Zhu

Shirley Zhu
Mr. Goetz
11th-Grade IB English A: Language and Literature
19 September 2015
Language Differences
When I was stuck by the question what would the subject have to say right now
in the mini-writing task on last Friday, my mind subconsciously recalled a related
scene in a cartoon called Toy Story. In that cartoon, every toy awakes at night and
weirdly talks like humans! On their fascinating land, the main characters, Woody
and Buzz Lightyear fight for an argument I should be Andys favorite toy! about all
their lifetime and experience many great adventure together. That really inspires me
with my question. Intend to speak like an object, like toys, I should make my
language different from my common style and fit myself into toys world. From a
literary consideration, it indicates us that the ways we use language are dependable.
This recognition is useful because it contributes to not only our understanding of
different language styles, but also the knowledge of how to communicate effectively.
Thus, depend on the three different questions it offered, I used three different styles to
do the same thing of describing an object. These three mini-writings illustrate a good
example of using different language in different roles, circumstances and purposes.
Generally, people use different language because they are in different roles within
a society, which means its kind of social-related. The word role is meant by the
position or background of a person in his or her community. Referred to that,
differences in language using For example, it related to the speakers social class.
There are plenty of real-life examples. Suppose you are talking about a movie with

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your friends and with your teacher. In the first case, you can just say I like that movie
because Ive been stared at the hero for two hours in the cinema without moving my
eyes! The wording is amiably and easily. But if you say that to a teacher, you
probably change it as Hi Mr. A, I strongly recommend you to see the latest movie,
the plot is wonderful and the acting is excellent! Obviously, you give up the using of
the word buddy and the description of the heros appearance in order to be more
professional. Why? Because there are social constrains between you and the teachers
but not friends. And in some situations, people talk in different way because their
background is different, or they know different things. Philosophers will never speak
like a new primary school student, as well as an uneducated person may never give an
off-the-cuff speech in the style of Col. Collins did. Also, in the mini-essay, there
should be a remarkable distinguish between the perspectives of the object itself and a
seller. When speaks as an object, students use simple and oral wording to express
itself. I have a really cool appearance, because the universe is in my heart!; My
owner take care of me really good and Im glad to meet new friends (Shirley). When
the student speaks as a seller, the description changes to a small but precise galaxy is
on its dial and the dark blue background gives you a very impressive look of those
stars (Shirley), so the wording is much formal and the seller is tended to be
professional. This is a really cool thing because people can stretch an outlook for a
person base his or her differences in using language.
As the circumstance is changing, ones language styles are various. People do this
all the time because they need to fit into the surrounding and ensure he or she is
speaking properly. Discussing political puzzles when you are spending a holiday with
your close friends is as annoyed as doing homework on a play-truant party. And most

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importantly, people need to express themselves in a proper way, which is referred to

the saying right words at the right time. In the mini-essay, when student simply
described the object, the wording is critical and balanced. Its just like talk about a
product with friends informally, so there are both strengths and flows: Its welldesignedthe bright yellow makes the scales visible for weak light conditionbut
user has to wear it regularly or it may stop (Shirley). The student is not overwhelmed
introducing its good features, which makes other think she is describing a object but
not selling it. But suppose a seller is standing in front of many captious people, how
will he say? Maybe he chooses to be frank and honest, but most of the time, like what
the student have written, the seller uses various words to praise the object light and
precise, unique and impressive without a single word of its flows (Shirley). This is
how the circumstance affects ones language.
Last but not the least, language uses differentiate because they serve for human to
achieve different effects. Writings or speaking all have purposes, informative,
persuasive or corrective, and language uses relay on those. The purpose of a
seller is to sell its goods to consumers, so he or she should make consumers believe
that his products are worth to spend that prize. Referred to this, his or her language
must be persuasive and clearly states the value of the product: Look here, my
friends! The watch you see right now is one of the latest series cosmos system of
the well-known brand, Swatch. It is a light and precise sport watch designed for
teenagers, the appearance of this watch is very unique. (Shirley) Differ from the
language using in the description part, the student adds some subjective objectives
well-known, light and precise and unique, and my friends to help establish

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the trust between sellers and consumers. These word choices may affect audience
impression and help the seller to sell the product, thus he achieves his goal.
Different roles, different circumstance and different goals of language all lead to
the changes in the way people use language. From these, people should be able to find
out the implied information behind the wording or rhetoric. That would help readers
to understand the texts, make the audiences have a better cognition of the speakers,
which limits the gap between those two groups (Flower 75) and increase the
efficiency of communication in the real world.

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Works Cited
Flower, Linda S. Writing for an Audience. Language: a Reader for writers. New
York, Oxford: Oxford University Press. 75. Print.
Zhu, Shirley. Typed Mini-Essay. Typed Mini-Essay. 1-3. Print.