Types of Speech Style

LESSON 1
TYPES OF SPEECH STYLE
Prepared by:
Claire Anne Requina
Jl anino
Rhynnier Dave France Cuenca

Speech or communication has been
categorized into different style or modes. One
widely-quoted classification is that of Joos (1959,
as cited in Beeching, Armstrong, & Gadet, 2009).
His five styles, although relatively old, are usually
used in studies of style-shifting not only in
spoken language but also in written language.

Characteristics of Speech Styles
( Berk- Selingson, 2012; Schaffner, 2002; Normet,
2005; Szynalski, 2015; Bartley. 2015)

1. FROZEN STYLE
This is a style for declamation
and for print. The listener or
reader is not allowed to question
the speaker (or writer).

a. Its extreme, impersonal style is clearly planned and
marked by social distance, which may probably caused by
sociocultural differences between speaker (or writer) and
listener (or reader).
b. This style is more characteristic of writing than speech,
reserved for the most formal occasion when spoken, and
then read.
c. The writing reflects the efforts of revision. It is here that
some items like careful development of thought, logical
panning, attention to stylistic features, word
appropriateness, rules of usage, and so come into full play.

d. The style invites the reader to enter into a personal
experience of creative discovery, such as literary texts, like
poetry, which he may memorize, replay, and refeel, and to
find more profound values and meanings with each
repetition, transforming the texts into a frozen one
(Broderick, 1976).
e. As the most highly formal style. It uses the most complex
grammatical sentence structure and vocabulary known only
to experts in a particular field.

f. it utilizes customary, ritualized expressions that allow
listeners (or readers) to identify the large speech event in
which it is embedded (e.g., a marriage vow, a judicial
sentencing).
g. Documents written in this style practically have no
variation in the range of their expression, no deviation
from preset norms (e.g., statutes, briefs, appellate
opinions, insurance policies, contracts, leases, and wills).

2. FORMAL STYLE
This style, whose aim is to
inform, is intended for a captive
audience.

a. Like the frozen style, this is impersonal and marked for
social distances.
b. it required advance planning and preparation because
the speaker (or writer) is “under obligation to provide a
plan for the whole sentence before he begins uttering it,
and a delimitation of field for his whole discourse before
he embarks on it.”

c. Formal style of writing needs careful editing.
d. In speaking, what the speaker says is something that
has been prepared beforehand (e.g., reading the news or
delivering a speech).
e. Formal English is used in “serious” texts and situations
–for example, in official documents, books, news reports,
magazine or journal articles, business letters, or official
speeches.

f. Its usually elaborate complex sentences and noun
phrases are well structured, logically sequenced, and
strongly coherent. It uses formal words and expressions.
Study this example :
“Toyota’s sales bounced back in March as substantial
discounts helped to win back customers who had been shaken by the
firm’s mass safety recalls.”
Compare it with its casually or informally expressed counterpart:
“ Did you see Toyota’s sale figures? Look like the discounts
have actually worked.”

g. The standard of correctness in this style is high.
Some phrases, which are considered correct (or at
least acceptable) in casual, informal English, are
wrong in formal English. For instance, refer to the
following sentences:
“We have made less mistakes.”
(formal: “We made less mistakes.”)
“She’s liking it.” (formal: “ She likes it.”)
“I feel real good.” (formal: I feel really good.”)

3. CONSULTATIVE STYLE
This is the normal style for speaking to
strangers or persons who are neither
acquaintances nor friends or relatives (e.g., in a
dialog or interview).
a. The two defining features of this style are (a) “the
speaker supplies background information– he does
not assume that he will be understood without it, and
(b) the listener participates continuously.”

b. This speech style uses feedback and listener
participation. The information provided by the
communicators in their responses is just enough for
participation and cooperation in the exchange, and the
speaker depends on the listener’s responses in deciding
whether he is being understood, should be more specific,
or should reformulate what he is going to say next while
he is speaking.

