Features of spontaneous speech?

[Ash]

Hi there,

Could anyone give me a comprehensive list of features that are apparent in everyday spontaneous speech (such as fillers, interjections etc)

Cheers,

Ash

[Casiopea]

Welcome, Ash.

The following list and diagram are from Module 10: Conversation and Lexis - A Course for Assessing and Developing Lexical Competence on the Internet.

Features of authentic speech such as:

10.1. Filled pauses: Sounds such as er, um, erm, etc. give speakers time to think.

10.2. Fillers: Words such as "well, you know, I mean" which carry no meaning but give speaker time to plan what to say.

10.3. False starts: Speaker starts in a particular way, then changes their mind and begins again.

10.4. Repetitions: Same word or phrases said repeatedly.

10.5. Contracted forms. In addition to verbal contractions, some words are shortened: "Them= em"/because = cause".

10.6. Ellipsis. Pronouns or relatives are omitted.

10.7. Non-standard grammar. They break standard rules.

10.8. Hesitations or silent pauses.

All these features have been compiled in the following diagram:

All the best.

[Ash]

Thanks for your help!

=]

[Casiopea]

You're most welcome.

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Ash

Hi there,

Could anyone give me a comprehensive list of features that are apparent in everyday spontaneous speech (such as fillers, interjections etc)

Cheers,

Ash

Here's a list that doesn't go into as much detail as that link - you may find it more digestible!

I picked it up from a course I helped out with a few years ago, so don't know who should get the credit; certainly not me!

b

PS Sorry - it's 256K; I'll see if I can wangle a dispensation! Stay tuned....
PPS There's more than one way to skin a cat

[Ash]

Could you explain the 'recycling' feature a little further?

[BobK]

Originally Posted by Ash

Could you explain the 'recycling' feature a little further?

It's a bit like the speech impediment known as a "stammer", but much more common. The speaker starts an utterance, and reaches a point where he or she can't find the right word (or thinks better of a word, and needs time to find a suitable alternative). They repeat a syllable or word as a sort of 'run up' to the second attempt - hence the example in that sheet: "the ... the computer".

b