WHAT IS INFORMAL LANGUAGE? MAIN FEATURES - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The informal language is one whose use is common in everyday life situations. Although its use is quite frequent, not all situations admit informal language; in many cases, its misuse can lead to misunderstandings or uncomfortable scenarios.

It is not the same to write a letter to someone close to the director of a company. Nor is it the same to talk with friends and family than to give a conference before an academic audience.

Using informal language may be correct, but it is necessary to bear in mind that not all spaces are suitable for use.

For this reason, it is very important to identify the most appropriate occasions for the use of informal language, the ideal contexts for its use, the ideal interlocutors and the main elements that characterize it.

Main characteristics of informal language

The characteristics of informal language are varied. This type of language is very broad and can range from spontaneous communications to vulgarisms.

Some of the most salient characteristics of informal language will be listed below:

Use associated with the receiver

The receiver of the message is essential to choose what type of language we should use. It is well seen to use informal language when the interlocutor is a close person, when there is trust between those who interact, or when the conversation includes children.

Informal language contains elements that have to do with language: there are expressions associated with a particular dialect, with people from the same geographical area or of the same age.

Then, when using informal language, the fact that the interlocutors handle the same language and the same colloquial codes must be taken into account.

It is more common when speaking

Informal language tends to be used more when speaking than writing; in fact, there are those who recommend avoiding the use of informal language in written communications.

The use of informal language in a conversation helps to deepen trust between the interlocutors; For this reason, it is common to use it when speaking with close people or in relaxed contexts.

Although informal language is characterized by being used more when speaking, it can also be used, for example, when writing text messages, on informal social networks -such as Facebook and Twitter-, and when writing letters or personal messages.

Usually use ellipsis

In the field of linguistics, an ellipsis is the voluntary subtraction of one or more words within a sentence; These words are grammatically necessary, but without them the phrase in question can be perfectly understood.

For example, in the phrase “he knows how to cook, she doesn't”, the words “knows how to cook” are deleted at the end of the sentence as they are not entirely necessary to understand the message.

Informal language tends to use ellipsis since, generally, it uses simple, straightforward and direct constructions.

Use of grammatical contractions

A grammatical contraction is the union of two words into one. Due to the simple nature of informal language, it often uses grammatical contractions.

There are some mandatory contractions, such as saying “al” instead of “a el”, or “del” instead of “de el”. There are other contractions that are of optional use, such as "anywhere" instead of "wherever", or "once" instead of "another hour."

These words are contractions accepted by the Royal Spanish Academy; however, there are other expressions that are exclusively associated with informal language, such as “pa 'que” instead of “para que”, or “pal” instead of “para el”.

These expressions are not recognized as correct by language academies, but they are widely used in informal language.

Short words

Informal language is usually direct, straightforward and simple. For this reason, use short words instead of very long sentences.

In some cases, unfinished sentences are even used, such as "at the end, well, that…"; or abbreviations, such as "I'm going to listen to the classical music CD."

It seeks to economize words and phrases due to the direct and spontaneous nature of informal language.

Use of popular slang expressions

Within informal language there are expressions whose meaning is not what is understood literally, but which are used to refer to specific situations.

They are constructions associated with the language and the time, and in many cases they are made based on comparisons with images common to a group of people.

These types of phrases are also known as idioms, established phrases that are not strictly based on the rules of grammar, and whose meaning appeals to something other than what they say verbatim.

"The cat ate your tongue" or "we are playing cat and mouse", are examples of phrases typical of Spanish-speaking slang.

Informal language vs. formal language

Each type of language has a very specific application. The same idea can be transmitted through formal or informal language; the use of one or the other will depend on the context in which the interlocutor is located.

Here are some examples in which the same idea will be expressed in both types of language:

Formal language

• I will talk with you about the details of the assignment.
• How are you?
• It may be necessary to leave soon.
• This is very easy.

Informal language

• I'll talk to you about homework.
• How is everything?
• Maybe I have to go soon.
• This is soooo easy.

When not to use informal language?

Informal language should be avoided in work situations, such as job interviews, business meetings, or expositions to company directors or managers.

It should also be avoided when speaking to people you have recently met or with whom you have little confidence; using informal language in these cases can create discomfort in the interlocutor.

Also, informal language can be counterproductive between interlocutors who speak different languages, since it can lead to misinterpretation among those who speak.

The colloquial is no longer so frowned upon

Informal language should not be viewed as vulgar or negative; In fact, given its increasingly frequent use thanks to the popularity of Internet communications, the use of informal language is in many cases a better option to generate complicity and closeness between certain interlocutors, without being disrespectful or abuse of trust.

Just as the Royal Spanish Academy has adapted to the new times by including colloquial words such as “chévere” or “guachimán” in its dictionary, it is possible that informal language covers more and more spaces.

References

1. Pearlman, M. “Biting off more 'informal language' than you can chew” (October 11, 2016) Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved: July 11, 2017 from Columbia Journalism Review: cjr.org.
2. Edwards, A. "When is it ok to use informal language?" (January 12, 2015) Grammarly Blog. Retrieved: July 11, 2017 from Grammarly Blog: grammarly.com.
3. Oxford Dictionaries, “Informal language” in: English Oxford Living Dictionaries. Retrieved: July 11, 2017 from English Oxford Living Dictionaries: en.oxforddictionaries.com.
4. English Grammar Today, “Formal and informal language” in: Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved: July 11, 2017 from Cambridge Dictionary: dictionary.cambridge.org.
5. BBC Skillswise, “Informal language” in: BBC Skillswise (2012). Retrieved: July 11, 2017 from BBC Skillswise: bbc.co.uk.