LANGUAGE CHOICES AND SOCIAL ROLES; A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL REGISTERS

Abstract

This article provides a comprehensive investigation into the relationship between linguistic register and the performance of social roles. Drawing upon the "Context of Situation" framework by M.A.K. Halliday and Martin Joos's "Five Clocks," the study explores how individuals strategically navigate the spectrum between formal and informal registers to negotiate power and establish solidarity. The research examines complex syntactic variations, including nominalization in formal settings versus ellipsis and colloquialisms in informal contexts. By analyzing diverse communicative scenarios, the paper identifies the "Tenor" of discourse as the primary driver of stylistic shift. The findings suggest that register is a dynamic semiotic resource used by speakers to "perform" social identities in the 21st century.