English Language & Literature A - Unit 2 Section A: Varieties of Spoken English

Question 1

Mode

Answer 1

The medium of communication used, usually speech or writing.

Question 2

Paralinguistic Features

Answer 2

Non-verbal aspects of communication such as intonation or pausing, which works alongside language to help a speaker convey the meaning effectively.

Question 3

Pause

Answer 3

A short break in a spoken text, recorded in seconds.

Question 4

Micropause

Answer 4

A very short pause in a spoken text.

Question 5

Transcript

Answer 5

An exact written representation of speech.

Question 6

Utterance

Answer 6

A unit of spoken language, the end which is indicated by a pause or change of speaker. This term is often used to describe a ‘spoken sentence’ as an utterance may not follow the expectations and grammatical conventions of a written sentence

Question 7

Phonetic Speech

Answer 7

The spelling of words to represent exactly how they are pronounced.

Question 8

Context

Answer 8

The social situation, including audience and purpose, in which language is used; this situation is an important influence on the language choices made by speakers and writers.

Question 9

Continuum

Answer 9

An imaginary line running from one extreme to another showing other possibilities in between. In discussing speech texts, a transcript of a casual conversation would be at one end and a formal, legal declaration such as the words of the wedding service or taking an oath in court at the other.

Question 10

Turn-Taking

Answer 10

The pattern of spontaneous interactive speech in which participants cooperate or compete for the roles of listener/speaker.

Question 11

Adjacency Pair

Answer 11

A pattern of speech in which one utterance is followed by an appropriate linked response.

Question 12

Chaining

Answer 12

The linking of a series of adjacency pairs to build up a conversation

Question 13

Phatic Utterance

Answer 13

Words spoken to establish social contact and express friendly intentions towards another person, rather than to convey significant information (e.g nice weather today).

Question 14

Interruption

Answer 14

When a speaker begins to talk before the previous speaker has finished, in an attempt to take over the conversation and gain control.

Question 15

Overlap

Answer 15

When a speaker begins to talk before the previous speaker has finished, perhaps because of their enthusiasm to join in the discussion or to show support for the speaker. An overlap is generally more cooperative and supportive, and less competitive, than an interruption.

Question 16

Fillers

Answer 16

Sounds such as ‘erm’, ‘um’ and ‘er’ , which speakers use to fill pauses in speech. Some speakers also use expressions such as ‘y’know’ and ‘like’ as verbal fillers.

Question 17

Side Sequence

Answer 17

A sequence of utterances inserted into a conversation, which causes the main topic of the conversation to be temporarily suspended.

Question 18

Tag Question

Answer 18

A phrase tagged on to the end of a statement to turn it into a question. e.g ‘We’re going to the zoo today, aren’t we?’ Words such as ‘right’, ‘yeah’ or ‘Ok’ can also be used with the same function, e.g ‘See you at Sevenish, yeah?’

Question 19

Repair

Answer 19

A self-correction in spontaneous speech.

Question 20

Hedge

Answer 20

A word or phrase such as ‘maybe’, ‘perhaps’, or ‘sort of’ used to soften the impact of what is said or to make speech sound more polite.

Question 21

Accent

Answer 21

The characteristic pronunciation, features and speech rhythms of a speaker, usually related to regional or social influences.

Question 22

Dialect

Answer 22

A variety of a particular language characterised by distinctive features of accent, grammar and vocabulary and used by people from a particular geographical area or social group.

Question 23

Elision

Answer 23

The running together of words or the omission of parts of words, eg. ‘gonna’ for ‘going for’ or ‘y’know’ for ‘you know’

Question 24

Rhetoric

Answer 24

The technique of using language persuasively in order to influence the opinions and behaviour of an audience.

Question 25

Triplet

Answer 25

A pattern of three repeated words or phrases.

Question 26

Antithesis

Answer 26

The Juxtaposition of contrasting words or phrases to create a sense of balance or opposition between conflicting ideas.

Question 27

Repetition and Replacement

Answer 27

A pattern in which some words or phrases are repeated and other replaced, e.g ‘We must plan for a strong economy, we must plan for full employment, we must plan for a healthy nation.’

Question 28

Bathos

Answer 28

A sudden descent from elevated language or subject matter to the ordinary or the commonplace. Often used for comic effect.

Question 29

Rhetorical Question

Answer 29

A question that implies its own answer and is used to not elicit information but to achieve a persuasive effect (for example, ‘Are we to stand idly by while our rights are trampled by a dictator?’)

Question 30

Antonym

Answer 30

A word or phrase that is opposite in meaning to another, e.g ‘hot and cold’, ‘fat and thin’.

Question 31

Oxymoron

Answer 31

When apparently contradictory terms are placed together e.g ‘bitter sweet’

Question 32

Understatement

Answer 32

The deliberate adoption of restrained language, often to achieve an ironic or humorous effect.

Question 33

Discourse Markers

Answer 33

Words or phrases that give structure to speech or writing, enabling a writer or speaker to develop ideas, relate points to each other or move from one idea to the next.