features of spoken language - analysis

7/28/2019 Features of Spoken Language - Analysis

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Analysis of spoken texts


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Most dominant mode in our society It is a variety in its own right with distinctive

lexical, syntactical, stylistic and structuralcharacteristics

Very often informal Works in conjunction with paralinguistics


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Functions VarietiesInformation lectures and talks (REFERENTIAL)

commentaries (for example, sports)media interviewspolice interrogations

Persuasionsermonspublic speechesdebatesadvice-giving

Entertainmentjoke-tellingstory-tellingcard gameschat shows

Social rapport (PHATIC language used to createsocial contact)

chitchat and small talk

gossipgreeting and farewell sequencesweather talk

Ceremony and ritualwelcome addressesvote of thankswedding toastsfuneral orations

Transactionalshoppingservices


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Prosodics Stress

Pitch Intonation

Volume

Speed/tempo

Silence Laughter Voice quality


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Physical Transient (once spoken, the words are no longer there)

Usually 2+ participants

Situation Usually face to face with audience Immediate feedback Not much time to plan What said cant be taken back only repaired

Function

Speech is a useful tool which can develop relationshipsand convey attitudes and opinions directly


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Form Uses subsystem of phonology Syntax often informal, and use of co-ordinate clauses Intonation and pauses mark grammatical boundaries ofutterances Often incomplete utterances, Colloquialisms, abbreviations, etc Prosodic features such as pace, rhythm and stress patternscarry additional meaning and other non-verbal features Expressions referring to the present situation are common this is, over there Less formal discourse markers, such as well, so, like Ellipsis frequent


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Seamless words run into each other

Less formal lexis (e.g. slang) Repetition, rephrase Non-fluency features um, uh etc Interruptions and overlapping


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In spoken language we take short cuts toachieve fluency and smooth-sounding speech Normal to omit unstressed vowels and syllables

e.g. cos, nough

Contractions e.g. Im, theyre, shes etc

Sometimes include extra sounds (assimilation)

e.g. go(w)ing, idea(r)of, see(y)ing helps smoothtransition

Use of schwa instead of for, your, to we usethe weak form of the vowel fer, yer, ter


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Spoken language is often fast and furious.Consequently:

False starts Interruptions, Self corrections Repetitions Hesitations Fillers (um, ah)


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you know, yeah-no, I mean, well,anyway

These are not meaningless expressions canserve many purposes e.g.

Elicit empathy

Focus of topic / change of topic

Turn-taking

Express social relationships

TAKE THESE PHRASES OUT, NOT SUCH A FRIENDLY CHAT


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Expressive features such as those mentionedearlier can signal logical relations betweenclauses

In spoken texts, difficult to identify sentences(unlike written texts) Dont use much subordination (embedding

clauses into sentences) Spoken language, simple clauses strung

together through co-ordination, usually and,but, cos

Informal syntactical patterning


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Openings We start conversations in a socially acceptable way context, function and audience will determine what openingstrategies we employ. e.g, if asking people we dont knowdirections, well open with an expression such as Excuse me;waiters might open a conversation with a greeting such as hello,then ask are you dining this evening or just after coffees. INFORMAL EXAMPLES OF OPENINGS?

Endings We also have to end a conversation in a sociallyacceptable manner. For example, when bidding farewell to

someone close to us, we might use a phrase such as See yatomorrow, but use a more formal farewell such as It was very niceto meet you with those we are less familiar with. INFORMAL EXAMPLES OF ENDINGS?


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In a scripted dialogue, the writer decides whowill speak, when and for how long

In unscripted dialogue there are conventionsfor turn taking e.g. Falling intonation

Drawing out of words final syllable

Non verbal turning away, changing direction of gaze,leaning back

Any possible change-of-turn point is called a TransitionRelevance Place, or TRP.


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Standard sequences such as ADJACENCY PAIRS - these areadjacent turns that have a close relationship with each othersuch as questions and answers, greeting sequences,

commands and responsesRoss: Gday professorKate: Good morning, how are you?Ross: Oh, very well thanks

Student: Can I come in?

Teacher: Of course you can

Mum: Clean your roomSon: I will! Stop nagging.


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Create a recognisable pattern Follow each other

Are produced by different speakers Have a logical connection Conform to a pattern


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Conversations are collaborative efforts.Participants work in partnership

Hearers collaborate by not taking over the floor

Indicating that they are listening and

Encouraging the speaker to continue with facial

expressions, nods, smiles, laughter and noises such ashmm, yeah, right, ooh etc.

These are called minimal responses or backchannelsignals


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Purpose is to express their belief that an

answer is Iikely to be correct and wantsconfirmation Another way of ensuring listener involvement

The hotels might get busy, mightnt they?

She liked the restaurant, didnt she? He never does his work, does he?

She wont go, will she?


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General purpose is to seek confirmation but

also: Change meaning by varying the pitch and intonation a

rise at the end signals a genuine question

Youre going to the football, arent you? (suggests doubt)

Fall at the end seeks confirmation.

Can also be used aggressively Well Im not allowed to go, am I?


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All texts have to be cohesive, i.e. have somekind of structure

The use of yeah-no. Can pick up on an earliertopic

Can link parts of texts through synonyms (similar

meanings )within a semantic field (e.g. dogs)

Can also use antonyms (opposite meanings) e.g.

expressing preferences


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Use of pronouns to refer to things alreadymentioned in the conversation e.g. Mary went to the

cinema to see Bruno. She thought it was funny.

ANAPHORICi.e. they refer backwards and replaceearlier words

CATAPHORICrefer forwards e.g. When he entered

the room, John knew something was wrong.

DEICTIC (pointing )EXPRESSIONS refer directly tothe actual situation of speaking e.g. here, right now,

that one, you, me, he she it


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I mean, I think, I guess can expressimprecision or uncertainty

Hedging kinda/sorta


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Depends on context and relationship of

participants can be collaborative or rude. If rude, might change the topic

If collaborative, can develop a topic

Silence can be comfortable and companionable

features of spoken language - analysis

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