how to talk about language register without using the word register ?

[vost]

I would like to talk about language register but without using the word register.

I would like to mean these words belong more to the register of romance than to the friendship one but without using the register concept/word.

Any idea is welcome...

 

[bibliolept]

You could talk about whether a word has a formal or informal tone; you could also discuss the contexts within which it is usually employed.

 

[NotTheDoctor]

I would like to talk about language register but without using the word register.

I would like to mean these words belong more to the register of romance than to the friendship one but without using the register concept/word.

Any idea is welcome...

Vost, the term "register" is generally used to refer to levels of formality. You could say instead something like "These words speak of romance rather than friendship".

 

[ewie]

How about level? (Just a suggestion.)

 

[NotTheDoctor]

How about level? (Just a suggestion.)

If he uses level instead of register in his sentence, this would be the result:
these words belong more to the level of romance than to the friendship one
That sounds really weird, don't you think?

 

[ewie]

I'm not sure if Vost is talking romance as in Barbara Cartland or romance as in Eleanor of Aquitaine.

 

[NotTheDoctor]

The way I understand the sentence vost proposed, what he means is that the words in question are more appropriate for lovers than friends. That's what the sentence means in French anyway.

 

[vost]

Vost, the term "register" is generally used to refer to levels of formality.

The quoted Wikipedia article says: In linguistics, a register is a subset of a language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting. <edit>that's the meaning I'm interested in</edit>

 

[vost]

The way I understand the sentence vost proposed, what he means is that the words in question are more appropriate for lovers than friends. That's what the sentence means in French anyway.

Yes, that's what I mean.

 

[NotTheDoctor]

The quoted Wikipedia article says: In linguistics, a register is a subset of a language used for a particular purpose or in a particular social setting.

Which is why I used the word "generally". I think "register of romance" sounds weird in English, that's why I gave you a differenet option. And you didn't want to use the word register...

 

[vost]

Which is why I used the word "generally". I think "register of romance" sounds weird in English, that's why I gave you a differenet option. And you didn't want to use the word register...

It sounds, if not weird, at least uncommon in French too. I saw your other option and I like it a lot

 

[NotTheDoctor]

I saw your other option and I like it a lot

Great, I'm glad I was able to help you.

 

[vost]

You could say instead something like "These words speak of romance rather than friendship".

Would These words suggest more romance than friendship or These words are more suggestive of romance than friendship be acceptable too?

 

[jinti]

Would These words suggest romance more than friendship or These words are more suggestive of romance than friendship be acceptable too? Yes.

 

[vost]

Which one is the more common/usual in casual language: suggest or suggestive of?

 

[GreenWhiteBlue]

You might also say:
These words have the flavor of romance rather than of friendship
or
These words have an aura more of romance than friendship
or
These words smack of romance, not friendship
or
These words sound more like romance than like friendship.

 

[KHS]

or, "this type of language is used more for romance than friendship"

 

[jinti]

Which one is the more common/usual in casual language: suggest or suggestive of?

Suggest is more ordinary than to be suggestive of.

 

[Thomas1]

How about:
These words have a romance tinge to it.
These words have a romance tang about it.
?

Tom

 

[vost]

You might also say:
These words have the flavor of romance rather than of friendship

If I would like to use this sentence with the word more inside.
Is These words have more the flavor of romance than of friendship correct?

 

[vost]

You might also say:
These words have the flavor of romance rather than of friendship

If I would like to use this sentence with the word more inside.
Is These words have more the flavor of romance than of friendship correct?

Is the sentence correct?

 

[Kevin Beach]

I would like to talk about language register but without using the word register.

I would like to mean these words belong more to the register of romance than to the friendship one but without using the register concept/word.

Any idea is welcome...

Frankly, I'd call it the "language of romance". My reason is that it is a well-used phrase that is immediately understood as meaning the words and usages peculiar to romance.

I know it seems contradictory, because you are trying to express a language sub-set, but in this particular instance the fact that the particular usage is already so well established justifies it.

Frankly, these words belong more to the language of romance than to the language of friendship.

 

[vost]

Frankly, these words belong more to the language of romance than to the language of friendship.

is the language of friendship also a well-used phrase?

 

[Kevin Beach]

is the language of friendship also a well-used phrase?

Yes. In fact "the language of..." can be used in various contexts.