Understanding Formal and Informal English: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63822/zx384669Keywords:
formal English, informal English, register, language learning, classroom interaction, academic writingAbstract
This literature review examines the use and characteristics of formal and informal English in a range of contexts, including digital communication, classroom interaction, and academic writing. Based on five selected studies, the review analyzes differences between formal and informal registers in terms of vocabulary choice, sentence structure, and pragmatic functions.The first study explores language use in digital communication, emphasizing how context and social conventions influence register selection. The second and fourth studies investigate classroom settings, focusing on how students and lecturers employ both formal and informal expressions in English language learning. The third study offers a theoretical discussion of linguistic features that distinguish formal and informal registers, providing a foundation for understanding register variation. The fifth study examines the use of formal and informal language in academic writing, highlighting the difficulties learners face in applying appropriate registers. Overall, the review highlights the importance of understanding register differences for effective communication, language education, and teaching practices, and emphasizes the need for pedagogical approaches that promote register awareness in diverse learning contexts.
References
Alyami, B. A. (2022). Formal vs informal language in English digital communication: A pragmatic perspective.Journal of Language and Communication Studies, 14(2), 45–58. https://universalpublishings.com/index.php/jusr/article/view/11188
Biber, D., & Conrad, S. (2019). Register variation and pragmatic functions in spoken and written English.Journal of EnglishLinguistics, 47(3), 181–205. https://journals.sagepub.com/home/eng
Darus, S., & Ching, K. H. (2014). Common errors in written English essays of form one Chinese students: A case study. European Journal of Social Sciences, 16(3), 407–419. https://www.europeanjournalofsocialsciences.com
Darwish, A. (2020). Formal and informal English usage in academic contexts: A corpus‑based analysis. Journal of Language and Education, 6(4), 45–59. https://www.journaloflanguageandeducation.org
Fadilah, R., & Nurhayati, L. (2022). Formal and informal talks of lecturers in EFL classroom interaction. Journal of English Language Education and Pedagogy, 4(1), 22–34. https://ejournal.iainpalopo.ac.id/index.php/ideas/article/view/2662
Flowerdew, J. (2015). Some thoughts on English for academic purposes (EAP) and academic writing. Language Teaching,48(1), 28–48. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/language‑teaching.
Halliday, M. A. K., & Matthiessen, C. (2014). Register and genre in English: A functional linguistic perspective. Linguistics and Education, 25(2), 27–43. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/linguistics‑and‑education
Hapsari, A., &Wijayanti, F. (2021). Formal and informal language expressions used by English students of Indonesia in classroom presentation‑interaction. Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics, 6(1), 123–140. https://journal.unilak.ac.id/index.php/elsya/article/view/8293
Hyland, K. (2018). Academic discourse and register choices: Formality in student writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 39, 12–23. https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal‑of‑second‑language‑writing
Jones, R., & Hafner, C. (2012). Understanding digital literacies and register variation in online communication. Digital Culture & Education, 4(2), 89–102. https://www.digitalcultureandeducation.com
Kim, J. (2020). Students’ awareness of formal and informal registers in academic writing. Studies in English Education, 25(1), 55–70. https://journal.unnes.ac.id
Klimczak‑Pawlak, A. (2021). Register awareness and pragmatic competence in EFL learners. Journal of Pragmatics, 180, 112–124. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal‑of‑pragmatics
Kusumaningrum, D. (2017). Register use in classroom interactions of Indonesian EFL learners. TEFLIN Journal, 28(2), 157–170. https://teflin.org
Lee, S. (2019). Digital communication patterns among EFL learners: Mixing formal and informal English. Computer‑Assisted Language Learning, 32(5), 420–437. https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ncal20/current
Mhlophe, K. (2020). Features of formal and informal communication in English language. International Journal of Linguistics and Communication, 8(3), 55–67. https://www.ijlcjournal.org
Murray, L. (2014). Discourse register and stance in student academic writing. Linguistics and Education, 28, 34–50. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/linguistics‑and‑education
Nguyen, T. (2020). Informal digital learning of English and pragmatic development among university students. Computer‑Assisted Language Learning, 33(7), 636–657. https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ncal20/current
Park, J. (2021). Students’ code‑switching between formal and informal English in online learning. Journal of Language and Intercultural Communication, 21(5), 452–468. https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/rjli20/current
Pratama, Y., & Siregar, R. (2021). Formal and informal language features in the academic writing of fourth‑semester EFL students. Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Education, 9(2), 87–99. https://jele.or.id/index.php/jele/article/view/1360
Rahman, M. S. (2021). The use of technology in informal English language learning: Evidence from Yemeni undergraduate students. Journal of E‑Learning and Language Studies, 5(2), 75–90. https://www.jelss.org
Sari, N., & Putri, R. (2022). Formal and informal expressions used in Indonesian EFL online discussions. Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 12(1), 45–57. https://ejournal.upi.edu
Sundqvist, P., &Sylvén, L. K. (2016). Sustaining formal and informal English learning through social networking sites. Language Learning & Technology, 20(1), 111–131. https://www.lltjournal.org
Taguchi, N. (2015). Pragmatic competence and register use in second language learning. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 35, 246–267. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/annual‑review‑of‑applied‑linguistics
Warschauer, M. (2013). Technology and language learning: Formal and informal opportunities for English practice. Language Learning & Technology, 17(2), 1–11. https://www.lltjournal.org
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Habib Anugerah Alkarim, Angela Surya Ginting, Dona Aisyah Sitorus, Naylatul Fadhilah Ginting, Munawarah br. Limbong, Deasy Yunita Siregar (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
