Speech situation
What is a speech situation in foreign and native speech? In fact, this is the first stage of communication between people. In modern reality, these situations can be either natural (two acquaintances met on the street and started talking) or artificial (schoolchildren were asked to speculate in class about the social problems of the region).
There are many varieties and topics of verbal communication in our world. Together they enrich the spiritual life of humanity and our culture.
A speech situation is the specific circumstances against which human communication occurs. It is the starting point of any of our speech actions: depending on it, we build a model of dialogue, communication with the audience, the search for topics of conversation, the direction of the conversation, etc.
Example text of a speech situation:
- Friendly conversation.
- Presentation of a report.
- Explanation to superiors.
- Consultation about buying a computer.
- Explaining to the child why matches are not a toy, etc.
Seating at a table
Proper placement of participants at the table is a means of effective interaction. Different shades of people's attitudes can be expressed by the place they occupy at the table. By the position of two people at the table, you can assess the nature of their communication. There are four main positions (Fig. 3.1, A, B - interlocutors).
- An angular position is typical for people having a friendly, casual conversation. This position is most favorable for communication between student and teacher, as well as between a leader and his subordinates, since both can provide a lot of space for exchange of opinions and gestures. The corner of the table serves as a calming barrier, protecting them from unexpected attacks. Their eyes don't squint, and when difficult questions are raised, they can always keep their gaze on a stationary object and concentrate on formulating an answer.
- Competitive defensive position. Positioning against each other can create a defensive position Positioning at the table
And the atmosphere of competition. Therefore, this position is used in heated discussions, disputes and debates. The interlocutors sit facing each other, which allows them to clearly see facial expressions and gestures, which can change every second depending on the relevance of the issues being discussed. This can lead to a situation where each side has its own point of view - the table becomes a barrier between them.
- the position of business interaction is one of the most successful strategic positions for discussing and developing joint decisions. There are no physical barriers between the conversation participants; they sit side by side. Communication is confidential and intimate. In this position, you can discuss almost any issue and topic, since the interlocutors completely accept each other.
- independent position. It is occupied by people who do not want to interact with each other. The interlocutors sit in different corners of the table, which negatively affects the communication process. If you try to change your position, sit closer, the other person may demonstratively stand up and leave the room. This is the most negative form of communication at the table and a form of nonverbal communication in general. This indicates a lack of interest. This position can also be considered hostile.
The shape of the table at which the manager communicates with his subordinates is also important.
Square tables are good for short business conversations. The person sitting next to him will most likely develop a cooperative relationship. And more understanding will come from the person sitting on the right. The person sitting opposite will provide the most resistance.
A round table creates an atmosphere of informality and ease and is the best way to have a conversation with people of the same social status, since everyone at the table is assigned the same place. The leader has the highest power at the round table, so sit on each side of him, visually endowed with more power and respect than the rest. And the member sitting to his right has more influence than the member sitting to his left. The degree of influence decreases depending on the distance from the leader.
Square and round tables are widely used in business communication. A square table, which is usually a work desk, is used for business negotiations, briefings, when the culprits are called “on the carpet.” A round table is used to create a relaxed, informal atmosphere and is good when you need to negotiate.
Types of speech communication
In foreign and native speech, three main types of speech communication can be distinguished:
- Official, business. This is communication between a subordinate and a boss, a teacher and a student, a doctor and a patient, and so on. It is characterized by the most stringent regulation of speech etiquette. Violation of some of its rules may even result in serious sanctions.
- Semi-formal. This is a conversation between colleagues, a group of students, and relatives. The norms of speech etiquette here are already more blurred. Communication is built more according to the rules characteristic of this small group.
- Informal. Conversations with friends, lovers, acquaintances, within the family. Observance of speech etiquette here is rather conditional. The tone and topics of communication are free. People here limit themselves only to their own moral ideas, morality, and tact.
Components of a speech situation
To better understand the main topic of our conversation, let’s highlight the main components of verbal communication:
- Participants. There are both direct participants - the addressee and addressee, and third parties - observers, listeners. The presence of the latter shapes the situation itself and influences the course of communication.
- Place and time of communication. A very important aspect that determines the style of communication. A conversation on the street, a conversation at a party, a speech in front of a respected audience - various speech situations. They are internally divided into two branches: Canonical - pronouncing speech synchronously with the moment of its perception. The addressee and the sender are in the same place at the same time.
