using different vernaculars/dialects/registers with different audiences can make for more effective communication, depending on context.

Respond in writing in the comment section below to the following:

  • How many languages do you speak? What are they? After you name the “official” languages you speak, name the other discourses, vernaculars and registers you speak, not necessarily national languages but languages you speak with friends, languages you speak with family, languages you may speak with people with whom you share a hobby like a sport.
  • To whom do you speak those different languages?
  • How do you feel about speaking different languages to different people in different contexts? Explain.
  • How does your intended audience impact how you speak to someone and the word choice you use?
  • How does the purpose for your communication impact what you say and how you say it?
  • How can you have a similar message or purpose for different audiences but use different word choice based on your audience?
  • How do you integrate all the languages you speak?
  • What kind of language or register or discourse are you going to use in your final project (Unit 3 research)? Explain, in detail, why this is the most effective mode of communication or register.
  • What genre is your project? If it is a news opinion article, explain in detail why you decided that this genre is most effective. If it is a video presentation, explain why a video is most effective.

2 Comments

  1. Rosana

    • I speak two languages: Spanish and English. I use both at work and with family. At work, I talk more formally, especially with co-workers and patients. With friends and family, I speak more casually. Sometimes I use slang or a mix of both languages. So, I use both in different ways depending on the situation.
    • I speak Spanish with my family and some close friends, especially those from Spanish backgrounds. I speak mostly English at home, work, and in school.
    • I’m not too confident in my Spanish speaking abilities. Even though the language is not new to me, I sometimes feel uncomfortable speaking it with people I don’t know, especially because my Spanish isn’t perfect. However, I’ve been improving, and I feel more comfortable with it over time.
    • My intended audience affects how I speak and the words I use. For example, if I’m talking to someone at work or someone I don’t know well. I try to be more formal and careful with my choice of words, especially in English. But if I’m talking to close friends or family, I feel more relaxed and will use slang or a combination of both languages.
    • The purpose of my communication affects what I say and how I say it. I’m trying to explain something important or serious, like work or school, I speak more clearly and formally so people understand me better. If I’m just joking around or chatting with friends, I use more casual language, and I do not worry as much about making it sound perfect or educated.
    • You can have the same message or purpose, but change your words depending on who you’re talking to. For example, if I want to ask for help, I might say it more formally at work, like “Could you please help me with this issue I am having with a patient who does not understand his treatment plan?”. But with friends, I might say, “listen here, come help me real quick”. The message is the same, but I have changed the tone depending on my audience.
    • I integrate both languages I speak by switching between them depending on who I am speaking with. For example, I might use English at work or home, but when I’m with family or friends, I speak Spanish. Sometimes I mix both languages, especially with people who speak both languages.
    • For my Unit 3 project, I am writing a children’s book that includes some Spanish. The language I’ll use will be a mix of simple, clear English for the majority of the book, but I’ll incorporate Spanish in a way that will make it feel natural for the context and the characters. Since it is a children’s book, I will keep the language friendly, but I’ll use Spanish in certain parts to expose kids to new words or phrases. The register will be informal, approachable, matching the tone of a children’s story, but with enough clarity so young readers can understand. I think the bilingual approach will make the story more engaging and help some learn some words in Spanish.
    • My project is a children’s book. I chose this genre because it allows me to engage with young readers in an educational way regarding real-life issues.
  2. SHARMINA

    —-I speak Bangla, English, and Banglish (a mix of Bangla and English). With these languages, I have also multiple discourse & registers. I speak informal Bangla/Banglish with friends who are from Bangladesh, my parents, cousins, more formal Bangla if I’m speaking to my distant relatives. I use casual English with my siblings and close friends, or making a social media post. When I’m speaking to or sending an e-mail to my professors, employers I use formal English. I also use formal English when I am writing a report in school & making a societally important phone calls.

    —-I enjoy using different languages with different people because it helps me communicate better in each situation. It feels natural and makes my conversations more comfortable and personal.

    —-The way I speak and the words I choose depend on who I’m talking to. I adjust my language based on the person and the situation.

    —-The context of my conversation affects the way that I say things. If I am trying to explain something important or professional, I am careful with my words. If I am just chatting and joking, I speak more informally and freely.

    —-I can change the tone and complexity of the message. For example, if I were to discuss the topic of cancer detection to a doctor and a friend I could use technical words to describe the process with the doctor and a more common word choice with my friend. The message is still the same but the language register is different.

    —-The genre of my project is an infographic. I selected this genre because infographics are ideal for public places, such as clinics or waiting rooms. The visual aspect of an infographic can draw attention quickly and convey a message using only a few lines. I thought this was important because it is not very common for people to stop and read anything long while in a public setting. The combination of visual design, message clarity, and emotional pull made the infographic an effective way to promote awareness regarding the role that AI plays in cancer detection.

    —-I opted to use plain and simplified language so anyone could understand the message. I avoided complex terms and focused on simple wording that explained how AI helps with cancer detection. I think the simple and public friendly style that I chose was the best way to convey message to my readers.

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