Spoken Interaction and Turn-Taking

Spoken Interaction

• Spoken interaction is part of discourse
• Discourse is any unit of language, like a dialogue in a conversation or a paragraph in writing.
• Discourse comes from the Latin prefix "dis-" meaning "away" and "currere" meaning "to run," meaning a flow of conversation.
• Spoken or written communication occurs in a social context.
• Spoken interaction often includes discussion amongst people about a particular topic.
• Spoken interaction is a joint social activity that follows certain principles:
  • Speakers cooperate.
  • Speakers take turns.

Speakers Take Turns

• Turn-taking happens when one speaker listens while another speaks.
• As the conversation progresses, roles of speaker and listener change.

Verbal Fillers

• Verbal fillers are sounds, words, or phrases that do not mean anything in context of a conversation.
• Examples of these fillers include: "umm," "uhh," "hmm."

Vocabulary Enhancement

• Vocabulary is the set of familiar words in a person's language.
• Vocabulary helps in communication and acquiring knowledge.
• It is commonly seen as all the words a person knows and uses.

Types of Vocabulary

• Reading Vocabulary: words a student can read and understand. Strong connection between understanding words and understanding a story.
• Listening Vocabulary: words recognized when listening—speaker's tone and gestures can help with meaning.
• Speaking Vocabulary: words used in speech, generally a portion of the listening vocabulary.
• Writing Vocabulary: words seen in things such as formal essays and social media.

How Many Words People Know

• A person starting school knows about 500-6,000 words.
• A person without a formal education knows around 35,000 words.
• A high school educated person knows around 50,000 words.
• A college educated person knows 50,000 - 75,000 words.

Types of Vocabulary Words (Three Tiers)

• Tier 1 - Basic Words: Simple common words such as: good, new, first, last, long, etc.
• Tier 2 - High Frequency Words: Common high-frequency words used by mature language users with multiple meanings, used in different contexts. (e.g., cluster, sympathy, estimate)
• Tier 3 - Low Frequency Words: Less commonly used words.

Word Choice

• A single word is the simplest part of language.
• Word choice is crucial when attempting to communicate effectively.
• A person's word choice is dependent upon factors like the audience, situation, and purpose.

Importance of Word Choice

• Using incorrect words results in misunderstandings.
• Using incorrect word choice makes situations awkward.
• Using correct word choice adds impact on one's message.

Ways of Improving Word Choice

• Focus on the tone of speech/writing.
• Use a dictionary or thesaurus.
• Consider the audience.
• Improve vocabulary (learn new words).
• Use the words in sentences.
• Properly use nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
• Avoid repeating words unnecessarily. Avoid vague or unclear words.

Additional Word Choice Improvements

• Avoid using words solely based on other's use.
• Replace simple words with more specific ones.
• Bias-free language use should be prioritized if necessary.
• Simplify and reword speech and writing before use.
• Use proper diction. Avoid jargon or slang.