FORMAL AND INFORMAL LANGUAGE.
In communication we use both informal and formal language at different times. In this point we need to learn when informal language is appropriate or inappropriate and where formal language is used.
Informal language is the language of everyday communication where we use it in casual social setting (e.g talking to close a friends, member of a family, or to other people who we are familiar with)
Study the utterance below,
1. What’s up my people
2. Hi guys
3. How are you John
The three utterances are Informal language and are appropriate or inappropriate depending on the relationship between the participants.
CHARACTERISTICS OF INFORMAL LANGUAGE
I. Use of contractions E.g we’ve, I’ll, I’m.
II. Elipsis E.g- Cant go “I cannot go”
-Want leave “I want to leave”
-It be fine “It will be fine”
III. Short sentences. E.g -They danced well
-She plays well
-We ate all the bites.
IV. Use of simple words E.g – ‘starts’, instead of commence
– ‘Close’, instead of adjourn
– ‘Home’, instead of domicile.
V. Use of incomplete sentences E.g -She said…….Yes
– It is…………… No I don’t think so.
– I mean……….Well…
VI. Use of slangs or Colloquial words E.g –Take the kid to school.
-Hey guys hurry up.
-Lets story dude.
-Pal its fantastic.
Formal language in other hand, is a language that is suitable for formal setting, serious discussion, writing or official context.
CHARACTERISTICS OF FORMAL LANGUAGE
-It observe the grammar of the language i.e word order, tenses, etc.
-It uses long sentences for clarity.
-Use more complex words depending on the province e.g ‘domicile’ instead of home.
‘commece’ instead of start
‘adjourn’ instead of close
‘adhere’ instead of follow.
-It doesn’t allow the use of slangs/colloquial.
-No incomplete sentences.
-Contractions are not allowed.
PARTICIPATING IN SOCIAL INTERACTION
There are many different types of verbal communication that we make in our daily life. These include normal conversation, debate, telephone exchange discussion and so on. All these need appropriate approach/style so as to have the so called Effective communication.
In order to become a successful communicator one to have skills such as skills for initiating conversation, presenting ideas as well as concluding conversation.
a) Initiating conversation.
There are different styles one can use to initiate conversation
- One can initiate conversation by presenting an opinion
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E.g –I think town life is more enjoyable than village life
-This time English terminal exam was simple
- One can initiate conversation by giving a statement of fact.
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E.g –In 2012 the form four National Examination was not encouraging
-2000 citizens died in Egypt due to political unrest
- Another style of initiating conversation is by asking questions
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E.g- Is it possible to combat corruption?
-Do you think most students speak English?
b) Presenting ideas
Oral communication is a two way process, to make it successively one need to observe the following points.
-Use clear and lively tone. Do not speak too loud or too soft.
-Do not dominate the talk i.e leave a chance for others to speak.
-Use polite language, especially when speaking against other peoples view that you do not agree with.
-Listen carefully and attentively to what others have to say.
-Involve your listeners e.g by asking Questions, seeking their views or by using controversy statements.
-Respond to questions and comments from your listeners.
c) Concluding a conversation
Concluding a conversation suppose to be friendly and positively as failure to do so will lead to outbreak of new conversation or find it difficult to strike a future conversation.
The following statements may be used to conclude a conversation.
-Thank you everybody, I’ll see you next time.
-Thanks, have a nice day.
-I’ll see you again next time.
-Have a nice day. Thanks.
Participating in Debate
Debate is a one of the aspects of public speaking. Debate can be defined to as a formal discussion about a contraversal topic normally known as motion. Debate is a common discussion in scholar, colleges and other higher learning institution. A debate develops student’s public speaking persuasive and arguments power.
The escene of debate is to persuade listeners to change altitude or understanding through argumentation. Debate also intends prepare learners to become public speaker. A debate develops confidence, critical thinking and analytical skills.
DEBATE ORGANISATION
A debate is formed by a group of people who groups themselves into two major conflicting parts – proposers and opposes and the leadership
Debate leadership
Debate leadership is usually of the following;
i) Chair person
ii) Secretary
iii) Time keeper
iv) Judge
v) Patron/matron
PROPOSERS
These support or argue for the given motion, there duty i.e. persuade the opposes so that they agree with the proper’s or the motion through argumentation and
multiple persuasive techniques.
Note
For easier administration of a debate of each of the groups is usually represented by few (about six)
Main/ key speakers
Common important phrases and expressions in a debate.
1. Greetings
2. Self introduction
E.g. my name is Consolata Mikui…..Im here to prepare (oppose) the motion which states that…..
E.g. good evening ladies and gentlemen
My name is…..and I stand before you to oppose
I propose the motion on the board
E.g.- chairperson, secretary and distinguished judges judge good evening, Im here to propose or oppose the motion for following
reasons.
3. ladies and gentlemen/ oppose/ propose this motion on the following reason.
– Ladies and gentlemen, I strongly oppose/ propose this motion on the following grounds.
– Chairman/ chairperson/ would like to propose/ oppose this motion for the following points.
4. Chairman, I strongly disagree with the previous speaker as follows
– Ladies and gentlemen, I beg to differ with the former speaker on …….
– Chairperson as a point of interruption…..
– Chair I would like to ask the former speaker allow me to ask a former speaker a question.
– Another important point is that……..
