Understanding Spoken Discourse

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Questions and Answers

Which markers can listeners use to understand a speaker's organization of speech?

In retrospect, indeed

However, subsequently

Consequently, remarkably

Yes, no, but (correct)

How do spoken discourse and written discourse primarily differ?

Written discourse frequently uses incomplete sentences.

Spoken discourse often consists of separate sentences. (correct)

Written discourse incorporates more pauses and fillers.

Spoken discourse uses more complex subordinate clauses.

What is the role of pauses in speech?

To emphasize every spoken word

To allow listeners time to reflect (correct)

To signal the end of a speech

To create dramatic effects in dialogue

What does 'linguistic schema' primarily refer to?

Knowledge of phoneme and vocabulary Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a type of schema?

Pragmatic schema Signup and view all the answers

What difficulty might language learners face with informal spoken discourse?

Understanding metaphors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines 'formal schemata'?

Understanding of abstract organizational forms Signup and view all the answers

What do fillers in speech help to avoid?

Silences between speech segments Signup and view all the answers

What should a listener do to reduce potential distractions during listening?

Make eye contact with the speaker Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the phenomenon of words like 'turn off' becoming 'turnoff'?

Linking Signup and view all the answers

Which listening barrier is likely to be caused by external factors?

The speaker spoke too quickly Signup and view all the answers

Which type of processing relies on the listener's prior knowledge and life experiences?

Top-down processing Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the elision of sounds?

Sounds disappear entirely Signup and view all the answers

What commonly happens to some vowels when spoken in natural speech?

They fade out Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a feature of spoken English that helps convey information?

Stress and intonation Signup and view all the answers

Listening barriers can include which of the following?

Distractions from the environment Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes listening from hearing?

Listening involves interpreting and responding to sounds. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is not a recommended activity for improving listening skills?

Texting while listening. Signup and view all the answers

What is referred to as 'active listening'?

Interpreting and responding to a speaker's messages. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of listening involves evaluating the logical structure of the message?

Critical listening Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a receptive skill?

Reading Signup and view all the answers

What does listening materials for English learners include?

A variety of formats including podcasts and news. Signup and view all the answers

What best describes biased listening?

Hearing only what aligns with personal beliefs Signup and view all the answers

Which of these tips helps improve listening skills?

Try to ignore distractions. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of listening is characterized by the listener's pleasure from the auditory experience?

Appreciative listening Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus during informative listening?

Understanding and retaining the message Signup and view all the answers

Listening and hearing can be differentiated by which of the following characteristics?

Listening requires effort while hearing does not. Signup and view all the answers

Why are dictations beneficial for language learners?

They enhance spelling, writing, and context-based vocabulary. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of listening is about learning through conversation?

Dialogic listening Signup and view all the answers

What does empathic listening primarily focus on?

Listening without dominating the conversation Signup and view all the answers

Which listening type involves assessing the truthfulness of what is said?

Evaluative listening Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of relationship listening?

To develop or sustain a relationship Signup and view all the answers

What does schema theory suggest about the listening process?

It is an interactive process where background knowledge plays a crucial role. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of pre-listening activities?

To transform students’ mindset from passive to active before listening. Signup and view all the answers

Why is activating existing knowledge important before listening?

It helps students build expectations and improves comprehension. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the purpose of brainstorming in listening techniques?

To initiate a thinking process and prepare for new information. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant reason for providing necessary cultural background information during listening activities?

To facilitate comprehension and avoid misunderstandings. Signup and view all the answers

During which phase should students make predictions about the listening material?

Pre-listening. Signup and view all the answers

How can multimedia tools enhance listening comprehension?

By offering a visual aid that supplements auditory information. Signup and view all the answers

What role do post-listening activities play in the listening process?

They serve as a final step to assess and reinforce comprehension. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of active listening?

Concentrating fully on the speaker Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a non-verbal sign of active listening?

Interrupting with questions Signup and view all the answers

How can a listener demonstrate they are practicing active listening?

By providing relevant questions for clarification Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the characteristics of active listening?

Being non-judgmental while listening Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mirroring' in the context of active listening mean?

Automatically reflecting the speaker's facial expressions Signup and view all the answers

Why is remembering details from a conversation an important aspect of active listening?

It demonstrates that attention was kept during the conversation Signup and view all the answers

What role does positive reinforcement play in active listening?

It should be used sparingly to avoid distraction Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an active listener?

A person who allows the speaker time to express their thoughts Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Listening as a Skill

Listening is receiving language through the ears, requiring focus and attention.
When listening, individuals use their ears to receive sounds and their brain to convert those sounds into messages.

