1. Oral Language

2. Language that is spoken and heard rather than written and read.
Oral Language
Language that is spoken and heard rather than written and read.

3. Characteristics of Oral Language
Real world as perceived by the speaker –
Meaning – Vocabulary – Structure – Grammar – Sound-
Message as heard by listener

4. First characteristic of language: Meaning
Data has no meaning except what we assign it
Example: The doctor may ask you specific questions to diagnose an illness. The patient on the other hand may have difficulty interpreting and responding meaningfully to the doctor’s questions because of lack of knowledge about medicine and medical terms.

5. Second characteristic of language: Vocabulary
All the word symbols that make up a particular code or language
It is important to have a large and flexible vocabulary because:

6. It is symbolic What does the flag mean to you?
It symbolizes different things to everyone.

7. 2. Has standards of appropriateness
Shut up – Hush – Quiet down
Yah – Yes Mamma
Huh – What – Could you repeat that please?

8. 3. Adds interest to communication
Adds originality
Adds vitality
Adds clarity

9. Third characteristic of language: Structure
The way the different parts of language are arranged

10. Fourth characteristic of language: Grammar
The basic understandings and rules that regulate the use of language
The rules identify all the different components of a language, explain their functions, and dictate the way they are used in communication

11. Fifth characteristic of language: Sound
Central to the very idea of oral language
Every oral language has its own sounds that represent its unique set of word symbols

12. Diction: Degree of clarity and distinctness of a person’s speech
The way his or her own words are spoken
Determined by the choices you make in pronunciation, articulation, and enunciation

13. Pronunciation: The standard set for the overall sound of a word
-Listed in the dictionary
EXP: often
preferred:“ah.fun” most used: “ahf.tun”
Athlete
Preferred: “ath.leet” used: “a.thuh.leet

14. Articulation:
The act of clearly and distinctly uttering the consonant sounds of a word
Four articulation problems:
Omission: “bi’ness” instead of “Business”
Addition: “warsh” instead of “wash”
Substitution: “idnt” instead of “isn’t”
Slurring: consonant sounds run together

15. Enunciation:
The act of clearly and distinctly uttering the vowel sounds of a word
EXP:
Git instead of Get
Jist instead of Just
Pin instead of Pen
Inyone instead of Anyone

16. Dialect Used to describe two different aspects of speech
Refer to a language that exists only in oral form
EXP: WWII – Navajo language “Code Talkers”
2. Unique combination of speech sounds that identify speech with a particular group of people

17. Regional Dialect
“Southern Drawl” – prolonged vowel sounds, soft consonant sounds, and some unique vocabulary “y’all or fixin’”
“New Yorker” – drip hard consonant sounds within some words, drops r’s from the end of some words “youse or wit’”