Unit 3: Spoken Language.

Accent

The way that words are pronounced by a person or group; accents can be regional

or social.

Example of a Lancashire accent: owt=anything; summat=something.

Dialect

A variety of speech with specific vocabulary and grammar; dialects can be specific to regions, age groups and social and professional groups.

Example: Bread roll=cob, barn cake, batch, bap.

ElisionElision is the omission of sounds, syllables or words in speech. This

is done to make the language easier to say, and faster.

Example 'I don't know' /I dunno/ , /camra/ for camera, and 'fish 'n' chips'

examples of elision.

Ellipsis

When words are missed out.

Example: ‘Can meet later if better’ instead of ‘I can meet you later if

that’s better’.

Fillers

Words that speakers use to fill in gaps when they’re thinking about what to say

next. Fillers can be used to stop a speaker using their turn in a

conversation.

Formality

How far speech fits with the accepted conventions of the situation or audience.

Example: A radio documentary will be more formal than a chat

between friends.

Initialism

Phrases that have been shortened to the initial letters of the word.

Example: ‘LOL’ for ‘Laugh out loud’.

Multi-model talk

Talk that contains the features of both written and spoken language.

Example: Text message speak

Power

The importance of the people involved in the talk.

Example: In a job interview the interviewer holds most of the power.

Slang

The informal, often rude, words that are used most in casual conversation.

Example: ‘Cos’; ‘gonna’

Unit 3: Spoken Language.

Additional Vocabulary:

Sociolect

The dialect of a particular group of speakers.

Example: A group of friends.

Standard English

This is what many people think of as ‘proper’ or ‘correct’ English. It is typically used in writing and formal speaking that’s associated with power,

Transcript

Spoken language that has been written down so it can be studied.

Example: It will show features such as overlapping //; short pauses (.); longer

pauses (1) and fillers.

Tone

The way in which a speaker use their voice to suggest a meaning.

Example: Tone can range from sarcastic, to humorous, to serious,

to questioning, to angry, to persuasive, or to informative.Turn taking

The behaviour of speakers in a conversation.

Vague language

Words or phrases that fill gaps in conversation rather than helping it to

make sense.

Example: ‘sort of’and ‘like’.