1. Purpose and Context:
* Informal language: Primarily used in casual settings with close friends and family. It emphasizes personal connection and can be used for everyday conversation, personal letters, social media posts, and informal emails.
* Prose: Used for more formal communication. It aims to convey information clearly, accurately, and logically. It's found in books, articles, essays, reports, and legal documents.
2. Structure and Grammar:
* Informal language: Less rigid in structure. It can be fragmented, use contractions, slang, and colloquialisms. Sentence structure may not follow traditional grammar rules.
* Prose: Follows a more structured format with complete sentences, paragraphs, and logical flow. It adheres to grammatical rules, punctuation, and proper spelling.
3. Tone and Diction:
* Informal language: Often uses casual, conversational language with slang, idioms, and personal expressions. The tone can be playful, humorous, or expressive.
* Prose: Maintains a formal tone and uses more precise and sophisticated vocabulary. The goal is to be objective and avoid emotional language.
4. Audience:
* Informal language: Targeted towards a close-knit audience who understands the speaker's cultural references and slang.
* Prose: Aims to be accessible to a wider audience and avoids overly specialized language or jargon.
Important Note: While there's a clear distinction between informal language and prose, there's a spectrum of formality in writing. Some texts might blend elements of both, depending on the intended audience and purpose. For example, a personal essay could use a more informal tone while still maintaining proper grammar and structure.