Spoken Lanuage Features- Miss Matthews Flashcards
Accent
The ways in which words are pronounced
Adjacency pairs
Parallel expressions used across the boundaries of individual speaking turns
E.g. “how are you/ I’m fine”
Back-channel
Words, phrases and non verbal utterances used by listeners to give feedback to speaker to show they are listening
E.g. “I see, oh”
Contraction
A reduced form offer markers by an apostrophe in writing
E.g. cannot= can’t
Deixis/ deictics
Refers backwards or forwards or outside a text
E.g. this, that, here, (anaphoric and cataphoric referencing)
Dialect
Distinctive grammar and vocabulary which is associated with a region
Discourse marker
Used to signal the relationship and connections between utterances
E.g. other the other hand, so anyways etc
Elision
The omission or slurring of one or more sounds or syllables
E.g. wannabe = want to be
Ellipsis
The omission of part of a grammatical structure which conveys a more casual and informal tone
E.g “you going to the party?/ might be”
False start
When the speaker begins an utterance, then stops. Self correction
Filler
Items which do not carry a conventional meaning which are inserted in speech to allow time to think to create a pause or to hold a turn in conversation
E.g. um, arh, like
Grices Maxims
Basic conversational rules for successful conversation
Quantity
Relevance
Manner
Quality
Hedge
Words or phrases which soften or weaken the force of what is said
E.g. perhaps, I think
Idiolect
An individually distinctive style of speaking
Openings
Conversation starters
E.g excuse me
Turn taking
We are sensitive to cues that someone else wants to speak
Tag questions
Questions attached to the end of a statement
E.g innit, dyknow what I mean
Adjacency pairs
Two part exchanges that follow a predictable pattern
E.g. how are you?/ I’m fine
Topic shifts, topic starters, topic loops
All terms concerned with what people are talking about
Repair
Correcting your own mistake or listener wants something to be repeated
Feedback
Shows that listener is listening
E.g. a nod, “I see”
Pre closing signals
Ways of indicating the conversation is ending
Closing sequences
Signing off conversation
E.g. goodbye
Phatic communication
Phrases which have merely a social function- small talk
E.g. the weather is awful today
Deictic expressions
Need the reference point (e.g. pronouns) of the conversation to make sense
E.g. over there, tomorrow
Accommodation Theory
We adjust our speech to suit others
Convergence
Making accent similar to those around us
Divergence
Making language / accent different to usual
Maxim of quantity
Saying not more or less than is required
Maxim of relevance
What is said should be relevant
Maxim of manner
Avoidance of ambiguity and obscurity
Maxim of quality
Being truthful as far as you know
Face
The image of ourselves we present when we speak (outer appearance we display to influence how people perceive you)
Linked to status and politeness
The Politeness Principle (Lakeoff 1973) (3)
Don’t impose
Give options
Make your receivers feel good
Positive politeness
Showing we like another person by valuing them in our conversation
Negative politeness
We try avoid intruding on others
E.g. “sorry to disturb you” or calling a superior by their formal title
