Spoken Language Features

This should help you with analysing spoken language texts such as transcripts or conversations. Useful for both Section A (categorising texts) and Section B! (Language And Gender/Language And Power)

If your'e anything like me and forget terminology so easily, use this!

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  • Created by: Emily
  • Created on: 22-05-13 13:07
T T G X B P J G Y C N A V W W C I B H S X
D G R V H P V K X W O A Y G Q A D R L K F
E T I C N N J V L I I T V O G C E H V E S
I O C I N T E R A C T I O N A L T A L K M
X N E T M X A K P V C W N H V W O B I O R
I W S A I W E L V S A E I F P R B Y T T X
S C M G N N G A F J R X H W F U I G O U B
D V A Q G K A T E E T J D X W S R U U J N
E H X U D W U C L J N S L L G W T C K M D
I H I E S I G I C G O K I I L E X X R O P
C N M S W V N T I A C L M P G H W G I V N
T D S T R M A A P U E L R D P E P L L H H
I W N I X N L H U H A Q W Y T B O G R A L
C A E O H G E P P J P V Y M X W O H S K Y
S N O N F L U E N C Y F E A T U R E S U P
J U J H G Y G E W Y W J F R Y M I T I T U
O I R A D J A C E N C Y P A I R S B V J T
D G X C D Q V R H M R A K J N U X L O A V
X B A C K C H A N N E L F E A T U R E S K
O U V B N Q O Y D Y W F C O A R L B O C A
F X O Y H N H V U U Q C U Y T M X F V Q C

Clues

  • A reduced form often marked by an apostrophe in writing - e.g. can't = cannot; she'll = she will. See also ELISION (11)
  • 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' (6, 4)
  • Grice proposed 4 basic conversational 'rules' [maxims] as criteria for successful conversation: quantity [don't say too much or too little]; relevance [keep to the point]; manner [speak in a clear, coherent, and orderly way]; quality [be truthful] (6, 6)
  • Language in conversation used for interpersonal reasons and/or socialising (13, 4)
  • Parallel expressions used across the boundaries of individual speaking turns. They are usually ritualistic and formulaic socially. For example: 'How are you?' / 'Fine thanks' (9, 5)
  • Statements that sound imprecise and unassertive. E.g. - 'and so on', 'whatever', 'thingummy', 'whatsit' (5, 8)
  • 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?" (Also common feature of Lakoff's women's language) (3, 8)
  • Typical and normal characteristics of spoken language that interrupt the 'flow' of talk. Some examples: hesitations, false starts, filers, repetitions [though can be used for emphasis], overlaps and interruptions. (3, 7, 8)
  • Words such as 'this', 'that', 'here', 'there' which refer backwards or forwards or outside a text - a sort of verbal pointing. Very much a context dependent feature of talk. (14)
  • Words, phrases, and non-verbal utterances [e.g. 'I see', 'oh', 'uh huh', 'really'] used by a listener to give feedback to a speaker that the message is being followed and understood (4, 7, 8)

Comments

Bami_x

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Thanks, this was very helpful :)

trybreathing

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thank youu

trybreathing

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thank youu

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