Speaking

SPEECH ACT THEORY

SPEECH ACT: An action performed via an utterence.It refers to the speaker’s communicative

intention in producing an utterance.

SPEECH EVENT:The circumstances surrounding the

utterance.

For example:

The tea is really cold!

“The tea is really cold!”

“The tea is really cold!”

Speech Act

Consists of 3 related acts:LOCUTIONARY ACT: a meaningful linguistic

expressionILLOCUTIONARY ACT: the communicative

force of the utterancePERLOCUTIONARY ACT: the intended effect

of the utterance

Message and medium in oral communication

Locutionary meaning

I’m cold

Illocutionary Forces Samples

Which illocutonary forces are

used on each picture?

Air Conditioner

Alone on the streets

Air Conditioner whether to turn the air conditioner up/down Alone on the streets

Air Conditioner whether to turn the air conditioner up/down Alone on the streets ‘could you help me with something?

Spoken Message Interpretation

A wealth of Information beyond the linguistic elements

ModalitySpeaking and Writing distinction

Problems

Mismatches and Misunderstanding

in Oral Communication

Speaker Lack of target linguistic

knowledgeLack of background

knowledgeNot shared sociocultural

rules of appropiacy

Objectives

Speaker be understood

Message Properly interpreted by the hearer

Intended Message Communicationunder

Three Conditions

Linguistic FormPhysical Context

Sociocultural Norms

COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLE – Paul Grice The Gricean Maxims

Maxim of Quantity

Maxim of Quality

Maxim of Relevance

Maxim of Manner

Maxim of Quantity

Make your contribution as informative as required.

Don’t say too much or too little

Maxim of Quality:

Do not say what you believe to be false.

Do not say that for which you lack adequate evidence.

Maxim of Relevance

Stay on topic

Think of the goal of the interaction

Maxim of Manner

Avoid obscurity of expression.

Avoid ambiguity.

Speaking vs Writing

ContextualizationPlanningFormality

Reciprocity

Speech is on-line and reciprocal in natureOngoing negotiation of meaningCo-constructionThey share time and space

Speech features

A:How you doing brah? B: Doing good dog!

Ellipsis of subjects, predicates and auxiliaries

Initial slot to introduce or frame/arrange/set up a topic

Well, you know Jane, I don’t waste money on such useless products

you know what I’m saying, you lil’ chap…

Tails for extension

Written communication

FORMAL SPEAKING

Bridgin the gap

SPEAKER LISTENER’S CONTEXT

WRITER READER’S AUDIENCE

PRAGMATICSSpeaking - Writing

PRAGMATICSMeaning is not constructed from the formal language of the message alone.

Communicating the appropiate language function is more important.

EXAMPLE:

“Don’t get your panties in a twist”

What is the real meaning behind this phrase?

REAL MEANING:

“Don’t get your panties in a twist”:

Don’t be angry or upset.

PRAGMATIC INTERPRETATION

Interpretation of what people mean in a particular context.

Interpretation of how the context influences what is said.

Consideration of how speakers organize what they want to say.

FACTORS IN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP

Office: The social rank.

FACTORS IN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP

Status: Social importance.

FACTORS IN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP

Role: Temporary interactional stance, varying relative to other individuals.

KNOWLEDGE OF THESE THREE PARAMETERS AFFECTS OUR

INTERPRETATION OF WHAT IS SAID, AND WE SHOULD MAKE

THAT CLEAR TO OUR STUDENTS

EXAMPLE

“Let me look into your eyes”

(It has more than 1 possibility of interpretation)

REGISTER

Casual register: in familiar contexts.

Formal register: in everyday situations with interactants that the speaker does not know well.

POLITENESS

Example:“Excuse me, Mr Buckingham, but can I talk to you for a minute?” (talking to a teacher)

“Hey, Bucky, got a minute?” (talking to a friend)

COMPENSATORY STRATEGIES

Communication strategies that can facilitate and make adjustment in incomplete or failing interactions.

Samples of compensatory strategies: paraphrasing, appealing for help, using examples or explanations, circumlocution.

SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE ON WRITING

What is the reader likely to know about subject?

What will the reader want to know about subject?

How should I organize the info so that it is easily understood?