UNIT 1

LESSON 1: NATURE OF LANGUAGE

WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

• Language is a structured system of communication that is put together in an Organized,

deliberate manner. It has a system of rules (grammar), a system of sound (phonology), and
vocabulary (lexicon).
• Humans are the only ones capable of producing language. Though animals produce Sounds to
express their feelings and emotions, like for example, a dog barks to let you Know that he’s
hungry and is asking for food, they can’t really organize these sounds and Make it into more
meaningful sentences. This skill requires more brain capacity that only Us, humans can do.
• Language is a primary tool for communication.

HOW DO WE ACQUIRE LANGUAGE?

• Language Acquisition – the process of acquiring the languages used by the people that
Surrounds us.
• First Language or Mother Tongue – the language that we have acquired as we grow Up (In
our case, our mother tongue is Filipino).
• We can understand each other in the community that we are in because we share the Same set
of rules in a language system. This community is what we call our Speech Community.
• Second Language – the language we learn from school or on our own.
• Language Learning – the process of learning a language apart from the language we Have
already acquired.

What happens if you move into another speech Community that is different from our own?

Though at first, it will be a challenge for you to try and Understand the people in that
community, eventually you will Be able to communicate as you slowly learn each other’s
Languages, that is what you call Language Contact.
As you continuously connect and communicate with them, you Will produce a new
language that is understandable to the both Of you. That is, Language Change.
 Lesson 2: Communication Processes, Principles & Ethics
What is Communication?

 Communication, which comes from the Latin word “communicare”, Meaning to share
or to make ideas common, is defined as the Exchange of thoughts, ideas, concepts, and
views between or among Two or more people, in various contexts.
 Studying communication will enable us to become good and Responsible participants. By
being good participants means that as Senders and receivers of messages, a common
understanding is Achieved, resulting in a successful communication.

What is Purposive Communication?

 Purposive Communication is an intentional communication that happens within the

Bounds of specific contexts.

 What then is a context?

Context is a circumstance in which a communication takes place. It includes:
 settings or environment
 Social relations
 Scenes which includes place, time and occasion
 Culture
Context are vital consideration in communication acts since they affect the process of
Sending and receiving messages; semantics or meanings; choice of channels, words and Methods
of delivery.

Basic Elements in a Communication Process

Basic Elements in a Communication Process

1. Sender – the person who initiates the communication process. He is the source of the
Idea/concept/thought. He must have a clear idea/picture in his mind of what he wants To
communicate and should select words/images that would best convey his idea. He Should
always keep in mind the purpose of why he wants to communicate.
2. Message – idea/thought/concept/view.
3. Receiver – the one who receives the message or to whom the message is intended to.
Communication will not be complete in the absence of the receiver, if the message Does
not reach the receiver and if the receiver does not understand the message.
4. Channel / Medium – system used to transmit the message.
5. Noise / Interference – barriers that obstruct the message from being transmitted.
6. Feedback – response/reaction to the message.
7. Context – setting/environment
General Principles of Effective Communication

1. Know your purpose in communicating – Are you communicating to inform, to

entertain or to Persuade? You always have to know the reason why you communicate.
2. Know your audience – the audience usually dictates which speaking or writing style you
Should use. Consider the age, educational background, profession, culture of your
listeners or Readers.
3. Know your topic – When you know your topic, you’ll be able to utilize communication
Techniques that will easily catch the attention of your readers or listeners.
4. Adjust your speech or writing to the context of the situation. – the environment in
which your Speech or writing is to be delivered determines the kind of language you will
use.
5. Work on the feedback given to you – take kindly to criticisms. If you receive comments
from Your listeners/readers, work on them.

7 C’s of Effective Communication

Ethics in Communication

Ethics comes from the Greek word Ethos, which means custom, habit, character or
Outlook. Though people vary in their moral philosophies, people in general expect to be Treated
with dignity, fairness, respect or with basic courtesy in their communication Encounters.

Universal Approaches to Ethics in Communication:

1. Adhering to golden rule – “Always treat others the same way you want to be treated.”
2. Considering the feelings of the receiver – maintain tact and diplomacy in
Communications. Be careful with the words spoken, tone and gestures used when
Communicating.
3. Acknowledging the source of idea and information – it is unethical to convey other
People’s ideas as your own. Acknowledge and recognize author’s names or
Organizations.
4. Speaking the truth – Do not spread fake news.