- Non-canonical - the time of utterance does not coincide with the time of perception, the speech itself does not have a specific addressee (for example, a public report, a telephone conversation, communication via letters, etc.)
- Directly expressible.
- Active (dialogue).
"Party effect" and uniqueness of speech
The amazing ability of voice perception is called the “party effect.” Its peculiarity is that a person, with many sounding voices, not only hears and recognizes the right one, but tunes in specifically to it, suppressing other noises and voices.
Each person has a unique set of voice properties, manner of speaking, timbre, and phonetic features of pronunciation. The conversation of a well-known person instantly attracts attention even in the absence of the speaker in the listener’s field of view; no additional confirmation of identity is required; with good audibility, recognition is one hundred percent. The uniqueness of the phonetic characteristics of human speech is widely used as personal identification and is the subject of many experiments.
According to the results of experiments, the determination of biophysical characteristics by speech is in the range of 80-100%, socio-psychological indicators are not read so successfully, but the characteristics of emotional behavior, the level of sociability and the situational mood of the speaker have high indicators. These results once again confirm the importance of paralinguistic means of interaction, which convey much more information about the speaker during communication than is contained in the voiced message.
Extralinguistic and prosodic means
Now let's move on from all verbal communication closer to the main topic of the conversation. Communication uses prosodic and extralinguistic means of communication. Their role is very multifaceted:
- Regulating the flow of speech.
- Saving language means of communication.
- Anticipation, addition and replacement of speech utterances.
- Expression of emotional state.
Each of these areas has its own set of communication tools:
- Extralinguistics - diluting speech with pauses, including psychological manifestations: laughter, crying, sighing, nervous coughing, etc.
- Prosody - such intonation and rhythmic structures as volume and pitch of the voice, stress, timbre, etc.
Means of prosody and extralinguistics
Let's look at both prosodic and extralinguistic factors and styles.
So, prosody.
Intonation is the whole variety of linguistic means associated with the voice, which do not require concentration on the content of what is said.
Speech speed:
- Less than 200 words per minute is slow.
- About 350 words per minute - calm.
- About 500 words per minute - fast.
The pitch of the voice is from low to high.
Speech flow (mode): rhythmic, cyclical, abrupt, angular, rounded.
Voice timbre.
Voice volume.
Articulation - clear and precise or slurred, “chewed” pronunciation.
Now let's move on to extralinguistics.
Cough, shortness of breath. It can manifest itself as a reaction to external stimuli, talk about health problems, or be dictated by the desire to “tell” something to the interlocutor with these sounds.
Pause. The reasons for it can be different: attaching meaning to what was said, thoughtfulness, a means to gain time, distraction to something extraneous. Often a pause is allowed, noticing that the interlocutor wants to say something.
Researchers believe that the meaning of pauses in a conversation is sometimes almost equal to the meaning of what is said.
Laughter is a way to defuse the situation and make the conversation somewhat emotional. There can be several reasons for it: something comical or funny was said, you want to express your attitude towards something to your interlocutor.
Laughter can be either natural or artificial, forced.
Inarticulate sounds. During a conversation, many people grunt, sigh, “eep,” “moo,” etc. These sounds can indicate both an attitude towards the subject of conversation and reveal a person’s inner state.
But that is not all.
Intonation as a paralinguistic means of communication
Intonation performs the following functions in communication:
- Supplementation of information (expresses the speaker’s attitude to the content of the message). Example: the remark “sun” with an intonation of joy or sadness will accurately show the speaker’s attitude towards sunny weather.
- Replacing part of the message (an intonation pause replaces part of the verbal means in the context of a conversation). Example: the phrase “I called him, and he ...” does not require explanation that the communication did not take place.
- Strengthening the meaning of individual words. Example: the phrase “she is beautiful” shows the unprecedented beauty of the described beauty.
Intonation is always combined with other paralinguistic means of communication, which forms a holistic image of the speaker, his personal qualities, emotional state and attitude to the subject of communication.
Other factors of successful communication
In addition to extralinguistics and prosody, there are also tactical means of communication: a kiss, a handshake, a pat or other touch.
