ELL - SPOKEN TEXT

Interlocutor

A participant in speech or conversation.

Discourse Markers

Words that indicate a beginning or shift in topic. E.g. well, anyway, so

Inexplicit Expression/Vague Language

Language that allows an interlocutor to refer to objects/events in general terms. E.g. stuff like that, sort of, something like that

Colloquial/Informal Vocabulary

Language used to build solidarity among interlocutors through the reduction of formality. E.g. cool, awesome, silly

Fixed Expressions as Utterance Launchers

Phrases used to propel a conversation in a certain direction. E.g. that reminds me of, speaking of

Intensifiers and Interjections

Phrases and words used to index negative or positive affect, evaluation, and degrees of intensification or feelings. E.g. wow, oh, really

Deixis

Words and phrases that cannot be fully understood without contextual information and are identifiable only in relation to the identity and location of the participants in an exchange.

Fillers/Hedging

Words or sounds used to give interlocutors time to think or to be deliberately imprecise in order to maintain politeness. E.g. um, like, eh

Pauses

A gap in conversation for interlocutors to think.

False Starts

A rapid change in conversation topic by an interlocutor shortly after starting. E.g. “i was thinking (1) forget about it”

Ellipsis

The change of language to indicate formality between interlocutors when common knowledge is shared between interlocutors. E.g. “Billy loves these apples.” (as opposed to “Billy, my son, loves these apples.”)

Repetition

The recurrent use of a word or syllable by an interlocutor to show emotion or that they have not produced the detail of what they would like to say.

Stress

The degree for which a syllable is uttered in terms of volume, length, and pitch.

Intonation/Pitch

Changes meaning depending on whether the tone is rising or falling. Rising: Incompleteness, Falling: Finality, Fall-Rise: Limited agreement, Rise-Fall: Strong emotion.

Left Dislocation

The shifting of the main subject of a sentence to the left, establishing a frame of reference and importance for what is to follow. E.g. “Junk mail dont bother opening it.”

Right Dislocation

The addition of a word or phrase into an optional slot after the main message in order to comment, reinforce, or add more information regarding the topic. E.g. Question Tags, Yes/No Interrogative, Words identifying either Subject or Object, Evaluative Adjectives

Turn Taking Patterns

The norms for who talks, when, and how long.

Taking the Turn

Often makes use of lexis in order to take control over the conversation.

Holding the Turn

Uses repetition, pausing, and increasing volume to control conversation.

Yielding the Turn

Uses questions and prosodic features to relinquish control of conversation.

Transition Relevance Place

A point in the conversation where a current speaker yields their turn.

Interruptions

When listeners do not wait for a Transition Relevance Place and speak.

Overlap

When two interlocutors speak at once, speaking before the current speaker’s turn ends.

Backchannelling

The ways in which a listener lets a speaker know that they are being listened to through verbal or physical feedback. E.g. hmm, right, yes

Echoes

The repetition of another speaker’s words to show agreement or approval, though with changes in pitch it may show negative emotions.

Types of Turns/Conversation Moves

• Initiated - Response - Follow Up

• Supportive Move

• Challenging Move

• Elaboration Move

• Co-construction of topic between interlocutors

Maxim of Quality

The briefness of a speaker.

Maxim of Quality

The truth that a speaker contributes to a conversation.

Maxim of Relevance

The relevance of a speaker’s words to a conversation.

Maxim of Manner

The clarity of a speaker’s words to a conversation.

Locution

Literal meaning of an utterance.

Illocution

Implied meaning of an utterance.

Perlocution

How an utterance is received by a listener.

Positive Face

A person’s desire to be accepted and liked by others.

Negative Face

A person’s desire for autonomy and freedom. Respect by others in terms of privacy, time, and possession.

Face Threatening Acts

Acts infringing on the hearer’s need to maintain their self esteem and respect.

Positive Politeness Strategies

Attempts to minimise threats to the listener’s positive face and to make the listener feel good about themself.

Negative Politeness Strategies

Attempts to appeal to the listener’s negative face and emphasise the avoidance of imposition on the listener.