Year 10 Spoken Language Flashcards
E.g. ‘cause’ instead of ‘because’.
Abbreviations
The ways in which words are pronounced. It can vary according to the region or social class of a speaker
Accent
Characteristics of informal spoken language or conversation
Conversational speech
E.g. ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’.
Courtesy terms
The distinctive grammar and vocabulary which is associated with a regional or social use of a language
Dialect
Refers to routines of language
Discourses
Words and phrases which are used to signal the relationship and connections between utterances and signpost that what is said can be followed by the listener or reader. E.g. ‘First’, ‘on the other hand’, ‘now’, ‘what’s more’, ‘so anyway’, etc.
Discourse markers
When the speaker begins an utterance, then stops and either repeats or reformulates it.
False start
Items which do not carry conventional meaning but which are inserted in speech to allow time to think, to create a pause or to hold a turn in conversation. E.g. ‘er’, ‘umm’, ‘ah’.
Fillers
An individually distinctive style of speaking, which includes aspects of dialect and accent
Idiolect
These will only make sense amongst insiders
In-slang or in-jokes
The speaker hasn’t finished a unit of meaning but the other speaker starts talking anyway. These occur frequently
Interruptions
The sound pattern of phrases and sentences produced by pitch variation in the voice
Intonation
One speaker talks at the same time as another speaker
Overlaps
The process or art of regulating actions or remarks in relation to others to produce the best effect
Pace/timing
The degree of height or depth of a tone or of sound, depending upon the relative rapidity of the vibrations by which it is produced
Pitch
This is grammar that is determined by what part of the country you come from (e.g. Lancashire grammar will be different from Essex grammar, etc.)
Regional grammar
Level of formality in speech with others; register depends on the situation, location, topic discussed, and other factors (e.g. formal/informal, etc.)
Register
Repeating words or phrases. These can be for emphasis or to give the speaker more time to sort out their thoughts before continuing.
Repetitions
A technique that a speaker (or author) uses to evoke an emotional response in the audience (e.g. hyperbole – I was so hungry, I could have eaten an elephant).
Rhetorical device
Very informal language; either new words or current words used in a special sense (e.g. wicked, safe, etc.)
Slang
The variety of English that is generally acknowledged as the model for the speech and writing of educated speakers.
Standard English
This refers to a widely held belief about a group of people (e.g. the belief that all boys love sport more than girls, etc.)
Stereotype
Strings of words normally added to a declarative sentence to turn the statement into a question. E.g. “It’s a bit expensive round here, isn’t it?”
Tag question
A particular quality, way of sounding, or intonation of the voice as expressive of some meaning, feeling, spirit, etc.: a tone of command.
Tone
A written copy of a discussion or speech.
Transcript
A turn is a time during which a single participant speaks, within a typical, orderly arrangement in which participants speak with minimal overlap and gap between them. It’s the principal unit of description in conversational structure.
Turn taking
Sentences that are left to dangle in the air – e.g. “… so I didn’t… it was just that…” – these are a feature of spoken interaction because some things just don’t have to be said, either because of pre-existing knowledge or paralinguistic aspects of the
Unfinished sentences
A complete unit of talk, bounded by the speaker’s silence.
Utterance
