ShmoopTube

00:02

[Dino and Coop singing]

00:12

You've probably noticed that people dress differently in different situations. [Two guys with suits on]

00:16

We might wear sweatpants and a torn T-shirt when mowing the lawn… [Guy dressed in mucky outfit mowing his lawn]

00:19

…but we probably wouldn't wear the same outfit to meet the Queen of England. [Guy running up to the queen with his dirty clothes on]

00:22

Unless…she wanted to mow the lawn with us, or something… [Queen telling the guy he missed a spot]

00:25

Anyway, we see a similar thing when it comes to language: formal language vs. informal language. [Formal language vs informal language in a boxing ring]

00:30

Formal language requires us to use proper words, phrases, punctuation, and grammar. [Coop pointing at a blackboard]

00:33

It's the language equivalent to a tuxedo, with each and every button buttoned up tight.

00:38

Though luckily, you don't need to know how to tie a tie to use formal language. [Bow ties falls off guy with a superman shirt on]

00:41

Those things can be pretty darn tricky.

00:43

On the other hand, informal language is a lot more relaxed. [Informal language on the beach]

00:46

It sometimes uses grammar that isn't super correct, and it uses slang. [Dino pointing at a blackboard]

00:51

Totes cray.

00:52

It's like the old T-shirt and jeans combo of the language world.

00:54

Sure, there might be a few tears, but you can wear them on the bus, no problem. [Informal language on the bus]

00:57

Unless it's one of those really fancy buses with a formal dress code, but those are pretty rare. [Smartly dressed people on a bus]

01:02

One easy way to tell formal from informal language is by the use of contractions, which [Contractions falls between formal and informal language in the boxing ring]

01:06

are words that are made by combining two words.

01:08

For example, say you wanted to write: "They are playing in the pool." [Coop pointing at a blackboard]

01:11

If you were using formal language, you'd keep it as is, no contraction.

01:15

But if you were feeling a bit more informal, you'd change "They are" into "They're."

01:20

And whether we use formal or informal language depends a lot on the situation we're entering into. [Woman about to go into a house]

01:24

Formal language is mainly used in serious situations, whether that's a job interview…

01:29

…a presentation…

01:30

…or writing an essay.

01:31

We also use formal language when we want to show respect to our listener… [Formal language in the different contexts]

01:34

…like if we're talking to a police officer…

01:35

…or chatting with the queen.

01:37

However, the less serious the situation we find ourselves in… [Guy with superman shirt on speaking to someone in crazy rainbow town]

01:40

…the more likely we are to use informal language.

01:42

Chances are, if you're hanging with your buds, you'll use contractions and slang.

01:46

And hey, if you ever become buddy-buddy with the queen, she might even join in. [The Queen saying, "Nobody is as cray-cray as I am."]

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