Developing Classroom Developing Classroom Speaking Activities; From Speaking Activities; From

Theory to Practice Theory to Practice

Written By: Jack C RichardsWritten By: Jack C Richards

Brown and Yule (1983) Brown and Yule (1983) distinguished the difference distinguished the difference between the interactional between the interactional function of speaking and function of speaking and transactional functions.transactional functions.

Expanded version of Brown & Yule’s framework (after Expanded version of Brown & Yule’s framework (after Jones 1996 & Burns 1998)Jones 1996 & Burns 1998)

Three Types of Talk:Three Types of Talk:

Talk as interactionTalk as interaction Talk as transactionTalk as transaction Talk as performance Talk as performance

Talk as InteractionTalk as Interaction

This type of talk describes interactions This type of talk describes interactions which serves as a social function which serves as a social function (conversation).(conversation).

Features of Talk as InteractionFeatures of Talk as InteractionRichards (p.2)Richards (p.2)

~Has a primary social function~Has a primary social function~Reflects role relationships~Reflects role relationships~Reflects speaker’s identity ~Reflects speaker’s identity ~May be formal or casual~May be formal or casual~Uses conversational conventions~Uses conversational conventions~Reflect degrees of politeness~Reflect degrees of politeness~Employs many generic words~Employs many generic words~Uses conversational register~Uses conversational register~Is jointly constructed ~Is jointly constructed

Skills Involved in Using Talk as Skills Involved in Using Talk as InteractionInteraction

Richards (p.3)Richards (p.3)

Opening and Closing ConversationsOpening and Closing Conversations Choosing TopicsChoosing Topics Making Small TalkMaking Small Talk Recounting personal incidents and experiencesRecounting personal incidents and experiences Turn-talkingTurn-talking Using adjacency-pairsUsing adjacency-pairs InterruptingInterrupting Reacting to othersReacting to others

Talk as InteractionTalk as Interaction

There are 2 focuses of talk as transaction: There are 2 focuses of talk as transaction: 1.) Focus 1 =giving and receiving information 1.) Focus 1 =giving and receiving information

and the focus is on what is said or achieved. and the focus is on what is said or achieved.

Example: Asking someone for the time.Example: Asking someone for the time.

2.) Focus 2= obtaining goods or services.2.) Focus 2= obtaining goods or services.

Example: Checking into a hotel room. Example: Checking into a hotel room.

Talk as TransactionTalk as Transaction

This type of talk focuses on what is said or This type of talk focuses on what is said or done. done.

The focus is to be clear and accurate The focus is to be clear and accurate during talk. during talk.

The Main Features of Talk as The Main Features of Talk as Transaction are:Transaction are:

Richards (p.4)Richards (p.4)

It has a primary information focusIt has a primary information focus The main focus is the message and not the The main focus is the message and not the

participantsparticipants Participants employ communication Participants employ communication

strategies to make themselves understoodstrategies to make themselves understood There may be frequent questions, There may be frequent questions,

repetitions, and comprehension checksrepetitions, and comprehension checks There may be negotiations and digressionThere may be negotiations and digression Linguistic accuracy is not always importantLinguistic accuracy is not always important

Skills Involved in Using Talk as Skills Involved in Using Talk as TransactionTransaction

Richards (p.4)Richards (p.4)

Explaining a need or intentionExplaining a need or intention Describing somethingDescribing something Asking questionsAsking questions Confirming informationConfirming information Justifying an opinionJustifying an opinion Making suggestionsMaking suggestions Clarifying understandingClarifying understanding Making comparisonsMaking comparisons Agreeing and disagreeing Agreeing and disagreeing

Talk as PerformanceTalk as Performance

This type of talk transmits information This type of talk transmits information before an audience such as morning talks, before an audience such as morning talks, public announcement, and speeches. public announcement, and speeches.

The Main Features of Talk as The Main Features of Talk as PerformancePerformance

Richards (p. 5)Richards (p. 5)

There is a focus on both message and There is a focus on both message and audienceaudience

It reflects organization and sequencing It reflects organization and sequencing Form and accuracy is important Form and accuracy is important Language is more like written language Language is more like written language It is often monologicIt is often monologic

Skills Involved in Talk a a Skills Involved in Talk a a PerformancePerformance

Richards (p.5)Richards (p.5)

Using an appropriate format Using an appropriate format Presenting information in an appropriate Presenting information in an appropriate

sequence sequence Maintaining audience engagement Maintaining audience engagement Using correct pronunciation and grammar Using correct pronunciation and grammar Creating an effect on the audience Creating an effect on the audience Using appropriate vocabulary Using appropriate vocabulary Using appropriate opening and closingUsing appropriate opening and closing

Implications for TeachingImplications for Teaching

Talk as an interaction can be taught through Talk as an interaction can be taught through providing examples embedded in naturalistic providing examples embedded in naturalistic dialogs.dialogs.

Talk as transaction can be taught by providing Talk as transaction can be taught by providing sources for practicing how to use talk for sharing sources for practicing how to use talk for sharing and obtaining information. and obtaining information.

Talk as performance can be taught by providing Talk as performance can be taught by providing examples or models of speeches, oral examples or models of speeches, oral presentations, videos, and audio recordings. presentations, videos, and audio recordings.