How does spoken language work?
Understanding Spoken Language
- Spoken language is immediate and often spontaneous. It includes face-to-face interactions or over-the-phone conversations.
- Spoken language frequently includes filler words such as 'um', 'uh', 'like', etc., which can act as a means of buying thinking time or maintaining conversational control.
- Turn-taking is a key component in spoken speech with participants usually conversing in direct reaction to others.
- Spoken language can be influenced by context and will differ significantly depending on the audience, the purpose, and the situation.
Features of Spoken Language
- Paralinguistic features such as body language, facial expression, and tone of voice are crucial in spoken language to communicate meaning beyond words.
- Use of prosody, alterations in pitch, volume and speed, which can influence the listener's understanding and interpretation.
- Spoken language often includes false starts, repairs, and repetitions which do not normally occur in written language.
- Ellipsis is more common in spoken language due to its more casual and efficient nature.
- Spoken language frequently includes discourse markers such as 'well', 'so', 'then', which guide the listener through the conversation.
Varying Registers in Spoken Language
- Informal language is often used in everyday, casual conversation and includes slang and colloquialisms.
- Formal language tends to be structured and adheres to the standard rules of English grammar. It is usually used in professional or academic settings.
- Standard and Non-Standard English - choices between these can be dictated by regional influences, formality, and context of conversation.
Language and Power
- Spoken language can unveil balance or imbalance of power in a conversation. Someone with a higher status or position may use more formal language, long complex sentences while someone with lower status may use shorter sentences and questions.
- Use of politeness strategies and deference language to show respect or maintain social harmony.
- Interruptions and Overlaps can be a sign of either rudeness, familiarity, or power play within the conversation.
Language Varieties
- Regional dialects impact spoken language significantly, varying vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
- Sociolects, or speech patterns based on social class or group, also influence features of spoken language.
- Idiolect, the personal way each person speaks, shaped by influences such as social background, personal experiences, and interactions.
Understanding Transcripts
- Familiarity with the Jefferson Transcription system, which notates aspects of speech like tone, volume, speed of delivery, and non-verbal communication.
- Reading transcripts requires focusing on details such as pauses, hesitations, interruptions, overlaps and recognising their meaning and effects.
- Ability to evaluate how transcription conventions can emphasise or hide aspects of spoken interaction.
This revision content should provide a strong understanding of how spoken language functions and the key components it encompasses.