Transcript C 4 - WordPress.com

Communication Applications
Chapter 4
Discovering the Power of Oral
Language
The Nature of Oral Language

Defining Oral Language – language that is
spoken and heard rather than written and read.
 Language
has rules
 Language is like a Code
 Each
language system has its own set of agreed-upon
conventions and rules that regulate the system and make
it different from other languages.

English, Spanish, Russian, French, etc…
 Speech
choices should be appropriate for the specific
situation or context.
 Writing should be correct according to rules for the
specific form.
Characteristics of Oral Language
Figure 4-1 page 102
 Meaning – We communicate with others
based on the meanings we assign to things
around us and the symbols we use to
communicate those meanings.

 This

is a learned behavior.
Vocabulary – all the word symbols that make
up a particular code or language.
 Symbolic
– always open to interpretation
 Appropriateness – know how to communicate in
different contexts and situations
 Don’t be boring – know and use a large vocabulary

Structure – the way the different parts of a
language are arranged.
 Example
– Prefixes & Suffixes, also words can have
different meaning depending on the context of use.
He fixed it.

Grammar – the basic understandings and
rules that regulate the use of a language.
 Example
– In Spanish, nouns come before
adjectives. In English, nouns come after adjectives.

Sound – the observable characteristics of oral
language.
 The
way you sound effects the messages you send.
 People are often judged and labeled by the way
they talk.
Characteristics of Speech Sound

Diction – the degree of clarity and distinctness
in a person’s speech. Pg 107-109
 Pronunciation
– the standard set for the overall
sound of a word.
 Articulation – the act of clearly and distinctly
uttering the consonant sounds of a word.
 Omission
– omitting or leaving out a consonant in a word.
 Addition – adding extra consonant sounds to a word.
 Substitution – subbing one sound for another.
 Slurring – when consonant sounds are run together.
 Enunciation
– the act of clearly and distinctly
uttering the vowel sounds of a word.

Dialect – either a language that exists
only in oral form, or a unique combination
of speech sounds that identify speech with
a particular group of people.
 Regional
– the sound of a particular area.
 Ethnic and Cultural – using the characteristics
of one language when speaking another
language.

Examples –1. During WWII, the Navajo
language was only in oral form. 2. The
“southern drawl”. 3. Newscasters and
actors can change how they pronounce
words.
Putting Language Into Perspective

Personal Implications of Oral Language
 Projecting
Image – Improve your vocabulary and
speech if you want to be taken seriously.
 Conveying Attitudes – Do you talk positively or
negatively?
 Determining Success – Many employers value
strong verbal skills more than any other
communication skills in their employees.

Cultural Implications of Oral Language
 Grimm’s
Law –Jakob & Wilhelm Grimm studied the
uses of oral language while compiling the wellknown Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
Developing Skills for Power
Language

Characteristics of Power Language
 Clarity
– easy to understand
 Courtesy and Tact – respectful communication
 Ownership of Thoughts and Feelings – speaker
takes responsibility
 Inclusion of Others – including others in comm.
 Vividness and Imagery – help visualize complex
ideas
 Appropriate Usage – takes context into
consideration
Understanding Levels of Usage
Formal – there are strict standards dictating its
use.
 Technical – language associated with a
particular profession, activity, or field of study.
aka - jargon
 Standard – language used by the majority of
knowledgeable communication within a specific
language. aka – correct speech


Informal – type of language most often
used in casual situations and close
interpersonal relationships.
 Colloquialisms
– a term associated with a specific
regional culture. “till the cows come home”
 Slang – temporary language because it typically
is used for only a brief period of time by a limited
group of people.
Ungrammatical – language that does not
use expected standards of grammar or
mechanics
 Choose Your Speaking Style by using your
brains and common sense.

Functions of Oral Language
Expressing and Responding to Feelings –
keeping your cool and emphasizing with others
will help you gain people’s trust and respect.
 Giving and Seeking Information – asking
questions and providing answers
 Controlling and Persuading
 Participating in Social Rituals – a
communication situation that is frequently
repeated in daily social interaction.
 Creating and Imaging – learn new words

Language to Avoid
Denotation – a word’s objective description or
meaning ---house
 Connotation – the emotions or feelings with
which it is associated ---home
 Avoid Troublesome Language – see pg 125
 Avoid Powerless Language

 Fillers
– a word or phrase used to cover up
hesitancy in speech, like “um”, “like”, “you know”
 Tags – a statement or question added to the end of
a statement to invite approval
 Vague Wording – not clear in your communication