Learning activities

Unit 3: Language variation and social purpose

In Unit 3, the focus is on the stylistic features of informal and formal language. The terms ‘positive face needs’ and ‘negative face needs’ are derived from Brown and Levinson’s work on politeness theory. Texts for study at the more informal end of the continuum will include transcripts and/or recordings of spoken conversations, and teachers should ensure that students are familiar with the conventions for the transcription of spoken English texts. The features of informal texts are also found in written texts including those in digital mode.

Texts for study at the more formal end of the continuum will include a range of written texts, but teachers should also select some spoken texts for this area of study.

Area of Study 1: Informal language
Area of Study 2: Formal language