5. To bring the point home, I would like to say / argue that
– In my final analysis, I would like to say / argue that
– To end up my arguments would like to say that I strongly agree/ disease
6. Thank you for listening
– Thank you for attention
Examples of debatable topic (motions)
1. Kiswahili should be used as a means of instruction at all levels of education in Tanzania.
2. The union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar should now break.
3. Tanzania is a democratic state/ country.
4. Tanzania should now form a coalition government.
5. Death sentence/ penalty should be abolished in Tanzania.
6. Special seats in Tanzania parliament should abolish.
7. Sex education should be introduced in primary (schools)
8. Home sexuality should be legalized in Tanzania.
PREPARATORY SPEECH MAKING STRATEGIES
In the course of preparing for a speech, there are several strategies that deserve attention as follows:
1. Prepare your speech some time before you present it
I.e. think about the audience before which you are going make to your speech, consider the audience interests. This will help you to choose what to say and what not.
2. Think about the audience knowledge about the subject matter.
I.e. your suppose to know how much knowledge your audience has on the topic you want to talk about thus choose the manner of speaking and the language that
suits the knowledge of your audience.
3. Consider the size of your audience
I.e. Consider the number of the people to whom your speech is presented, this will help you to decide whether you need some tools such as microphones or you just
need to speak loudly e.g. if your speaking to a small number of people, there is no need of having microphones but if bigger.
4. Consider what your audience wants to know.
I.e. people are normally ready to listen to you if you address things of their interest that means talk about what they like or use the language style that they like.
5. Consider personal interest of the audience
I.e. when making the speech you should vary according to the interest of the audience as there are people who like human and those who do not so make those who
like human laugh and then vary not to bore other.
6. Determine the purpose of your presentation
I.e. set the motive behind your speech i.e. determines whether you want to convince or persuade, entertain, inform or instruct e.g. in the debate, the speech is made to
convince but if you were the MC, you speak in order to entertain thus use the language style depending on the purpose you want to achieve
7. Examine your knowledge
I.e. you need to speak about the topic that you know very well, thus you are expected to do an informed the books, magazines and other sources useful for the topic
you want to talk about. This will give you confidence out the topic you want to talk about.
8. Show your feelings about the topic
You should prepare yourself so well that your audience will see the topic your presenting is part of you so you need to speak in a manner that will show your
audience your mastery of the subject you are talking about.
9. Analyses the occasion
You pay attention to all circumstances surrounding the presentation to be made i.e. things such as the event itself, facilities available the size of the room and the time
allocated are the ones that you analyze. For example if you have ten minutes for a speech, you can’t the content so as to limit your time.
10. Analyses the situation
You should look at the social and physical context surrounding your presentation, for example you need to know that there are times when listeners are very active and when there are sleep, thus make your speech according to the situation of the audience for example when people are sleep you may involve them in a variety of activities such as asking them to stand up and stretch answering some questions. What matters generally is for you to make sure that the attention of your audience is always.
11. Maintain ethical standards
Every community has standard of conduct and morals accepted by the community thus as you present your speech be watchful so that you so do not sound unfair or
deceitful or scornful. Speak as if you are a civilized member of the community such as being very careful about the choice of words, avoid abusive language.
12. Avoid stereo – types
This is a simplistic or exaggerated perception which people have in their minds about other people. To avoid that people should be judged in objective or unbiased
way that means labelling people according to their ethnic community race should be avoid.
ACTUAL PRESENTATION PROCESS STRATEGIES
During the actual speech making of presentation, the following are the strategies to be considered.
1. Show your confidence
I.e. you should not show any sign of nervousness, this will make the audience trust you that means you tell yourself that you must win the audience. You need to give yourself few seconds of settle down mentally, this makes you gather energy before you speak.
2. Establish and maintain eye contact
Your advice to look at all parts of the audience as you speak or do not stare at the wall or one side of the audience.
3. Use gestures and movements
Good speakers use gestures to accompany their words i.e. Use gestures that match with what you say. For example figures can be used when speaking about numbers, movements are also allowed in speech presentation, this makes your speech likely, and the speaker needs to move purposefully and confidently.
4. Use your notes as a guide
I.e. you are advised to glance at your notes occasionally just to pick up the next point, you should not read or stare at them.
5. Use a clear and audible voice
You are advised to pronounce words clear and audibly so that your audience can hear. If the room is very big, use a mike or loud speaker.
6. Be enthusiastic
A good public speaker is advised to show his or her audience that he or she is interested in what is been presented. If you show interest, you may make your listeners
to show interest also.
7. Use an effective poise and posture
Graceful ways of standing or moving i.e. you are advised to stand upright and avoid leaning on the table or lecterm. Standing upright makes you free to use your
gestures that in turn make your speech to be likely.
PARTS OF ORAL PRESENTATION
The oral presentation/speech should be divided into three parts, whereby each of the three parts needs its due attention, the following are the details above what you ought to include in each of the parts.
i) Introduction
This is the opening part of your speech that needs to be very attractive to capture the attention of the audience right from the beginning i.e. it needs to be appealing by the use of expressions that catch the attention of the audience.
In the introduction you need to tell your audience what you want to talk about i.e. brief introduction of what you are talking about. You are also expected to give the direction of your entire presentation.
ii) Main body
This is the part where you exhaustively discuss the topic of your presentation i.e. it is here where your knowledge about the subject matter becomes exposed thus because most your message is found in the main body, present it in a manner that will keep listeners listening.
The main body show the listener that they have researched and you know the subject very well so make sure that you win your audience trust. That may achieved by showing confidence as you speak likewise the main body is expected to provide evidence for various issues and it is usually made up of many points of which one point should be classified before you start another point.
iii) Conclusion
This is the closing part of the presentation or it is an exit of the presentation.
The conclusion gives brief drowned important points which the audience should remember i.e. it is a summary of important issues raised in the main body.
The following are some of the expressions are used in a conclusion.
In summary in short we can say that……………..
To sum up……………………
To conclude…………………….
By the way of summering……………….
All in all…………………….
In a nutshell…………….