LESSON 3: TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION ACCORDING TO MODE

A message may be conveyed via these types: (a) verbal – non-verbal and (b) visual

A. VERBAL – NON-VERBAL

 Effective communication calls for the blending of the verbal and non-verbal cues. One
cannot be separated From one another.
 Non-verbal cues are facial gestures and disposition you do while communicating.
B. VISUAL
 Visual Communication, on the other hand, is the type of communication that uses visuals
to convey Information and/or messages.
 Some examples are signs, symbols, imagery, maps, graphs, charts, diagrams, pictograms,
photos, drawings or Illustrations, and other various forms of electronic communication.
  It is important that the receiver of the message is able to decode and interpret the meaning
of the symbols Correctly by contextualizing the information received.

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION ACCORDING TO CONTEXT

A. INTRAPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
 Intrapersonal communication means talking to oneself. (-intra, latin prefix which means
within or inside.)
 It is the same with self or inner talk, inner monologue or inner dialogue. Psychologists
call it self verbalization or self-statement.
 You normally talk to yourself because you think that there is a need to:
 Boost your confidence when you are nervous to speak in front of an audience
 Praise and commend yourself that you performed a good job
 Console yourself when you did poorly to a task
 Self-talk can be advantageous as it can enable you to practice what you ought to say in
times when you Lack the motivation and confidence to speak.
 You may also find yourself verbalizing your thoughts and feelings to respond to life’s
challenges.

B. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
 -inter, as opposed to -intra, mean between, among or together. Interpersonal
communication, therefore is Communication between or among two or more individuals
through verbal and non-verbal methods.
 We say that a communication situation is interpersonal if it is meant to establish or
deepen one’s Relationship with others. However, if the objective is to achieve something
at the end of the conversation, it Becomes transactional.
 Interpersonal is characterized by less seriousness and formality, and are meant for
maintaining social Relationships. Meanwhile, transactional is more formal and profound
and aims to accomplish or resolve Something at the end of the conversation.
C. EXTENDED COMMUNICATION
 Extended communication involves the use of electronic media.
 Some examples are the use of television and radio, tele, audio and/or phone conferencing,
video Conferencing, and other technological means.
 Extended communication is public in nature. Speakers are expected to be prepared when
they speak, Making their language more formal.
 With the use of electronic media, messages are transmitted quickly. Information may be
seen and Transmitted in a matter of seconds/minutes and may be viewed by a greater
number of people.

D. ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION
 Organizational communication focuses on the role that communication plays in
organizational contexts.
  Organization, as defined, is a group of people who work together to meet a need or
pursue collective Goals.
 For an organization to be successful, a system of communication should be put in place.
A set of rules or Standards for communication protocol should be made clear so that
interaction patterns are established.

2 types of organizational structure:

a) Formal – allows communication to take place via designated channels

of message flow between Positions in the organization.

b) Informal – comes from unofficial channels of message flow (also

known as ‘Grapevine’). Messages Coming from different levels of
organization are transmitted generally because of the dissatisfaction of
Some accompanied by uncertainty.

Four approaches in Formal Structure:

1. Downward communication – communication that flows from upper to lower

positions (top down)
2. Upward communication – subordinates send communication to their superiors
(bottom-up)
3. Horizontal communication – lateral in approach as it takes place among people
belonging to the Same level but coming from different departments or units to
facilitate performance of tasks Through proper coordination
4. Crosswise communication – diagonal in nature as people from different units or
departments Working at various levels communicate with each other.

E. INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
 Intercultural communication is communication between or among people having
different Linguistic, religious, ethnic, social and professional backgrounds.
 Individuals having different orientations communicate and interpret messages differently.
This Particularly happens in non-verbal communication.

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION ACCORDING TO PURPOSE AND STYLE

 Communication in relation to purpose and style are (a) formal and (b) informal.
 Unlike the ones discussed in organizational communication which focuses on the
transmission of message and Message flow, the focus here is on the communication
setting and the mode of delivery.
 A. FORMAL COMMUNICATION
 Employs formal language delivered orally or in written form.
 Lectures, public speeches, research and public proposals, reports, and business letters are
considered formal Situations and writings.

