AICE English Language Child Language Acquisition Part 1: Features of Spoken Language

Utterances

A section of spoken language which is often preceded by silence and followed by silence or a change of speaker.

Turn-taking

In conversation, people usually wait their turn to speak. Some may interrupt out of eagerness or rudeness, but the norm is for one speaker to yield the floor by prolonging a pause or glancing at the elected next speaker who than takes their turn.

Babbling

Involves speech-like sequences of sounds or syllables. Sounds may resemble speech without forming recognizable words. Do not invent a translation for sounds you cannot understand.

Conversational Floor

Speaking until you have finished what you wish to say or until someone interrupts you

Adjacency Pairs

Dialogue that follows a set pattern of an utterance from one speaker and a response from the other. (Ex. when speakers greet each other)

Repairing

During the conversation, a speaker may correct themselves or acknowledge their mistakes. Ex. I mean/that’s wrong. (This is due to constantly monitoring their speaking and the person they are speaking to.)

Topic Shift

The point at which speakers move from one topic to another.

Hedges

Mitigating words or phrases used to soften the directness or force of an utterance expressing uncertainty or politeness. Ex. “Perhaps, sort of”

Status

The perceived position of a person’s authority and influence in relation to those around them.

Clashing

When two people speak at the same time and the clash is acknowledged. One must stop and the other continues. Status and context play a role.

Conversation Ending

Formulaic words or phrases used to intentionally conclude a dialogue and signal the close of an interaction. (Ex. Goodbye, see you later)

False Start

When a speaker begins an utterance but abruptly stops and restarts or reformulates their sentences to change direction or correct an error before completion.

Modality

A category covering indications either of a kind of speech act or of the degree of certainty with which something is said. Ex. He will vs. He might.

Paralinguistic Features

Unspoken elements of communication

Paralinguistic: Verbal Response

For example: Sure, absolutely, really, I know

Paralinguistic: Back-Channel Noise

For example: mm, oh

Paralinguistic: Non-verb facial expressions and body language

For example: Smiling and hand gestures to reinforce what is being said. Ex. Head tilts & sustained mutual gaze/body posturing)

Paralinguistic: Pauses

Indicates unease and tension as well as simply when someone is thinking about what to say.

Paralinguistic: Vocal expressions

These are linked to the intentions of the speaker and the context of the culture. (Ex. giggling/looking)

Prosodic Features

Auditory elements of communication.

Prosodic Feature: Tone

The emotion associated with the utterance. (Ex. Happy, sad, or mad)

Prosodic Feature: Pitch

How high/low a voice is. It is closely associated to what emotion we are feeling. Ex. Squealing when seeing a baby.

Prosodic Feature: Volume

The level of voice Production (loud or soft)

Prosodic Feature: Speed

The pace at which someone speaks. (Relates to the circumstances of the social interaction)

Feedback

A group of verbal and non-verbal signals given by the listener to show they are following the conversation.

Body Language

Communication which uses all forms of non-verb gestures to put across meaning.

Metalanguage

Language used to describe language (Ex. Noun; I should have said…)

Deixis

Context-dependent that point to a specific time, place, or person. Their meaning changes depending on who is speaking where they are, and when they are speaking. Ex. “here,” “there,” “that,” “now,” or “you:.

Contraction

A shortened form of a word or group of words created by omitting letters, typically marked in writing by an apostrophe. Ex. Don’t.

Ellipses

The intentional omission of words from a text, usually indicated by three dots.

Nonstandard English

Refers to regional forms of English and English forms which are not judged to be socially acceptable.

Vague Expression

Imprecise words or phrases used in spoke language when precision is unnecessary or to keep speech fluent and informal. Ex. “Stuff like that,” “or something.”

Back Channeling

Feedback in words and sounds which a listener gives a speaker to show they are listening. Ex. “Um” or “Agreed”

Caretaker Language

The simplest style of speech used by those who look after infants and small children.

Phatic Communication

Communication mainly in the form of greetings. Which has a social function to help build a relationship between participants. (It is not used to inform)

Discourse Markers

Words or phrases used to direct, organize, or manage the flow of conversation. Ex. “right,” “so,” or “well.”

Elision

The omission of a sound or syllable from a word in speech.

Repetition

Repeating a word, phrase, or sound within speech, either intentionally for emphasis, or unintentionally due to hesitation or processing.

Tag Question

A short question added to the end of a statement to turn it into a question often used to seek agreement or check information - “isn’t it”

Discourse

Any spoken or written language that is longer than a sentence.