Overview
This lecture covers the five main communicative (speech) styles, focusing on how language changes depending on the degree of formality required in different situations.
Communicative Styles Overview
- Communicative style refers to how language use varies based on formality.
- The five main styles are casual, consultative, formal, frozen, and intimate.
Casual Style
- Used in informal settings among friends and peers.
- Features slang, vulgarities, colloquialisms, and group-specific language.
- Nicknames and informal contractions are common.
- Examples: conversations with friends, personal messages, tweets, blogs, and informal emails or phone calls.
Consultative Style
- Used in semiformal communication with two-way participation.
- Sentences are shorter, speech is unplanned, and it involves people who are not close or related.
- Examples: classroom discussions, doctor-patient talks, lawyer-client meetings, and teacher-student interactions.
Formal Style
- Used for large groups or impersonal communication.
- Language is structured, planned, formal, and avoids slang.
- Examples: meetings, speeches, interviews, formal lessons, official announcements, scholarly books, research papers, and technical reports.
Frozen Style
- Language is fixed, unchanged, and used in very formal, respectful contexts.
- Often involves ceremonies, rituals, and official documents or oaths.
- Examples: national anthem, religious rites, Pledge of Allegiance, constitutions, oaths, and creeds.
Intimate Style
- Used in private conversations between people with close relationships.
- Language is informal, personal, and ignores social boundaries.
- Examples: sharing secrets, family discussions about personal matters, and meditation.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Communicative Style — the manner of speaking that varies with the formality of the situation.
- Slang — informal words or expressions used by specific groups.
- Colloquialism — informal language used in everyday conversation.
- Frozen Style — language that remains unchanged over time and is often ceremonial.
- Intimate Style — private language used among people with close relationships.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and identify communicative styles in real-life examples or pictures.
- Prepare for a quiz or activity on matching situations to the correct communicative style.