Features of Spoken Discourse Flashcards
Openings
The initial phase of a discourse in which interlocutors.
Closings
The final phase of a discourse where interlocutors wrap up their interaction.
Adjacency Pairs
Sequentially linked utterances and turns in conversations where one response is followed by an ‘expected’ response.
Minimal Response/Back Channel
Brief replies in a conversation that acknowledge and encourage the other speaker, but do not contribute great information or seize the floor
Overlapping Speech
Where two or more speakers talk over one another. This can be cooperative or uncooperative, depending on context.
Discourse Markers/Particles
Elements that do not carry semantic meaning but play a role in organising communication or managing interactions.
Non-Fluency Features
Aspects of a discourse that can reduce cohesion.
Pauses
Brief intervals of silence in speech. Can indicate gathering thoughts, a new topic, or hesitation.
Filled Pauses/Voiced Hesitations
Instances where vocalisations such as ‘um’ ‘uh’ ‘er’ are used to hold the floor, and may show hesitation, uncertainty, or a need to gather thoughts.
False Start
When a speaker begins an utterance and then interrupts themselves to start over again. Can occur due to self-corrections, uncertainty, or need to rephrase.
Repetition
The unintentional restating of words, phrases, or clauses within speech.
Repairs
When a speaker corrects or revises their previous utterance. Can occur due to an error, miscommunication, or need for clarification.
Topic Management
The methods in which speakers manage a topic within a conversation, by choices such as: initiation, development, shift, change, loop or termination of a topic.
Turn-taking
When speakers alternate turns when talking.
Management of repair sequences
When speakers identify and correct communication problems to ensure smooth and continuous conversation.
