Introduction to Linguistics 6
Spoken Language
Prof. Jo Lewkowicz
1
The spoken language
• Read through this short dialogue and decide where it is taking place.
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A: Morning
B: Morning
2 A: Nice day, again.
B: Yep. Gonna be another good one.
3 A: What can I get you?
B: Coffee, thanks?
4 A: Regular or decaf?
B: Regular.
5 A: Cream and sugar?
B: Just a little cream.
6 A: Here you go.
B: Cheers
• How do the first 2 exchanges differ from the remaining part of the
dialogue?
• Identify all the ellipses in this dialogue.
2
Adjacency pairs
• What would you expect to be the response to
the following utterances:
– Hi Jo, how are you?
– Would you like some tea?
– I’m so sorry
– I loved the film we saw last night.
– Thanks for a great evening!
3
Insertion sequences
• What lines of this dialogue extract make up
the adjacency pair?
1. J: It’s a worry , isn’t it?
2. B: What?
3. J: Your money (yes) organizing your money
affairs.
4. B: ‘tis ... a big worry.
• What else is happening in this extract?
4
Complex insertion sequence
A: Peach Bellini, please.
B: Are you twenty-one?
A: Why do you want to know?
B: We don’t sell alcohol to anyone under twenty-one.
A: Do I look as though I’m under twenty-one?
B: That’s beside the point. Can I see your ID, please.
A: Here.
B: Great. Thanks. One Bellini coming up.
A: Thanks.
5
Negotiation of meaning
• In real conversation we frequently resort to:
– Clarification requests: Do you mean ...?
• Example A: I don’t feel too hot today.
B: Sorry, what do you mean by that, exactly?
– Confirmation requests: Did you say ....?
• Example A: I saw Philip a couple of weeks ago.
B: Philip, really?
– Comprehension checks: Do you follow?
• Example A: You need to fold the masking take along the
edge of the cardboard. Know what I mean?
B: I think so.
6
Transactional interaction
Operator: Cabcharge –account name?
Customer: Macquarie University.
Operator: Passenger’s name?
Customer: Nunan.
Operator: Pick-up address?
Customer: 13, Firth Avenue, East Ryde.
Operator: Is that a private house or a flat?
Customer: Yes.
Operator: Going to?
Customer: The airport?
Operator: How many passengers?
Customer: One
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Understanding context
• How can you interpret the exchange below?
A: So. if we go to the party how are we going
to get there?
B: Well, one of us could drive.
C: OK, but who?
B: Susie's on antibiotics.
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Summary
• Spoken language can be broken down into 2 basic functions: transactional
/interpersonal
• Ellipses is a feature of spoken language
• Much of interpersonal conversation relies on background knowledge and
prior information about the participants of the interaction and requires
top-down processing (schema theory)
• Conversations can be broken down into a series of 2-utterance pairing
called adjacency pairs
• Adjacency pairs are frequently interrupted by an insertion sequence
• Negotiation of meaning is part and parcel of real spoken interaction
• Negotiation of meaning involves requests for clarification, confirmation
checks as well as comprehension checks.
• Transactional interaction relies less heavily on negotiation of meaning
than interpersonal conversation
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Textbook dialogue:
What features of real interaction are present / absent
in this dialogue?
SA: Can I help you?
SA: Erm, no, sorry we haven’t got any at
the moment.
SA: Ah. sorry, no.
SA: Sorry we don’t sell crisps.
C: Yes, please. Have you got any cartons
of milk?
C: Oh, have you got any cans of Sprite?
C: OK. I’d like 4 packets of crisps.
SA: Yes, they’re over there next to the
cans of Coke.
C: Well, do you have any bottles of
water?
C: Great. I’d like 2 bottles of water,
please.
SA: Is that everything?
C: Yes, thanks.
SA: OK. That’s $2.50 please.
C: OK ... Oh no! I haven’t got any money!
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