When talking about successfully building verbal communication, we should not ignore proxemics—the distance between interlocutors. It can be personal, intimate, close, public, social. The orientation of communication also plays an important role - an angular, independent, competitive-defensive position.
And the success of the dialogue is concluded by the image of the interlocutor - his manner of dressing, decorating himself, doing his hair and makeup.
Examples of the use of prosodic and extralinguistic means in speech
Let's see how widely we use the means of extralinguistics and prosody in speech and how they can characterize us:
- We use a high-pitched voice to convey strong emotions, both positive and negative: joy, anger, delight, fear, enthusiasm.
- Clear pronunciation of words and the absence of “swallowing” suffixes and endings are used to declare oneself as a disciplined, responsible person.
- Rapid speech is typical for an excited interlocutor who is worried about something. Slowness can indicate arrogance and equanimity, as well as fatigue or grief. Calm speech characterizes a thoughtful, balanced person.
- If the pace of the conversation gradually quickens and quickens, this indicates inspiration by the subject of the conversation, immersion in its topic.
- A lively, hasty manner of verbal communication is characteristic of an impulsive, temperamental person who is confident in his words. But if his speech is fragmentary, disordered, and characterized by sudden changes in the speed of speaking, then this is evidence of timidity, embarrassment, excitement, inconstancy and fussiness.
- If a person pronounces words correctly and adheres to a certain cyclical nature of the conversation, this indicates his severity, pedantry, firmness, and emotional coldness.
However, we must not forget that the means of communication also include gestures and facial expressions. If a person speaks measuredly, clearly, but at the same time desperately gestures, “runs” his eyes, curls his lips, then this betrays his excitement and uncertainty. Therefore, it is always worth paying attention to the fact that speech and non-verbal means of expression are synchronous during a conversation.
The richness of the vocabulary and the general outlook of the interlocutor is also of great importance in verbal communication. In addition to extralinguistic factors, this indicator significantly influences the success of verbal communication.
Expression of extralinguistic means in a literary text (using the example of the works of T. Malik)
By the end of the twentieth century, in the field of linguistics there was increasing attention to the semantic side of the object being studied. In view of the fact that the empirical stage of the study is coming to an end, there is a need for a stage of abstraction-generalization, which is not inherent in direct observation.
Linguistics has long been preparing to enrich empirical knowledge with other ideas and actions. In the twentieth century, directions for studying language appeared based on a methodology that brought together the philosophical ideas of empiricism, phenomenology, and constructivism. One of these areas is, of course, pragmalinguistics [1, p. 10].
Pragmatics is considered a relatively new field that studies the use of linguistic signs in speech. In the process of communication, when expressing his thoughts, the speaker sets himself a certain goal. This goal is for the listener to understand the speaker.
At least two people must participate in the information exchange process. An act of communication initiated by one participant, of course, requires a response action: a response to a question, thought or request, consent, refusal or threat. Interpersonal relationships that arise in the process of communication cannot exist without an object, since the subject and the object are interconnected and cannot be considered separately.
Within the framework of communication, various relationships arise that have a certain information content. As, in our opinion, it is correctly stated in the theoretical literature: “This is a different context of any method of presenting content or thoughts; also, the concept of context is understood as a method of expressing thoughts through verbal and non-verbal means” [2, p. 91].
To put it another way, along with language learning, literary text covers even neutral actions. “The choice of means existing in the language system is largely related to the neutral (extralinguistic) properties of communication” [1, p. 200].
Non-verbal means include the following:
— Extralinguistic (laughter, crying, hubbub, noises)
In this way the agreement came to an end. Nishantui was scheduled for the coming days, and the wedding was scheduled for Asadbek’s return.
After dinner and the hosts left, Manzura asked Abdulhamid:
— What is Nishantui?
“This...,” Abdulhamid grinned, “in our opinion, this is an engagement.” Apparently they also call it a blessing? Do you know what you've done now?
- What have I done?
“You have wooed us,” Abdulhamid said and grinned slyly [4, p. 72].
— Paralinguistic (melody, pause, breathing, pronunciation, rhythm and consonance);
In the process of communication, paralinguistic means are considered additional means involved in communication. Paralinguistic means are one type of extralinguistic phenomena; neutral actions accompany units of language learning [3, p. 120].
