Studying Spoken Language Text 18 and 19

Assessment Focus:
AO 1 Accurate expression and terminology; Literary and
linguistic approaches
Select and apply relevant concepts and approaches from
integrated linguistic and literary study, using appropriate
terminology and accurate, coherent written expression.
Studying Spoken Language
Text 17, 18 and 19
Lesson Objective:
To learn a number of terms and concepts useful for
the analysis of speech
To develop an approach to analysing conversation
Key Terms
• Transcript – an exact written representation of
speech
• Prosodic features – the vocal aspects of
speech (volume, stress, intonation, speed)
that contribute to meaning
• Paralinguistic features – non-verbal aspects of
communication such as intonation, pausing
which help speakers to convey meaning
Text 18
• Get into groups of 4 and work out how to act
out Text 18
• There are things that will throw you off track –
such as the ‘Pie’ reference.
• Act it out – pay attention to:
– What is actually happening
– Who is who
– What are the relationships between each speaker
How difficult was that?!
• So much of spoken language depends on CONTEXT. In order to
make sense of the transcript you need to work out where and
when the conversation is taking place, who the participants
are and their relationship towards each other.
• You need to guess how the words will be spoken – which
words would be stressed and how loudly each person speaks
(prosodic features)
• In your role play you may also have considered body language
– how each speaker would look at the other speakers, their
gestures, and even where they were positioned (paralinguistic
features)
Text 18
• An American family of 4 is sitting down to dinner.
• In the conversation reference is made to dinner, its
accompaniments, to other people, to a household pet (Pie!),
to switching off the television and to past meetings.
What are the main differences between the transcript and what
you would expect to find in a written text?
Key Terms
• Context-dependent – those aspects of a text whose meanings
depend on an understanding of the circumstances in which it
has been produced
• Ellipsis / elliptical – the omission of part of a sentence, can
also be represented by (...)
• Non-fluency features – the natural mistakes of speech –
hesitation, self-correction and repetition
• Discourse Markers – words or phrases that give structure to
speech or writing – they allow the speaker to move from one
idea to the next
• Question Tag – short question at the end of an utterance,
don’t you think?
Some rules or ‘maxims’ that have been proposed for
‘normal’ conversational behaviour
Do
Don’t
Allow others to take turns
Monopolise the conversation
Join in and make a contribution
Remain silent throughout
Give feedback when others are talking
Interrupt
Recognise ‘turn-taking cues’ eg, sentences Change the subject abruptly
reaching an end (falling pitch is a clue),
question tags, pauses, body language and
eye contact
Use a style of language appropriate for
the context
Use words that are likely to be considered
offensive by other participants
Express disagreements with some tact –
keeping face and allowing others to keep
theirs
Be offensive
The dos and don’ts of conversation
• Read Text 19
• Make a list of the main rules that are being
followed in this conversation.
• Make a list of rules that they break (eg –
overlapping / interruption)
Analysis: answer in full sentences using the key
terminology and examples from either text
• Choose one of the texts and write an explanation about how
you brought the transcript to life – what you had to add to the
words or how you used your imagination to make the
transcript make sense.
• Write an overview of each transcript. Explain what the main
ideas are that are being discussed, any significant conflicts
and the roles of each of the participants.
• How is each transcript different from a written text? (make
sure you use the key terminology)
Homework
• By next lesson complete a detailed annotation
of the transcript of text 17
• Look for all language features not only the
spoken language features.

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