what's the meaning of "register" in this text?
This piece is taken from a book entitled Postmodernization by Stephen Crook and others. It discusses how postmodernization has affacted Tasmania, the remotest area in the world, which used to be very conservative traditionally.
To better understand what the author describes in the piece, the translator needs to be familiar with some basic characteristics of premodern, modern and postmodern societies. One of the most important features of postmodernization is globalization, which manifests itself in what has been happening in Tasmania described in the first paragraph of the piece.
Since the piece was written by scholars, the translator needs to reflect the REGISTER characteristics of academic writing of this kind. For detailed suggestions and hints, pls refer to the notes.

Question

what's the meaning of "register" in this text?
This piece is taken from a book entitled Postmodernization by Stephen Crook and others. It discusses how  postmodernization has affacted Tasmania, the remotest area in the world, which used to be very conservative traditionally. 
To better understand what the author describes in the piece, the translator needs to be familiar with some basic characteristics of premodern, modern and postmodern societies. One of the most important features of  postmodernization is globalization, which manifests itself in what has been happening in Tasmania described in the first paragraph of the piece.
Since the piece was written by scholars, the translator needs to reflect the REGISTER characteristics of academic writing of this kind. For detailed suggestions and hints, pls refer to the notes.

Answer

I believe "register" means the particular style or variety of a language, generally used for a purpose or in a particular setting.  So, "register" characteristics would be the features of that particular style of writing.
For example, in a scientific paper the writing is very formal and specific.  In a letter to a friend, it would be casual, using slang, and perhaps even include phrases that only the author and recipient would understand.
The use of these word in this way would be an example of a "register characteristic".  You would probably never see this definition of these words outside of academic or other very formal writing.