They perform the task of transmitting information, adding content, and adding clarification to a jumble of relationships. A person, in the process of transmitting certain information, uses non-verbal means to increase emotionality and enhance the impression, based on the environment and conditions of live conversation, using voice tonality, stretching sounds, pronunciation with pauses, etc.
For example: At first Zainab did not understand the meaning of this conversation. Realizing, she opened her big eyes:
She asked, “Is what you are giving me opium?”
- What did you think? - Mardona said, grinning. — Did you enjoy yourself after the injection?
Having said this, she extended her hand to Zainab's chest.
Zainab, finding some kind of strength in herself, knocked out this hand, stood up and shouted: “You brute!” Minx! Disappear! —
Mardona smiled venomously.
- Unwashed, he placed it on the neck of a non-believer. I didn’t come here of my own free will. You called me, I’m sending you away, I’m leaving. But then, even if you beg, I won’t come back. Think about it: a car is waiting on the street. We'll get there in a few minutes. Get rid of pain. Enjoy it. If instead of pleasure you like to suffer, what can I say, I went...
Zainab endured until Mardona reached the gate. Then, unable to bear the pain any longer, she shouted:
- Stop!
Mardona stopped at the threshold of the gate [4, p. 188].
From the above passage of text it is clear that if, when expressing thoughts, we examine communication without taking into account paralinguistic means, the analysis will not be complete. In most cases, a thought without non-verbal means will turn out to be bare, both from the logical and from the psychological side it will not meet the requirements.
— Kinetic (hints, expression of thought through gaze)
One day the class teacher raised Asadbek and Kesakpolvon from their seats.
- Which of you stole Turdialiev’s pen? - He said, looking at them with angry eyes.
At this time, Kesakpolvon was a master of looks - he looked at the teacher, as if saying: “I have not heard about this.”
But Asadbek, who considered theft a shameful matter, could not do this. Suspicion made him bow his head.
“I’m not a thief,” he said, not looking at the teacher [4, p. 55].
— Proximin (various body movements when speaking during communication).
“Last night there was a dog party in a trash can,” Cozy said, smiling in anticipation of a gift. Kesakpolvon thought in one breath, nodded his head: “They killed him in vain, he didn’t bother us.”
Causey didn't say "you gave the order." The cold smile disappeared from his face, he shrugged his shoulders, as if saying “guilty” [4, p. 181].
In some cases, in the process of communication, nonverbal means appear in a mixed way. The young man standing behind Sharif went outside and brought Nasiba.
- Oh, what's wrong with you? - Nasiba asked before she could cross the threshold.
- Quiet! - Berger shouted. - Speak only in Russian! Are you Namozova? Come closer. So you are this mug's wife?
“Yes,” said Nasiba, nodding her head. She couldn't speak Russian. Despite this, I tried to ask: “What do you need?”
— I will ask questions, Namozova! - said Berger, lighting a cigarette and flicking the ashes onto the carpet:
- How many children do you have?
- Four... three sons, one daughter.
- Yes... your children need a father. Look at me, Namozova, if you need a husband, tell me: where did your husband hide the money?
- Money? What money? - Having said this, Nasiba looked at her husband. Sharif shrugged as if to say, “I’m surprised too.”
- Look into the eyes! - Berger shouted. - If you say so, your husband is yours. If you don’t tell me, I’ll take him [4, p. 100].
Both the speaker and the listener conduct their conversation using extralinguistic means: various movements, signs and hints. Even when reading a book, watching TV, watching sports competitions, people frown, sometimes laugh, sometimes surprise appears on their faces, sometimes they cry, thus making various movements without noticing it. All of the above elements can be classified as extralinguistic means.
In the context of the globalization process, the need of the hour is to increasingly strengthen communications between countries, continents, and territories.
Each communicator, depending on gender, is characterized by different nonverbal means.
Male communicators have the following nonverbal properties:
- Speak while waving your arm extended forward with your palm open;
We don’t have that kind of money,” said the plaintiff, a young man who had just spoken, waving his arm extended forward with an open palm [4, p. 6].
- Say hello by extending your hand and squeezing it tightly;
Asadbek, without getting up from his seat, greeted him, extending his hand [4, p. 130].
- Clink glasses to drink, give a sign by clicking the throat;
Let's not drink, clink glasses together like Russians [4, p. 65].
