Formalitou

Formalitou is a proposed framework for modeling linguistic formality in text. It combines formal constraints with a spectrum of register, enabling computational systems to adjust tone while preserving content. The framework envisions a formal notation to describe linguistic features that signal formality, such as pronoun use, modality, passive constructions, politeness markers, and cohesion devices.

Origin and status: The term emerged in speculative discussions and design fiction in the 2020s. It has not undergone formal standardization and is not widely adopted in mainstream linguistics or NLP research. Because it is informal, different communities may assign different feature sets and scales, leading to varying interpretations of what constitutes a given formality level.

Structure: A formalitou model comprises a formality scale (informal to formal), a feature catalogue (lexical, syntactic, and discourse-level cues), and a constraint checker that assesses alignment between content and tone. Some proposals use a modular notation inspired by logic or type systems to represent permissible configurations and to validate generated text.

Applications: In natural language generation and document drafting tools, formalitou-like controls can guide tone adaptation, generating variants at specified formality levels. In education or professional training, it can serve as a framework for teaching style and cross-cultural communication. Real-world use depends on agreed definitions and robust evaluation.

Critique and status: Critics note the lack of empirical validation and potential for cultural bias, dialect variation, and genre differences. The term remains informal and mostly of interest in speculative discussions, design research, and explorations of controllable style in AI.

See also: formality in linguistics; register; sociolinguistics; natural language generation.