LESSON 1TYPES OF SPEECH

STYLE

Prepared by:Claire Anne RequinaJl aninoRhynnier Dave France Cuenca

Speech or communication has been categorized into different style or modes. One widely-quoted classification is that of Joos (1959, as cited in Beeching, Armstrong, & Gadet, 2009). His five styles, although relatively old, are usually used in studies of style-shifting not only in spoken language but also in written language.

Characteristics of Speech Styles ( Berk- Selingson, 2012; Schaffner, 2002; Normet, 2005; Szynalski, 2015; Bartley. 2015)

1. FROZEN STYLE This is a style for declamation and for print. The listener or reader is not allowed to question the speaker (or writer).

a. Its extreme, impersonal style is clearly planned and marked by social distance, which may probably caused by sociocultural differences between speaker (or writer) and listener (or reader).

b. This style is more characteristic of writing than speech, reserved for the most formal occasion when spoken, and then read.

c. The writing reflects the efforts of revision. It is here that some items like careful development of thought, logical panning, attention to stylistic features, word appropriateness, rules of usage, and so come into full play.

d. The style invites the reader to enter into a personal experience of creative discovery, such as literary texts, like poetry, which he may memorize, replay, and refeel, and to find more profound values and meanings with each repetition, transforming the texts into a frozen one (Broderick, 1976).

e. As the most highly formal style. It uses the most complex grammatical sentence structure and vocabulary known only to experts in a particular field.

f. it utilizes customary, ritualized expressions that allow listeners (or readers) to identify the large speech event in which it is embedded (e.g., a marriage vow, a judicial sentencing).

g. Documents written in this style practically have no variation in the range of their expression, no deviation from preset norms (e.g., statutes, briefs, appellate opinions, insurance policies, contracts, leases, and wills).

2. FORMAL STYLE This style, whose aim is to inform, is intended for a captive audience.

a. Like the frozen style, this is impersonal and marked for social distances.

b. it required advance planning and preparation because the speaker (or writer) is “under obligation to provide a plan for the whole sentence before he begins uttering it, and a delimitation of field for his whole discourse before he embarks on it.”

c. Formal style of writing needs careful editing.

d. In speaking, what the speaker says is something that has been prepared beforehand (e.g., reading the news or delivering a speech).

e. Formal English is used in “serious” texts and situations –for example, in official documents, books, news reports, magazine or journal articles, business letters, or official speeches.

f. Its usually elaborate complex sentences and noun phrases are well structured, logically sequenced, and strongly coherent. It uses formal words and expressions.

Study this example : “Toyota’s sales bounced back in March as

substantial discounts helped to win back customers who had been shaken by the firm’s mass safety recalls.”

Compare it with its casually or informally expressed counterpart:

“ Did you see Toyota’s sale figures? Look like the discounts have actually worked.”

g. The standard of correctness in this style is high. Some phrases, which are considered correct (or at least acceptable) in casual, informal English, are wrong in formal English. For instance, refer to the following sentences:

“We have made less mistakes.” (formal: “We made less mistakes.”) “She’s liking it.” (formal: “ She likes it.”) “I feel real good.” (formal: I feel really good.”)

3. CONSULTATIVE STYLE This is the normal style for speaking to strangers or persons who are neither acquaintances nor friends or relatives (e.g., in a dialog or interview).

a. The two defining features of this style are (a) “the speaker supplies background information– he does not assume that he will be understood without it, and (b) the listener participates continuously.”

b. This speech style uses feedback and listener participation. The information provided by the communicators in their responses is just enough for participation and cooperation in the exchange, and the speaker depends on the listener’s responses in deciding whether he is being understood, should be more specific, or should reformulate what he is going to say next while he is speaking.

c. It is more or less the self-imposed style for communicating with strangers with whom we feel we share sociocultural and situational assumptions or opinions in a general way.

d. It is unplanned speech; it is “unmarked” or the baseline and ordinary type of speech in American English among persons who do not know each other.

