Features Of Spoken Language Flashcards
Hesitations/pauses
This is where the speaker stops speaking to think about what they r saying next or simply taking a breath
Marked by using (.) or (…) or (1)
Tag questions
Words added to statements to turn them into a question
“It’s cold in here, isn’t it?”
Repairs
When a speaker corrects some aspect of what they have said- the error might be grammatical or an incorrect word, accidentally or inappropriately
We was(.) We were going out
Turn-taking
Occurs in a conversation when one person listens while the other person speaks
Elision
Omission or slurring of one or more sounds/syllables
Gonna - going to
I dunno - I don’t know
Phatic talk
Small talk - utterances that have no concrete purpose other than to establish or maintain relationships
How are you? Fine.
Overlap
Speech encounters are usually cooperative and most overlaps will therefore be resolved quickly, with one participant ceasing to speak
Paralinguisitc features
Non-verbal communication
Body language, use of gestures
Facial expressions, tone of voice and volume of laughter
Back channelling
Feedback that shows the listener understands or agrees
Yeah, mhmm, huh yesh
Fillers
A non verbal sound that acts like a pause, either to signal uncertainty or as breathing space
Er, erm, umm
Skip connectors
A word or phrase that returns the conversation to a previous topic
anyway, like I was saying
Hedging
Words and phrases which soften the force something is said
Maybe, perhaps, sort of
Discourse markers
Words or phrases to signal connections between utterances to signpost what is being said so that it can be followed
Eg: furthermore, so, anyway, meanwhile…
Delxis
Words and phrases that do not have a clear meaning on their own but are strongly informed by context
He, she, that, enough,those
False starts
When a speaker begins to speak, stops and then starts again
Well I was (.) well I was going to the shops