B. INFORMAL COMMUNICATION
 Involves personal and ordinary conversations with friends, family members or
acquaintances about anything Under the sun. The purpose is to socialize and enhance
relationships.
 The mode may be oral or face-to-face, ordinary or everyday talks and phone calls, or
written like e-mail Messages, personal notes, letters or text messages.

LESSON 4: COMMUNICATION MODEL

ARISTOTLE’S COMMUNICATION MODEL

 Aristotle’s model can be divided into five (5) primary elements:

 This is considered as the first model of communication and was proposed before 300
B.C. It is also the most widely accepted among all communication models.
 It is a speaker-centered model as the speaker has the most important role and is the only
One active.
 The role of the speaker is to deliver a speech to the audience. The speaker must organize
The speech beforehand, according to the target audience and situation (occasion). The
Speech must be prepared in order to influence or persuade the audience.
 The role of the audience is passive, influenced by the speech.
 This model was highly used to develop public speaking skills. Thus, it is less focused on
Intrapersonal or interpersonal communication.
 There is no concept of feedbacks

LASSWELL’S COMMUNICATION MODEL

  Lasswell’s Communication Model, (also known as the action model), was developed by
Communication theorist Harold D. Lasswell in 1948.

 It is regarded as one the most influential communication models

 Lasswell’s communication model has 5 components which is used as an analysis tool for
evaluating the communication process and components.
 The components are the questions to be asked to get the answers and keep
communication going.

 Control analysis helps the sender to have all the power.

 Content analysis is associated to stereotyping and representation of different groups
Politically. It is also related to the purpose or the ulterior motives of the message.
 Media analysis represents which medium should be used to exercise maximum power
Against the receivers.
 Audience analysis shows who are the target population to be manipulated or
brainwashed.
 Effect analysis is done before the process starts. It is used to predict the effect of
Message over the target population to be exploited.

SHANNON-WEAVER’S COMMUNICATION MODEL

  Shannon-Weaver’s communication model (“Mother of all models”) was created in 1948
when Claude Elwood Shannon wrote an article “A Mathematical Theory of
Communication” in Bell System Technical Journal with Warren Weaver.
 Shannon was an American mathematician whereas Weaver was a scientist.

 Sender (Information source) – is the person who makes the message, chooses the
channel and Sends the message.
 Encoder (Transmitter) – is the sender who uses machine, which converts message into
signals Or binary data. It might also directly refer to the machine.
 Channel – is the medium used to send message.
 Decoder (Receiver) – is the machine used to convert signals or binary data into message
or the Receiver who translates the message from signals.
 Receiver (Destination) – is the person who gets the message or the place where the
message Must reach.
 Noise – is the physical disturbances like environment, people, etc. which does not let the
Message get to the receiver as what is sent.

BERLO’S COMMUNICATION MODEL

 In 1960, David Berlo postulated Berlo’s Sender-Message-Channel-Receiver (SMCR)
model of Communication from Shannon Weaver’s Model of Communication (1949).
Berlo’s Model has mainly, four components to describe the communication process. Each
of the Component is affected by many factors.
 1. SOURCE – the sender is the source of the message or the person where the message
originates. The person or source sends the message to the receiver.

Factors the sender should have:

 Communication Skills - If the sender has good communication skills, the message will
be communicated better.
 Attitude - The person’s attitude towards self, the receiver and the environment changes
the meaning and effect of the message.
 Knowledge - Knowledge on the subject matter makes the communicator send the
message effectively.
 Social Systems - Values, beliefs, laws, rules, religion and many other social factors affect
the sender’s way of communicating the message.
 Culture - Cultural differences make messages different.

2. MESSAGE - A message is the substance that is being sent by the sender to the
receiver. It might be in the form of voice, audio, text, video or other media. The key
factors affecting the message are.

Key factors affecting the message:

 Content - the whole message from beginning to end
 Elements - are the non verbal things that comes with the content like gestures, signs,
language, etc.
 Treatment - is the way in which the message is conveyed to the receiver. Treatment also
effects the feedback of the receiver.
 Structure – is the way the message is arranged.
 Code - is the form in which the message is sent. It might be in the form of language, text,
video, etc.

3. CHANNEL – is the medium used to send the message. In mass communication and other
Forms of communication, technical machines might be used as a channel like telephone, Internet,
etc. But in general communication, the five senses of a human being is the channel For the
communication flow and it affects the effectiveness of the channel.

