Informal language is used when there is emotional closeness between the speakers.
The etymology of language takes us to the Occitan word lenguatge . The concept refers to the capacity of expression and communication that people have through the articulation of sounds or the use of some other system of signs.
Informal , meanwhile, is that which does not correspond to what is conventional or that does not respect rules, requirements or forms . The idea can also be associated with the absence of solemnity or seriousness.
Informal language is called language that is used daily in environments where there is an emotional closeness with the interlocutors or where there is no hierarchical difference . In daily conversations with family and friends , for example, this type of language is used.
Main characteristics of informal language
Informal language is colloquial : relaxed, not tied to rigid schemes. It is used in contexts of familiarity, unlike what happens with formal language that is put into practice in a protocol environment or that requires the externalization of responsibility and respect .
The simplicity of its structures, the use of fillers and the lack of observation of precision are some of the features of informal language. Generally, informality appears in oral language and not in writing , although this may vary.
In conversations with friends, informal language is used.
Choice according to context
It is important to keep in mind that the choice of the type of language depends on the communicative situation . The same language adapts to circumstances to fulfill its function efficiently.
If there is trust and a relaxation of politeness models is accepted, informal language is used. That acceptance is implicit and socially constructed. In informal language, on the other hand, there is a certain complicity between speakers.
Formal language , on the other hand, develops when there is emotional distance between senders and receivers or when the environment demands rigor and compliance with certain conventions .
Two friends who meet in a bar to have a coffee will communicate using informal language. On the other hand, an employee who must raise a work issue with his boss will resort to formal language.
Of course, the same person can use both informal and formal language throughout the day. A doctor uses formal language when reporting a patient's condition, but then talks to his wife using informal language.
Disadvantages with informal language
Although it can often facilitate communication , informal language becomes inconvenient in some cases. This is because, sometimes, precision and thoroughness are essential.
Returning to the doctor's example, if you are talking to a patient in the office and you must tell him how to take a medication, you cannot tell him “Take a few of these pills for several days.” The situation warrants the use of more formal language, explaining exactly the dosage and extent of the treatment.
Social conventions also make informal language inappropriate. If the president of a nation receives a citizen in his office, the guest is expected to respect guidelines and norms when addressing the country's highest authority.