c. It is more or less the self-imposed style for
communicating with strangers with whom we feel we share
sociocultural and situational assumptions or opinions in a
general way.
d. It is unplanned speech; it is “unmarked” or the baseline
and ordinary type of speech in American English among
persons who do not know each other.
For instance, the business exchange or dialog that
takes place via telephone, which is filled with
contractions (e.g., “we’re” for “we are,” “that’s” for “that
is”), fillers and hedges (e.g., “oh, ”I see,” ”ah” and "well”)

4. CASUAL OR INFORMAL STYLE
This style is used in conservations
between friends and insiders who
have something to share and have
shared background information.

a. It is marked by various degrees of implicitness
because of intimacy between speaker (or writer)
and listener (or reader).
b. There is free and easy participation of both
speaker (or writer) and listener (or reader).
c. Casual or informal language is a carefree way of
communicating , and one in which those who know
you can easily understand or relate to.

d. It is appropriate to use casual language in situations
where speech is improved and not prepared ahead of time,
or when the writer is writing quickly without editing (e.g.,
internet chat rooms, blogs , personal emails, or tweets).
e. You also use casual language when you want to get to
know someone on a more personal level, or you want the
personal level, or you want the person to feel at ease.

 (example from E.)
 For example, a simple greeting with those you know well
might probably be the casual “Hi,” “Hey, What’s up?” or
“How’s it going?” not the formal “How do you do?” or
“Nice to meet you, Mr./Mrs./Ms.,Dr., Rev.” When you are
in a dinner party with friends, and you need to leave for
an urgent phone call , you might say, “One sec” or “I’ll be
back,” not the formal “Would you please excuse me for a
moment?” or “Excuse me,” which might perhaps use with
your teacher or your boss.

f. The defining devices of casual or informal style are
ellipsis, slang, profanity, and unconventional English;
ellipsis comes in the form of omission of phonological,
grammatical, or lexical units.
For example , instead of saying “ I believe that I can go
with you,” you might say to a friend “ I believe I can go with
you ,” omitting “that,” or “ Believe c’n go with you,” omitting
both “I” and “a” of “can.”

g. The diction or vocabulary is informal , colloquial.
Some of the vocabulary used only in casual situations
are “dude” (a person); “ freaking out” (getting scared;
wondering what was happening); “uh-huh” (yes);
“nope” (no); “puke” (throw up); “stuff” (things); “to tick
someone off” (to upset someone); “like crazy” (a lot or
excessively; usually with a verb).

h. Its casual language uses words/phrases that are
shortened like “I’m doin’ it my way” (doing); “Lemme
go!” (let me go); “Whatcha gonna do?” (what are
you going to do?); “Whassup?” (what’s up?); “ I
kinda wanna go to the movies” (kind of want to).

4. INTIMATE STYLE
This style is used in conversations
between people who are very close and
know each other quite well because of
having maximum of shared
background information.

a. it is characterized by an economy of words, with a high
incidence of significant nonverbal communication, such as
gesture, facial expression, eye contact, and so on.
b. There is free and easy participation of both speaker and
listener, and is far from elliptical than the casual, informal.
Ex: If the sentence “Coffee’s cold” is used as an example
in casual speech style, then “Cold” is the equivalent sentence
in intimate style.

c. Intimate style is often not heard in court
proceedings although the affirmative “Uh-huh” is
sometimes used by witnesses.
d. Intimate style, however, may be used among
jurors during their out-of-the-courtroom
deliberations after their intense, highly formal
interaction inside the courtroom.

Joo’s styles are ranked in terms of the
relationship between speaker (or writer) and
listener (or reader) on a level of formality, from
the most formal to the least formal style:

(a) frozen style- like a cold form of communication meant
to discourage someone from participating.
(b) formal style- for instance, a speech in an official setting.
(c) consultative style- with “a conversation between
strangers” as example.
(d) casual style- such as a conversation between friends.
(e) intimate style- such as a private conversation between
two persons who know each other extremely well.

Try it Out!
A 20-year-old employee is suspended of having
kidnapped the four-year-old son of the owner of the
factory where the employee is working. Pretend that
you are a news reporter assigned to interview both
the suspect and the mother of the victim. Which of
the speech style will you use to gain the suspect’s
trust and cooperation? On the other hand, which
style can you use to make the victim’s mother feel
better and lessen her suffering?

Types of Speech Style

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