4.RECEIVER – is the person who decodes the message. The message might not have the Same
effect as intended if the receiver and the sender are not similar. The receiver must Also have a
very good listening skill.

LESSON 5: Communication and Technology

Communication in Social Media
 With the rapid rise and spread of Internet Connectivity today, the old forms of
Communication have given way to new forms That make communication easier and
faster. The increase in the speed of communication Has created a sense of urgency and a
need to Share things among people, provided an inside Perspective of faraway places,
and made Digital messages more personal.

Social Media
 Social media can be described as the collection of Online platforms that involve sharing
and collaborating With an online community by posting, commenting, And interacting
with one another. The most commonly used social media platforms Today are Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Tiktok and Snapchat.

Social Media Effects in Communication

Information Overload
 Many people tend to binge on social media, spending hours And hours scrolling though
sites.

Young People Read News

 Social media has made reading the news cool again. People Share interesting news they
read, and they can follow various News sources’ pages.

Getting the Full Picture

 Stories — a part of Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook — mean That people get the full
picture of an event, activity, or Occurrence in someone’s life.

Boredom in Conversation
 People have such a need for social media consumption life That instant, colorful feedback
only social media can give, They will often become bored during real conversations,
Resorting to their phones.

Reactions to Non-Verbal, Emotional, and Social Cues

 In-person reactions to non-verbal, emotional, or social cues are changing In that people
don’t need to respond to these types of communication When they are online.
Sense of Urgency
 No one has to wait for longer than a few hours for a response, and people Have come to
expect that timeline for conversations.

Need to Share
  Social media has created a feeling among users that they must Share whatever they are
doing.

How We Value Ourselves

 When people see others having a wonderful life, as represented On social media, they
tend to have a negative self-image, and Start to devalue their own ways of life.

Inside Perspective of Afar

 With social media, especially on Instagram, users are able to See what others are doing
around the world. People are Exposed to travel ideas, new cultures, and ways of life
unlike Before.

Broadcasting Live
 The option to post live videos has created an important Platform for serious issues that
need to be spoken about.

Personalized Digital Messages

 People can now completely change their own faces with selfie Filters, or draw pictures to
send to friends, and more.

Summarized Writing
 Starting with the limited character text messaging of the 2000s, And nowadays with the
140-character tweet, messages have Been getting shorter and more concise.

Abbreviations
 The abbreviated style of communicating that became popular When text messaging
started in the 00’s has continued into Online conversations.

Unfiltered Interactions
 Interactions are no longer face to face, and this can lead to some Unfiltered conversations
as people feel they can say anything with no Repercussions.

GIFs and Emojis

 The introduction of using emojis to illustrate a written message or a GIF To express a
reaction may seem fun and innocent, but it is also Interfering with our ability to properly
craft a written response.

Viral Messages
 That quick and easy “share” button on so many social media platforms Has led to the
phenomenon of “going viral.” Messages, videos, and other Content can be easily shared
between platforms with millions of people In a matter of days.
 Unit 2: Intercultural Communication

Lesson 1: Globalization and its Effect on Communication

What is Globalization? 
Globalization is the communication and assimilation among individuals, ethnicities, races,
institutions, governments of various nations supported by technology and compelled by
international trade. Because of globalization, we are becoming exposed to diversity—the valuing
of the uniqueness or differences in gender preference, color, age, religious affiliation, ethnicity,
education, social and economic status and political beliefs.  

Globalization, thereferore makes nationalities, societies and races interconnected, thus, posing
an impact on each other’s economy, politics, culture, social and educational system.

What are some of the drivers of Globalization? 

1. Colonization. This marked the beginnings of globalization. For instance, here in the
Philippines, the Spaniards, Americans and other colonizers have introduced their cultures
(language, food, clothing, beliefs, values, education etc.) to our country, and some of these
ways of living have been consciously or unconsciously adopted, even up to this day by our
society. Other asian countries have also experienced colonization and this has shaped their
social, economic and education systems as well, without necessarily being discoonected from
their own countries’ local methods of civilations. 
2. Diaspora (Migration). This is a phenomenon that refers to people’s movement and
inhabitation in countries outside of their own. We migrate out of our own homeland for several
reasons. Some because of employment opportunities, others for education. People also migrate
because of marriage and professional advancements. Migration provides us a picture of fluidity
among people from different races where new networks of economy and cultures are formed and
established.