Listening Skills

Listening is the first of four language skills, the others being speaking, reading, and writing.
Successful listening demands special effort.
Learning about listening differences from simple hearing is crucial.
English listening learners benefit from specific tasks, found in English listening tests, which involve general and specific listening tasks, active listening, and useful listening comprehension strategies.
Learners require listening materials (e.g., podcasts, online listening labs and sites, news, music, videos/films/TV).
Critical questions can enhance comprehension.

Listening vs. Hearing

Hearing is a physical process of sound waves entering the ears and being sent to the brain.
Listening is an active process demanding effort and the ability to interpret the meaning of the message.
Listeners interpret sounds and attach meaning to them. (active listening)

Tips for Good Listening

Minimize distractions.
Maintain eye contact with the speaker.
Avoid daydreaming.
Don't anticipate what the speaker will say next.
Avoid interrupting.
Try to be still.

Listening Strategies

Reduce listening barriers.
Listen for specific details (e.g., problems).
Listen to various accents.
Ask clarifying questions.
Generate personal questions.
Listen to natural speech.
Common features of natural speech (e.g., omission of words, changing vowels)
How sound waves disappear when spoken.

Listening Barriers

Speaker speaking too quickly.
Distractions (e.g., noise, fatigue).
Feeling tired or nervous.
Lack of background knowledge.
Poor recording quality (e.g., unclear, too quiet).

Listening Processes

Research divides the listening process into bottom-up and top-down processing.

Bottom-Up Processing

Listeners focus on the spoken words, paying attention to the different parts (vocabulary, grammar, phrases) to make sense of the input.

Top-Down Processing

Listeners utilize background knowledge and life experience to understand the message.

Features of Spoken English

Spoken English involves various sounds that may be unfamiliar to non-native speakers.
Stress and intonation are essential for conveying information and emphasizing key points.
Speaker organization is creative and dynamic, showing how information is organized rather than a set formula.
Speech often includes markers like "yes, no, but, in addition, in contrast" which help listeners understand the speakers meaning.

Spoken vs. Written Discourse

Syntax and vocabulary usage differ between spoken and written discourse.
Speakers often use incomplete sentences, conjunctions, and fillers (e.g., "er," "um").

Pauses and Fillers

Speakers use pauses and fillers (e.g., "um," "uh") to organize their thoughts and give listeners time to process information.

Formal and Informal Language

Formal and informal language styles exist.
Learners may struggle with understanding informal spoken discourse.

Schema Theory & Listening

Schemas are active organizations of past experiences.
Three schema types:
- Linguistic: knowledge of phonetics, vocabulary, phrases, syntax.
- Content: pertains to factual knowledge.
- Formal: includes organization and structure of discourse.

Types of Listening

Informative: focuses on gaining information.
Appreciative: listening for pleasure or satisfaction.
Critical: evaluating the information.
Discriminative: identifying and distinguishing.
Emphatic: involves listening to understand another person's perspective.
Comprehension: understanding and processing a message.
Biased: listener only hears what they want to hear.
Evaluative: judging information based on your own opinions.
Sympathetic: caring about the other person's feelings and expressing empathy.
Dialogic: involves learning through conversation.
Relationship: listening within a relationship context.

Depth of Listening

False listening: pretending to listen when not hearing anything.
Initial listening: listener hears only the beginning words, anticipating to respond.
Selective listening: listener chooses only what interests them, ignoring other parts.
Partial listening: listener tries to listen, but gets distracted.
Full listening: paying close attention to what the speaker is saying.
Deep listening: paying attention to the speaker's emotions and body language.

While Listening Activities

Actively listening while the speaker is talking (at four times the normal speaking rate)
Effective listeners constantly check their understanding of the message.
Think and predict messages, keeping an open mind.

Post Listening Activities

Summarizing the report or information
Checking the comprehension level
Learners can transfer the listening comprehension skills into a conversational learning situation.
Role-playing and debates.

Active Listening

Active listening entails focusing completely on the speaker's message instead of just hearing it.
It involves utilizing all senses as well as giving the speaker full attention.
Active listening is a crucial component of interpersonal communication skills.
Active listeners avoid taking sides or forming opinions while they are listening.

Signs of Active Listening

Nonverbal cues (e.g., smiling, eye contact, posture).
Verbatim signs (questioning, reflecting, clarification, summarizing).
Mirroring (mimicking facial expressions).
Avoiding distractions.
Positive reinforcement.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts related to spoken discourse, including the organization of speech, the role of pauses, and the differences between spoken and written language. It also delves into challenges faced by language learners and the impact of prior knowledge on listening comprehension. Test your understanding of these important aspects of communication!