A register is the thing the checkout lady uses to ring up your groceries. It can also mean the actual book that people record things in, or it can refer to a kind of voice or language style. In linguistics, the word register describes how people adjust what they say (semantics) and how they say it (stylistics) to fit in with different social situations. For example, you might speak in a very informal way when talking to your best friend, but use a formal register when chatting with the boss at work. Registers are also used to describe different levels of formality in written communication, like essays or speeches.
The term register is a part of the wider field of discourse analysis. It is one of several categories of language variation, and it is usually categorized as formal or informal. Other types of language variation include regional dialect and age-related speech styles. In some cases, these forms of variation overlap with each other, making it difficult to distinguish between them.
Some people think that there are only two kinds of register, but this is an oversimplification. Most linguists agree that there are actually five distinct registers, all of which differ from each other in terms of their level of formality and the way they are used.
Formal
The most formal register is used in professional, academic, or legal settings. People speaking in this register typically use grammatical conventions such as subject-verb agreement, diction, and sentence structure that are appropriate for the occasion. They may even avoid contractions. Examples of this type of discourse are a TED Talk, an essay for a college course, or an interview with a lawyer.
Informal
The informal register is used in personal and familiar social situations such as a chat with a friend or a conversation with a doctor. It is less rigid than the formal register but more restrictive than the casual register, which is commonly used in everyday conversations. People in this register may use slang or pause between sentences to indicate a sense of intimacy. They may also use a higher-pitched voice to sound more assertive or mature.
Technical
Computers use registers to store instructions before they are executed or to hold intermediate results from calculations. This allows processors to save time by not having to retrieve data from main memory every time they need it. Registers are also often used as a storage device for temporary values in embedded systems, which are self-contained computer systems that are built into larger devices such as cars or household appliances.
Before you begin using your cash register, make sure that it is set up on a hard surface with plenty of room for customers to place their merchandise. It is also important to locate and install batteries. This is a backup in case of a power failure and will keep your register functioning properly. It is recommended that you keep these batteries charged at all times.