Module A: Experience through language

Elective: Dialogue

Students will study

• the nature of speech
• the differences between spoken and written language
• the representation of speech in a range of texts

This will involve an understanding of

• the conventions of dialogue
• the interpersonal nature of dialogue
• issues of control in conversation

Some of the features of speech:

• interaction between speaker and listener - feedback
• non-verbal communication (body language etc)
• intonation, volume, pace, stress, pitch and rhythm
• repetition either of one's own words or the words of others involved in the dialogue
• has a more limited vocabulary but the potential for wider understanding
• grammatical flexibility
• immediacy of expression
• includes false starts, pauses and incomplete or shortened statements
• includes clichés, jargon and slang terms
• includes contractions such as can't or don't
• includes the peculiarities of pronunciation

Some factors that may account for the characteristics of speech:

• age
• social class
• education
• experience
• personality
• preparedness
• familiarity with the subject matter
• emotional state
• formality or informality of the situation
• sex
• values and attitudes

Resources

Examples of spoken language

Radio                   eg Triple J http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/

Podcasts              eg the news http://abc.net.au/news/subscribe/amrss.xml

Interviews            eg Andrew Denton with         Joanne Lees http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1757332.htm

                                                                     Steve Irwin http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1732743.htm

                                                                     Pink http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1632954.htm

Parliament            http://www.abc.net.au/newsradio/parliament/