Spoken Language Features

The ways in which words are pronounced. Accent can vary according to the region or social class of the speaker.

Parallel expressions used across the boundaries of individual speaking turns. They are usually ritualistic and formulaic socially. For example: "How are you/"Fine,thanks".

A reduced form often marked by an apostrophe in writing - e.g can't = cannot, she'll = she will. See also Elision.

Words such as "this", "that", "here", "there" which refer to things that are backwards or forwards or outside a text - a sort of verbal pointing. Very much a context dependent feature of talk.

The distinctive grammar and vocabulary which is associated with a regional or social use of language.

Words and phrases which are used to signal the relationship and connections between utterances and to signpost that what is said can be followed by the listener or reader. Examples include: "First", "on the other hand", "now","what's more", "so anyway" etc.

The omission or slurring (eliding) of one or more sounds or syllables - e.g gonna = going to; wannabe = want to be, wassup = what is up.

The omission of part of a grammatical structure. For example, in the dialogue : "You going to the party?"/"Might be" - the verb "are" and the pronoun "I" are missed out. The resulting ellipsis conveys a more casual and informal tone.

This is when the speaker begins an utterance, then stops and either repeats or reformulates it. Sometimes called self-correction. See also Repairs.

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. Examples are "er", "um", "ah". Also called voiced pause.

Grice proposed 4 basic conversational "rules" (or maxims) as criteria for sucessful conversation:

1. Quantity - don't say too much or too little

2. Relevance - keep to the point

3. Manner - speak in a clear, coherent and orderly way

4. Quality - be truthful

Words phrases which soften or weaken the force with which something is said e.g "perhaps", "maybe", "sort of", "possibly", " I think".

An individually distinctive style of speaking.

Language in conversation used for interpersonal reasons and/or socialising.

Typical and normal characteristics of spoken language that interrupt the "flow" of talk. Some examples: hesitations, false starts, fillers,repetitions (although these can also be used for emphasis), overlaps and interruptions.

Related to body language - it is the use of gestures, facial expressions + other non-verbal elements (such as laughter) to add meaning to the speaker's message beyond the words being spoken.

Conversational utterances that have no concrete purpose other than to establish or maintain personal relationships. It's related to small talk - and follows traditional patterns, with stock responses and formulaic expressions: "How are you/ "Fine", "Cold, isn't it?"/"Freezing.

An approach to discourse analysis which focuses less on structures and more on contexts and purposes of people talking to each other.

Includes features such as stress, rhythm, pitch, tempo and intonation - which are used by speakers to mark out key meanings in a message. Essentially, how something is said.

An alternation that is suggested or made by the speaker , the addressee, or audience in order to correct or clarify a previous conversational contribution.

A social dialect or variety of speech used by a particular group, such as working-class or upper-class speech.

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?".

Language to get things done or to transmit content or information (used when the participants are exchanging goods and/or services)

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. The principal unit of description in conversational structure.

An utterance is a complete unit of talk, bounded by the speaker's silence.

Statements that sound imprecise and unassertive. E.g - " and so on", "or whatever", "thingummy", "whatsit".