1. Oral Language He who hasn’t hacked (apart) language as a youth has no heart. He who does so as an adult has no brain. -John Moore

2. Characteristics of Oral Language Meaning: A shared knowledge and understanding of language Vocabulary: All the word symbols that make up a particular language Structure: The way different parts of language are arranged Grammar: The basic understandings and rules that regulate language Sound: The observable characteristics of oral language

3. Characteristics of Speech Sound Diction: The degree of clarity and distinctness in a person’s speech Pronunciation – the standard set for the overall sound of a word Articulation – clearly and distinctly uttering the consonant sounds of a word Omission: leaving certain sound out. Addition: adding certain sounds to a word. Substitution: changing one consonant sound to another. Enunciation – clearly and distinctly uttering the vowel sounds of a word

4. Characteristics of Speech Sound Dialect: A unique combination of speech sounds that identify speech with a particular group of people Regional Dialect – speech sounds identified with a particular region Ethnic and Cultural Dialect –speech sounds identified with an ethnicity or culture

5. Implications of Oral Language Projecting Image: Your use of oral language can lead others to perceptions about you. Conveying Attitude: Your use of language tells people What you think of yourself and others. Determine success: Employers value strong verbal skills.