For instance, the business exchange or dialog that takes place via telephone, which is filled with contractions (e.g., “we’re” for “we are,” “that’s” for “that is”), fillers and hedges (e.g., “oh, ”I see,” ”ah” and "well”)

4. CASUAL OR INFORMAL STYLE This style is used in conservations between friends and insiders who have something to share and have shared background information.

a. It is marked by various degrees of implicitness because of intimacy between speaker (or writer) and listener (or reader).

b. There is free and easy participation of both speaker (or writer) and listener (or reader).

c. Casual or informal language is a carefree way of communicating , and one in which those who know you can easily understand or relate to.

d. It is appropriate to use casual language in situations where speech is improved and not prepared ahead of time, or when the writer is writing quickly without editing (e.g., internet chat rooms, blogs , personal emails, or tweets).

e. You also use casual language when you want to get to know someone on a more personal level, or you want the personal level, or you want the person to feel at ease.

(example from E.) For example, a simple greeting with those you

know well might probably be the casual “Hi,” “Hey, What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” not the formal “How do you do?” or “Nice to meet you, Mr./Mrs./Ms.,Dr., Rev.” When you are in a dinner party with friends, and you need to leave for an urgent phone call , you might say, “One sec” or “I’ll be back,” not the formal “Would you please excuse me for a moment?” or “Excuse me,” which might perhaps use with your teacher or your boss.

f. The defining devices of casual or informal style are ellipsis, slang, profanity, and unconventional English; ellipsis comes in the form of omission of phonological, grammatical, or lexical units.

For example , instead of saying “ I believe that I can go with you,” you might say to a friend “ I believe I can go with you ,” omitting “that,” or “ Believe c’n go with you,” omitting both “I” and “a” of “can.”

g. The diction or vocabulary is informal , colloquial. Some of the vocabulary used only in casual situations are “dude” (a person); “ freaking out” (getting scared; wondering what was happening); “uh-huh” (yes); “nope” (no); “puke” (throw up); “stuff” (things); “to tick someone off” (to upset someone); “like crazy” (a lot or excessively; usually with a verb).

h. Its casual language uses words/phrases that are shortened like “I’m doin’ it my way” (doing); “Lemme go!” (let me go); “Whatcha gonna do?” (what are you going to do?); “Whassup?” (what’s up?); “ I kinda wanna go to the movies” (kind of want to).

4. INTIMATE STYLE This style is used in conversations between people who are very close and know each other quite well because of having maximum of shared background information.

a. it is characterized by an economy of words, with a high incidence of significant nonverbal communication, such as gesture, facial expression, eye contact, and so on.

b. There is free and easy participation of both speaker and listener, and is far from elliptical than the casual, informal.

Ex: If the sentence “Coffee’s cold” is used as an example in casual speech style, then “Cold” is the equivalent sentence in intimate style.

c. Intimate style is often not heard in court proceedings although the affirmative “Uh-huh” is sometimes used by witnesses.

d. Intimate style, however, may be used among jurors during their out-of-the-courtroom deliberations after their intense, highly formal interaction inside the courtroom.

Joo’s styles are ranked in terms of the relationship between speaker (or writer) and listener (or reader) on a level of formality, from the most formal to the least formal style:

(a) frozen style- like a cold form of communication meant to discourage someone from participating.

(b) formal style- for instance, a speech in an official setting.

(c) consultative style- with “a conversation between strangers” as example.

(d) casual style- such as a conversation between friends.

(e) intimate style- such as a private conversation between two persons who know each other extremely well.

Try it Out! A 20-year-old employee is suspended of having

kidnapped the four-year-old son of the owner of the factory where the employee is working. Pretend that you are a news reporter assigned to interview both the suspect and the mother of the victim. Which of the speech style will you use to gain the suspect’s trust and cooperation? On the other hand, which style can you use to make the victim’s mother feel better and lessen her suffering?