3.Technology. Technology has immensly facilitated globalization. Because of the proliferation

of the internet, we are no longer strangers to events outside of our own country. Our exposure to
diverse political, economic and social systems through global news, current events and other
media publicities have educated us on a micro level, potentially impacting our individual views
towards other societies, and on a macro level, influencing our nation’s perspective towards
governance, economic trading, social dealings and education system. Moreover, because of
communication technologies, it has become effortlesss to interact with others through video
chats, and phone conversations. These technologies allow us to have  instantaneous feedbacks
and negotiations. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Globalization

Advantages:

1. Increased business opportunities 

Technology makes it easier to connect with suppliers and customers all over the world,
and to streamline those relationships through improved ordering, shipment tracking and
so on. With this kind of communication technology, many businesses are able to take
advantage of opportunities in different countries or cities, improving the economic
outlook on a global level. 
Thanks to global communication, information itself can be transferred as a valuable
business asset from one country to another. This has the effect of making everyone's
operations more modern and efficient, regardless where they arAdvantages

2. Fewer cultural barriers

Many people perceive culture to be the root of communication challenges. When people
from two different cultures try to exchange information, the way they speak, their body
language or their mannerisms can be interpreted differently by the other person. 
With television and movies, cultural barriers are becoming less prevalent. Being able to
communicate effectively and frequently with colleagues or friends across the planet helps
people understand each other’s cultures a little better.

3. Creation of a global village 

 Global village is described as the phenomenon of the world becoming more
interconnected as the result of the propagation of media technologies throughout the
world. The term was coined by Canadian media theorist, Marshall McLuhan.
The global village is created when distance and isolation no longer matter because people
are connected by technology. Wide-spread telephone and internet access have been life-
changing for many people across the world, especially those in developing countries.
Many are now enrolling in universities across the world without having to leave their
desk chair. Virtual assistant jobs are becoming commonplace, providing administrative
support and other business services that can easily be conducted over the phone or via the
internet. 

Disadvantages:

1. Job Insecurity
Globalization has been blamed for the loss of millions of jobs around the world – in
particular middle-wage, middle skilled jobs like managers, assembly line workers or
secretaries. These jobs are often outsourced to regions that have lower wages, or are
being replaced entirely by rapid advances in technology, making them obsolete. 

2. Fluctuation in price
Due to increase in competition, developing countries are forced to lower down prices of
their products. 

3. Losing Cultural Identity 

National borders are not the only boundaries that humans set for themselves as they go
about the business of daily life. We also set limits on our cultural identity, ethnicity, and
family environment. When we move toward a society that focuses on globalization first,
then these points of emphasis hold less importance. They would still be present because
individuals always define themselves in some way because of their history, but it would
also be an element that slowly disappears.

Globalization and Communication 

With globalization, there is a need for a common language to achieve international intelligibility.
In this case, the language that has been widely spoken and used by most is English, thus, being
considered as the global language. Its worldwide reach is much greater than any other language.
In the field of international business, education, science, diplomacy, transportation and
entertainment, English has already established itself to be the lingua franca. 

Although we have already established a global language, patterns of interactions such as

greetings, gestures etc.) still aren’t universal. Nationalities, ethnic groups, religious communities,
gender groups, generations and other subcultures still maintain their unique ways of
communication expressions, hence, still presenting barriers in communication. In order to
effectively communicate in a global context, there should be a general understanding of the
differences of cultures/sub-cultures to help in avoiding miscommunication. 

Possible cultural barriers to effective communication in a global environment:

1. Cultural relativism
2. Lack of knowledge of other’s culture
3. Discrimination and harassment
4. Language differences

It is the responsibility of the parties involved in the communication process to eliminate the
hindrances in their exchange. The goal of effective global communication is to achieve
communication that gets the desire response leading to harmonious connections. 
Krizan (2014) suggests these strategies to become an effective global communicator:
1. Review communication principles
2. Analyze the message received.
3. Be open to accepting other cultures.
4. Learn about cultures and apply what is learned
5. Consider language needs. 

Lesson 2. Local and Global Communication in Multicultural

Settings

Living in a globalized world, we encounter people with diverse cultural backgrounds. Such
interactions occur in social, educational, political and commercial settings. Consequently, in
today’s era of increased global communication, it is essential that we understand intercultural
communication to be able to enhance our intercultural awareness and competence. 

