Considering such a phenomenon as verbal communication, we will see that many points influence its success. One of them will be extralinguistic factors. The definition of this concept, what it includes, we, among other things, will analyze in the article. Let's start with the most important term and its components.
Speech situation
What is the speech situation in foreign and native speech? In fact, this is the first stage of communication between people. In modern reality, these situations can be both natural (two acquaintances met on the street and started talking) or artificial (schoolchildren were asked to discuss the social problems of the region in class).
There are many varieties and themes of speech communication in our world. Together they enrich the spiritual life of mankind, our culture.
Speech situation - specific circumstances against which human communication takes place. It is the starting point of any of our speech actions: depending on it, a model is builtdialogue, communication with the audience, search for topics of conversation, the direction of the conversation, etc.
Example of the text of a speech situation:
- Friendly chat.
- Make a presentation.
- Explanation to superiors.
- Consultation about buying a computer.
- Explaining to a baby why matches are not toys, etc.
Types of verbal communication
In foreign and native speech, three main types of speech communication can be distinguished:
- Official, business. This is the communication of a subordinate with a boss, a teacher with a student, a doctor with a patient, and so on. It is characterized by the most stringent regulation of speech etiquette. Violation of some of its rules may even threaten with serious sanctions.
- Semi-official. This is a conversation of colleagues, a group of students, relatives. The norms of speech etiquette here are already more blurred. Communication is built more according to the rules characteristic of this small group.
- Unofficial. Conversations with friends, lovers, acquaintances, within the family. Compliance with speech etiquette here is rather conditional. Tonality, topics of communication are free. People here limit themselves only to their own moral ideas, morality, tact.
Components of a speech situation
To better understand the main topic of our conversation, let's highlight the main components of verbal communication:
- Participants. There are both direct participants - the addressee and addresser, and third parties - observers, listeners. The presence of the latter shapes the situation itself, influencescommunication progress.
-
Place and time of communication. A very important aspect that determines the style of communication. A conversation on the street, a conversation at a party, a speech in front of a respected audience - various speech situations. Internally, they are divided into two branches:
- Canonical - utterance of speech is synchronous to the moment of its perception. The addressee and addressee are at the same time in the same place.
- Non-canonical - the time of pronunciation does not coincide with the time of perception, the speech itself does not have a specific addressee (for example, a public report, talking on the phone, communicating through letters, etc.)
- The subject of communication.
-
The purpose of communication. The result that the participants in communication want to see as the result of their speech interaction. Goals are divided into the following groups:
- Directly expressed.
- Straight. In particular, receiving and transmitting data.
- Indirect.
- Long-term.
- The so-called intellectual: criticism, search for truth, discussion, clarification, etc.
-
Feedback between dialogue participants. There are two categories here:
- Active (dialogue).
- Passive (example - the text of a written response).
Extralinguistic and prosodic means
Now let's move on from all verbal communication closer to the main topic of conversation. Communication uses prosodic and extralinguistic means of communication. Their role is very multifaceted:
- Regulation of the flow of speech.
- Saving language resourcescommunication.
- Antivision, addition and replacement of speech statements.
- Expressing an emotional state.
Each of these areas has its own set of communication tools:
- Extralinguistics - diluting speech with pauses, including psychological manifestations: laughter, crying, sighing, nervous coughing, etc.
- Prosody - such intonation-rhythmic constructions as loudness and pitch of the voice, stress, timbre, etc.
Means of prosodic and extralinguistics
Let's look at both prosodic and extralinguistic factors, styles.
So, prosodic.
Intonation - all the variety of language means associated with the voice, which do not require concentration of attention on the content of what was said.
Speech rate:
- Less than 200 wpm is slow.
- About 350 words per minute - calm.
- About 500 wpm - fast.
Voice pitch - low to high.
The flow of speech (mode): rhythmic, cyclic, jerky, angular, rounded.
Voice timbre.
Voice volume.
Articulation - clear and distinct or slurred, "chewed" pronunciation.
Now let's move on to extralinguistics.
