Correct Response: D. Register is a sociolinguistic term that refers to a variety of language that has a specific purpose or use in a particular setting. Legal briefs are written using a formal language register that is specific to the field of law and may include features such as specialized vocabulary, passive voice, and multiple embedded phrases and clauses. A is incorrect because the student does not have difficulty with the function (purpose) of the language in the legal brief. B is incorrect because the language used in a legal brief is specialized and domain specific and not an example of a dialect (language variation arising from separation of groups of speakers of a language because of geographical barriers and/or social divisions). Idiomatic language refers to a phrase that functions as a single unit and must be interpreted figuratively rather than literally, making C incorrect.
