This document discusses spoken grammar and the use of "heads" and "tails" in natural speech. Heads refer to placing important information at the beginning of a sentence, followed by the grammar, such as questions asking for clarification. Tails are often used to provide an evaluation after stating the subject. Some examples are provided showing how heads and tails change the meaning and flow of sentences compared to standard written grammar. Reasons for using heads and tails include placing important information first, making complex sentences easier to say, clarifying subjects using pronouns, and referring to shared or visible information.

1. Spoken grammar

2. What is it?
Corpus based – before there was AI, Language teachers
used computers to developed a bank or body of speaking:
Spoken Body – most frequently used words, phrases,
idioms, sayings and spoken grammar functions .
The natural way we speak

3. Todays
lesson :
part 1
word
order

4. • https://flipsimu.com/

5. Say these out loud –
which sounds better? Why?
• HEADs
• That film,
• I thought it is was
• Great.
• Tails
• I thought it was great,
• that film

6. Heads allow you to say
the important thing
first………………….
.and then ‘do’ the
grammar later
.

7. Heads are often questions, asking for
clarification on something we know about
E: Those new jobs you’re applying
for, are they part-time or full-time?
F: Full-time, but they’re only
short contracts.

8. What is the context of this? Heads or tails
That white building, is it the Museum of Modern Art?

9. • That white building, is it the Museum of Modern Art?
• Lets compare with written grammar.
•  Is that white building the Museum of Modern Art?
• Say both out loud- what differences do you notice.
• Pausing and pointing, follows body language.

10. Tails are often evaluative :
‘great film’, ‘friendly dogs’.
C: I thought it was great, that film. D: Really? Too violent for me, I’m
afraid.

11. pronouns
• That white building, is it the Museum of Contemporary
Art?
• I thought it was great, that film.
• Those new jobs you’re applying for, are they part-time
or full-time?
• They’re so friendly, dogs.

12. Grammar differences
They’re friendly, dogs.
My coat and scarf, I’ve left them in the library!
Do you recognise him, that tall guy at the bar?
The woman that asked the question, did you get her name?

14. worksheets
: The guy you spoke to,
did he give you any
advice?
C: It was much too
difficult, that lecture
on global warming.

15. F: But it’s dangerous, the
east side of the city.
G: Your project on
dolphins, did you finish
it?

16. : I: Paula, she’s
always borrowing
my stuff.
K: They’re much
too tight, these
shoes

17. reasons and
contexts for
using heads
and tails
• Heads allow you to say the important thing first, and then ‘do’ the grammar later.
• Heads can make complex sentences easier to say by breaking them into two parts.
• Tails are often evaluative : ‘great film’, ‘friendly dogs’.
• Tails are sometimes used to clarify (you use a pronoun first, and then want to make
sure your listener understands what you’re talking about).
• Additional reasons:
• Heads are often questions, asking for clarification. (But they don’t have to be: ‘Your
dad, he’s so helpful.’)
• A head can be a bit like pointing your finger (‘That white building…?)
• Heads and tails usually refer to things we know about already, or can see (‘shared
information’rather than ‘new information’) and often use ‘that/those’