Test Your Comprehension of Spoken Texts

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What are some of the features of spoken texts?

Spoken texts are characterized by short portions of text, whose cohesion and coherence are given by their succession and prosodic patterns (stress, rhythm and intonation) within a complex net of deictic cross-references (such as personal, demonstrative and possessive pronouns and temporal indications), supported by a high thematic redundancy, which manifest through frequent repetition of multifunctional syntactic and lexical structures.

Why are spoken texts usually redundant?

Spoken texts are normally redundant because they are usually subject to noise. To reduce the potential disruption of communication caused by interruptions, we tend to produce redundant text to avoid loss of information.

What are some differences between oral and written communication?

Oral communication is mostly effortless, fast and can be done in parallel with other activities. Syntax tends to be less complicated than in written language as phrases tend to be linked by coordination (and, but, or) rather than subordination (if, when) and ellipsis is prevalent. Moreover, instances of ungrammatical utterances are common and pauses, repetition and false starts are rather frequent, as well as fillers and hesitations.

Spoken communication is often characterized by the use of ______ and hesitations

fillers Signup and view all the answers

In spoken language, phrases tend to be linked by coordination rather than ______

subordination Signup and view all the answers

Non-linguistic sign systems may entirely replace ______ in verbal communication

language Signup and view all the answers

Spoken texts are supported by a high thematic ______

redundancy Signup and view all the answers

Oral communication can be done in ______ with other activities

parallel Signup and view all the answers

Spoken language tends to have less complicated ______ than written language

syntax Signup and view all the answers

Pauses, repetition, and false starts are rather ______ in spoken communication

frequent Signup and view all the answers

Verbal communication utilizes non-linguistic ______ systems in addition to language

sign Signup and view all the answers

Spoken language is usually subject to ______

noise Signup and view all the answers