Cough, shortness of breath. It can manifest itself as a reaction to external stimuli, talk about he alth problems, or be dictated by the desire to "say" something to the interlocutor with these sounds.
Pause. Causesit can be different: giving meaning to what has been said, thoughtfulness, a means of gaining time, distraction to something extraneous. Often, a pause is allowed, noticing that the interlocutor wants to say something.
Researchers believe that the value of pauses in a conversation is sometimes almost equal to the value of what was said.
Laughter is a means to defuse the situation, to make the conversation somewhat emotional. There may be several reasons for it: something comical, funny was said, I want to express my attitude towards something to the interlocutor.
Laughter can be both natural and artificial, strained.
Inarticulate sounds. Many in the course of a conversation grunt, sigh, “eek”, “moo”, etc. These sounds can indicate both an attitude towards the subject of conversation, and reveal the inner state of a person.
But that's not all.
Other factors for successful communication
In addition to extralinguistics and prosodic, there are also takestesque means of communication: a kiss, a handshake, a patting or other touch.
Speaking about the successful building of verbal communication, one should not bypass proxemics - the distance between the interlocutors. It can be personal, intimate, close, public, social. An important role is also played by the orientation of communication - an angular, independent, competitive-defensive position.
A concludes the success of the dialogue with the image of the interlocutor - his manner of dressing, decorating himself, doing hair and makeup.
Examplesthe use of prosodic and extralinguistic means in speech
Let's see how widely we use extralinguistics and prosodic tools in speech and how they can characterize us:
- The high voice is used by us to convey strong emotions, both positive and negative: joy, anger, delight, fear, enthusiasm.
- Clear pronunciation of words, lack of "swallowing" suffixes and endings is used to declare oneself as a disciplined, responsible person.
- Fast speech is typical for an excited, worried interlocutor. Slow can indicate both arrogance and equanimity, as well as fatigue or grief. Calm speech characterizes a thoughtful, balanced person.
- If the pace of the conversation gradually revives, speeds up, this indicates inspiration from the subject of the conversation, immersion in its topic.
- A brisk, hurried manner of verbal communication is characteristic of an impulsive, temperamental person who is confident in his words. But if his speech is at the same time fragmentary, chaotic, characterized by sharp changes in the speed of speaking, then this is evidence of timidity, embarrassment, excitement, inconstancy and fussiness.
- If a person pronounces words correctly, adheres to a certain cyclical conversation, this indicates his severity, pedantry, firmness, emotional coldness.
However, we must not forget that gestures and facial expressions are also among the means of communication. If a person speaks measuredly, clearly, but withhe frantically gesticulates, "runs" with his eyes, twists his lips, then this betrays his excitement, uncertainty. Therefore, it is always worth paying attention to the fact that speech and non-verbal means of expression are synchronous during a conversation.
The richness of the lexicon, the general outlook of the interlocutor is also of great importance in speech communication. In addition to extralinguistic factors, this indicator significantly affects the success of verbal communication.
What are extralinguistic factors?
Now some more definitions of this phenomenon. Extralinguistic (social) factors of communication are the parameters of social (extralinguistic) reality that cause both frequent and global changes in speech.
Also, style-forming, extra-linguistic, extra-linguistic factors of communication are a lot of phenomena of extra-linguistic reality, in which and under the influence of which speech acquires a lot of its style characteristics, as well as the organization and selection of linguistic means.
Components of the speech situation as extralinguistic factors
Note that the components of the speech situation can also be called extralinguistic factors. "Extra"="over": in the sense of something that is not studied directly by linguistics (the science of language).
Let's remember these components:
- Speaker.
- Address.
- The subject of conversation.
- The purpose of communication.
- Communication environment.
What are the social factors of verbal communication?
Extralinguistic factors globally include:
- A number of demographic parameters (density, settlement pattern).
- Age difference.
- The social structure of society.
- Population of native speakers of the language in which the dialogue takes place.
- Cultural and linguistic features.
- Written traditions.
- Linguistic cultural contacts.
So we have considered extralinguistic factors and means of communication. These are all those extra-linguistic features that, depending on the correct application, can make communication both successful and unsatisfactory.
