Introduction to Spoken Language Terms and Concepts

Accommodation

Adjusting speech patterns to align with others in conversation.

Adjacency Pairs

Pairs of utterances that are functionally related, such as question-answer or greeting-greeting.

Back-Channelling

Listener responses that indicate attention or understanding, e.g., 'uh-huh', 'I see'.

Closing Sequence

The final part of a conversation where participants signal the end, often through phrases like 'goodbye'.

Contractions

Shortened forms of words or phrases, e.g., 'can't' for 'cannot'.

Convergence

The process of adapting speech to become more similar to that of the interlocutor.

Co-operative Principle

The idea that participants in a conversation typically work together to communicate effectively.

Deictic Expressions

Words that require contextual information to convey meaning, such as 'here', 'there', 'you'.

Disjointed Constructions

Utterances that lack grammatical coherence, often seen in spontaneous speech.

Divergence

The process of making speech more distinct from that of the interlocutor.

Exophoric Reference

Referring to something outside the text or conversation, relying on shared knowledge.

Expressive Function

Language used to express feelings or emotions.

Interactional Function

Language that facilitates social interaction, such as greetings and small talk.

Referential Function

Language that conveys information or describes reality.

Metalingual Function

Language that discusses or clarifies language itself, often used in definitions or explanations.

Filled Pauses

Sounds or words used to fill silence, e.g., 'um', 'like'.

Filler

Words or phrases that do not add meaning but are used to hold the floor, e.g., 'you know'.

Hedge

Language that makes statements less direct or assertive, e.g., 'maybe', 'I think'.

Non-Fluency Features

Characteristics of speech that indicate hesitation or lack of fluency, such as false starts and interruptions.

Face

The social value a person claims in interaction, which can be threatened or supported.

Face Threatening Act (FTA)

An utterance that challenges the face of the listener or speaker.

Positive Face Needs

The desire to be liked and accepted by others.

Negative Face Needs

The desire to be autonomous and free from imposition.

Positive Politeness

Strategies that seek to enhance the listener's positive face, such as compliments.

Negative Politeness

Strategies that minimize imposition, such as indirect requests.

Overlap

Instances where speakers talk over each other, often seen in lively conversations.

Tag Questions

Questions added to the end of statements to seek confirmation, e.g., 'It's nice, isn't it?'.