Intercultural communication refers to the interaction of people from diverse cultures. (Jandt,
1998)

Forms of Intercultural Communication:

1. Interracial communication – communicating with people from different races
2. Interethnic communication – interacting with people of different ethnic origins
 3. International communication – communicating between representatives from different
nations
4. Intracultural communication – interacting with members of the same racial or ethnic
group or co-culture

The following guidelines may help you enhance your ability to communicate effectively across
cultures (Gamble & Gamble 2008): 
1. Recognize the validity and differences of communication styles among people.
2. Learn to eliminate personal biases and prejudices. 
3. Strive to acquire communication skills necessary in a multicultural world. 

Unit 3. Varieties and Registers of Spoken and

Written Language

The spoken mode is often associated with everyday registers while the writing mode is strongly
linked to academic registers. However, this is not always the case. For instance, in everyday
communication, face-to-face conversations are usually supplemented by text messaging. 
In academic contexts, significant forms of oral communication are used along with written
communication. Significantly, both everyday and academic communications are characterized by
multi-modality or the use of multiple modes of communication, including spoken, written modes
and images, music, videos, gestures etc. 

Lesson 1. Varieties of English

World Englishes (WE) stands for the localized varieties of English as they are used or spoken in
certain areas. 

Braj Kachru introduced the “Three Concentric Circles of Asian Englishes” which presents
three circles:
(1) The Inner Circle or the ENL (English as a Native Language) countries
(2) The Outer Circle or the ESL (English as Second Language) countries
(3)  The Expanding Circle or the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) countries. 

If you look at the countries present in the Outer and Expanding Circles, they are countries which
have been colonized by some member countries in the Inner Circle making the varieties they
speak as post-colonial. 
With regards to structural variation, Kachru and Nelson (2006) claim that the varieties od
English are influenced by the local language(s) in various areas of their grammars and exhibit
specific phonological, lexical, syntactic and discoursal characteristics. For instance, in terms of
stress and rhythm, Outer and Expanding Circle varieties observe syllable-timed rhythm rather
than stress-timed rhythm. To learn more about syllable-timed rhythm and stress-timed, you may
watch these Youtube videos:
British Council - Mini English lessons : Stress timed and weak forms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR79TZbKRUU ; 
Rachel’s English - English: A Stress-Timed Language - American Pronunciation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrAe07KluZY

Speakers from the Outer and Expanding Circle countries do not make changes in their
pronunciation to make a distinction between nouns and verbs in pairs which Inner Circle
countries observe and they also do not utilize contrastive stress for focusing. 
As to sounds, Outer and Expanding Circle countries do not observe initial aspiration of voiceless
plosives such as p, t, k and these are often perceived by Inner Circle countries as b, d, g. Some
speakers of Expanding Circle varieties, as in the case of Japanese speakers, do not properly
distinguish between r and l. 

Lesson 2. Language Varieties & Registers

LANGUAGE VARIETIES
Given its dynamic nature, language can be divided into the following varieties: 

1. Standard – To the non-linguist, the standard form of a language is the form that observes
all grammatical rules and structures of the language.
2. Jargon – This is a specialized form of language with vocabulary that is associated with
particular discipline, such as law or medicine.
3. Dialect – This refers to the variety of language common to a particular speech
community.

4. Colloquial – This refers to language that is used in ordinary conversations. It is less

formal than the standard language, but not quite as informal as slang expressions. It
should not be used in formal contexts.

5. Slang – This is a word or an expression that has been made up or that has taken on a new
meaning and is quite popular within certain social or age groups. The words are very often
inappropriate for a formal context.

The main difference between slang and colloquial language is that the slang refers to the
informal usage of language, especially by certain groups of people such as teenagers, while the
colloquial language is the informal use of language consisting certain words or expressions used
by common people.

LANGUAGE REGISTERS
Language registers refers to the range of language choices available for use in different
situations. It is the level of formality and informality of the language used. There are six
language registers: formal, casual, intimate, private, frozen and consultative. 

The table below, adapted from CAPE Communication Studies (McDermott, 2006), lays it out
very clearly:

It is important to remember that the use of language registers is also based on the context of the
communication, in terms of the purpose, the participants and the subject matter being discussed.
The choice of language which persons use as they communicate with each other is largely
dependent on the range of language they have available to them.