— Talk to the communicator at a short distance, looking him in the face, etc.
The young man, who expected to see Asadbek’s anxiety, looked straight into his eyes, did not see the anxiety [4, p. 68].
Nonverbal means inherent to female communicators:
- Squint coquettishly, expressing whim;
She knew that her beauty and flirtatious look would slay any man. [4, p. 142]
- Bite your tongue to express regret;
Manzura, having said “oh,” in which surprise and fear were mixed, biting her lower lip, did not say another word.
- Greet with a kiss, butting heads;
“Oh, Zaynabushka, my soul, my sweet one,” she greeted with a kiss, “it’s good that she came,” said Mrs. Monica [4, p. 183].
- Touching your lips with your little finger, look shyly at the ground;
“I saw the baby again in a dream,” Manzur’s wife rejoiced, biting her lip and shaking her head, without saying the interpretation [4, p. 59].
— Inappropriate actions inherent in women in the process of communication, etc.
Thinking about how to distract Kosoy, the beauty, with hints and a flirtatious look, found a reason for him [4, p. 212].
Separately, it should be emphasized that extralinguistic means are considered one of the factors that enliven speech and increase its effectiveness, but their excessive use distracts the listener’s attention and turns him into a spectator.
To conclude, the listener's understanding and comprehension of the speaker's words can be produced by the existence of a common ground for both actors.
In a work of art, hints of a character and his body movements provide certain information about his character, mental and emotional state. Extralinguistic means enrich the idea of the character.
In particular, in the text of the work of the writer Tahir Malik “Shaitanat”, hints, body movements, words, word formations, linguistic units in the form of conversation used in the communication process are masterfully used by the writer, thanks to which we become witnesses to the masterful use of extralinguistic means.
Literature:
1. Safarov Sh. Pragmalinguistics. Tashkent-2008.
2. Myrkin I. Ya. Text, subtext and context // Questions of linguistics. - 1976, No. 2 - p. 86-93
3. Muratova N. The place of verbal and non-verbal means in the process of communication // Questions of Uzbek linguistics and literary criticism. Samarkand, 2012.
4. Tahir Malik, Shaitanat. I-IV - vol. Tashkent-2012.
What are these extralinguistic factors?
Now a few more definitions of this phenomenon. Extralinguistic (social) factors of communication are parameters of social (extralinguistic) reality that determine both frequent and global changes in speech.
Also, style-forming, extra-linguistic, extra-linguistic factors of communication are called a lot of phenomena of extra-linguistic reality, in which and under the influence of which speech acquires a lot of its stylistic characteristics, and the organization and selection of linguistic means also takes place.
Components of a speech situation as extra-linguistic factors
Let us note that the components of the speech situation can also be called extralinguistic factors. “Extra” = “over”: in the sense of something that is not directly studied by linguistics (the science of language).
Let's remember these components:
- Speaking.
- Destination.
- Subject of conversation.
- Purpose of communication.
- Communication environment.
What are the social factors of verbal communication?
Globally, extralinguistic factors include:
- A number of demographic parameters (density, method of settlement).
- Age difference.
- Social structure of society.
- The number of people who are native speakers of the language in which the dialogue takes place.
- Cultural and linguistic features.
- Written traditions.
- Language culturally determined contacts.
So we looked at extralinguistic factors and means of communication. These are all those extra-linguistic features that, depending on correct application, can make communication either successful or unsatisfactory.
Corrective influence
Paralinguistic means of nonverbal communication add brightness to communication, fill communication with emotions, which creates full interaction between people and gives the joy of communication. For special groups of the population, gestures and facial expressions have become the only way to interact with society. Paralinguistic means of nonverbal communication become a real salvation for people with speech impairments, and specialized assistance is largely based on developing the ability to read and demonstrate information messages and emotions without words.
Communication is the main process of socialization through which a child learns the rules and ways of living in society. For people with severe speech impairments, communication is limited and the only means left are nonverbal. For example, the use of paralinguistic means of communication during alalia helps to integrate into society, using facial expressions, gestures, pantomimes in the absence of the possibility of verbal contact. Corrective work with patients with this diagnosis is based on the development of non-verbal means, training with the possibility of voice rhythm and sound combinations, which in itself already has a stimulating effect on the corresponding parts of the brain.
