Oral Communication Lesson 5

lesson 5: speech context and speech style

SPEECH CONTEXT

Speech context refers to the situation or environment and the circumstances in which communication occurs

Intrapersonal Speech Context

This type of speech context involves one participant only; that is, the individual is both the sender and the receiver of the message in the communication process. Intrapersonal communication is simply communicating within oneself.

Intrapersonal Speech Context

This type of speech context involves one participant only; that is, the individual is both the sender and the receiver of the message in the communication process. Intrapersonal communication is simply communicating within oneself.

Interpersonal Speech Context

An interpersonal communication is an interaction between two or more participants. Interpersonal communication can be direct (face-to-face encounter) or indirect (done through the use of a tool or technology like talking to someone over the telephone or Internet, communicating by e-mail, and teleconferencing in distance-learning class).
Dyad - composed of two participants who take turns as the sender and the receiver in the interaction. It is also known as “one-to-one communication”.
Small Group – composed of three or more participants, or a group of participants, who engage in a discussion to achieve a common goal.

Public /Mass Communication Speech Context

This type of speech context involves a single speaker and a sizable number of persons or an audience. The speaker is tasked to deliver a message or a speech of general interest to the audience.

Intrapersonal Speech Context

This type of speech context involves one participant only; that is, the individual is both the sender and the receiver of the message in the communication process. Intrapersonal communication is simply communicating within oneself.

Casual Speech Style

A casual speech style is used in relaxed or informal conversations between or among friends, peers, colleagues, or family who share a common knowledge or interest. Slang (or nonstandard words or expressions), colloquial words, elliptical sentences (some words are omitted), and informal contractions (e.g., “ain’t,” “dunno,” “gonna”) are used. Interruptions are common. Nicknames are used in addressing one another.

Intimate Speech Style

An intimate speech style is used by participants who share a very close relationship such as between very close friends, siblings, husband and wife, parents and children, and boyfriend and girlfriend.
The following are some other features of an intimate speech style:
Conversations are usually done in private.
Participants usually use short, incomplete utterances.
Grammar and proper word choice are not given importance.
Nonverbal messages are often used.
Participants share inside jokes.
Words that signal intimacy like terms of endearment (e.g., “darling,” “honey,” “babe”) are used.

Consultative Speech Style

This style is considered to be the most operational style among the other styles. It is used in a semiformal situation where a speaker needs to provide background information because the listener (or addressee) may not be able to understand without it.

Formal Speech Style

A formal style is often used in formal situations, such as in a graduation ceremony, an official meeting, a television newscast, and a conference, where there is only one-way communication. Since there is little or no feedback from the listeners or audience, the speaker needs to plan ahead his or her utterances, or what he or she is going to say.
Other characteristics of the formal style are:
Interruptions are not allowed.
Only the speaker is the source of information.
Pronunciation is very clear.
Words are carefully chosen, and grammar rules are followed.
Ellipsis (omission of one or more words) is not allowed.
Sentence structures are more complex and varied.
Extensive and technical vocabulary is required.
Ideas are cohesive and organized.

Frozen Speech Style

A frozen speech style, also called the oratorical style, is the most formal style and is reserved for very formal situations such as in religious services, state affairs, and court proceedings. This style is used to address or given before an audience of absolute strangers. It uses prescribed and highly formal language, such as in official or historical documents and literary texts.