Spoken language

There's a vast range of spoken language you can use in a drama. The words you choose need to be just right for the character, the setting and the situation. Here are some pointers to help you.

• Language registers - remember to change the way you speak to different people. We wouldn't say "Hello, darlin', you all right?" to a judge in real life, so if you're playing a judge in a drama, keep the register formal, and don't ask your witness "Right, mate, what happened next then?" Our language register should match the role that we play.
• Verse - use this in stylised drama, or in genres such as pantomime.
• Shakespearean language - apart from the obvious, this can be useful if you want to reflect Shakespearean times, or to evoke Shakespeare's plays.
• Slang - use this if you want to reflect down-to-earth daily life. We might have local words for various objects, for example. However, remember not to use slang in the wrong setting. Using 'OK' instead of 'Yes' in a Victorian drama, for example, would sound very strange!

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