Understanding Spoken Grammar Used in Spoken English

Image source

Have you ever heard "Spoken Grammar"? Is the spoken grammar similar to the grammar we usually hear in English learning?

Basically, grammar is a standard form or rule in English in accordance with its use, usually grammar rules are usually applied in writing. But in language learning, Language is not only used in writing alone, but is also used in daily conversations and even more frequently used conversations than writing.

The use of English in a daily conversation usually uses a standard grammar that is different from the rules of writing. In daily conversations the use of grammar rules is often unnecessary, because the emphasis is on the delivery of meaning As long as the meaning conveyed is properly received by the listener, the standard grammar rule becomes less important. Thus, in the spoken English we often get grammar rules that are not in accordance with the standard rules.

Before I explain further, let's look at two examples below:

Conversation A

A:My little brother is a really good student.
B:Why do you say that?
A:Well, he is really smart, so he always gets good grades
B:Maybe he gets good grades because he studies hard. (Hilliard, 2014)

Conversation B

A:Didn’t know you used boiling water.
B:Pardon?
A:Didn’t know you used boiling water.
B:Don’t have to but it’s um ... (Hilliard, 2014)

From both examples above, we know that example 1 is a standard grammar used in a writing in accordance with English rules. While example 2 is the use of English in everyday conversation. From the second example we understand that spoken grammar is a natural feature in English that cannot be regarded as a mistake. The nature and characteristics of language in conversation usually occur spontaneously and unplanned in the real-time. These features and characteristics lead to face-to-face conversations in real time. So the speaker has no chance to edit the error.

Spoken Grammar Features
In language learning, spoken grammar is usually learned in Discourse Analysis. Which is one of the branches of Applied Linguistics learning. Generally, there are some features of the spoken grammar:

1. Ellipsis
Ellipsis is the removal or subtraction of certain elements in a sentence or phrase. Ellipsis can be found both in spoken and written english. Features of ellipsis according to some experts are divided into two forms, situational ellipsis and textual ellipsis.

Situational ellipsis omits items that are apparent, given the immediate situation is much more common in spoken English. This is in contrast to textual ellipsis, in which the omitted information is retrievable from the text itself. (Cullen & Kuo, 2007)

”Do you have any question? (without ellipsis)

”Any question? (Ellipsis: Omit subject and verb)

2. Head or Left-Dislocation

Head is a way to introduce the topic for listener before we give the specific information of the topic talked. It allows the speaker to point some the topic they he wants to talk to listener, as well as gives both the speaker and the listeners more time to manage their real-time in conversation.

The boxing game last night, it is really boring (with head)

The boxing game last night was really boring (without head)

3. Tail or Right-Dislocation
The function of a tail in grammar is to clarify a comment to express an individual attitude or judgement on a thing or to put on interpersonal function. It allows the speaker to edit their statement or add some comment on his own sentences.

”My friend is really friendly, the one from Thailand.” (with tail)

”My friend from Thailand is really friendly.” (without tail)

4. Phrasal Chunk
In daily conversation we often hear words or phrase such “I know....., I mean...., kind of, short of, a bit, a little bit, by the way, and many others. Those all are phrasal chunks that mostly use in spoken language.

Chunks are groups of words that can be found together in language. They can be words that always go together, such as fixed collocations, or that commonly do, such as certain grammatical structures that follow rules. (BBC)

Image source

5. Fillers and Back Channel
Filler and back channel have the same definition but have different function. They both are words or utterances that have no meaning. A filler is expressed by speakers when they speak in real time situation. Most of time they use fillers when they are thinking ideas while speaking.The examples of filler are like uhm, um, ermm, well

While a back channel is used to by speakers to recognize to what a speaker saying, or to encourage the speaker to keep speaking or saying about something. The examples of back channel are yeah, uh-uh, oh, I see and many others

You can find the filler and back channel in this story board

Image source

References
AmandaHilliard, 2014
BBC
English Teaching Forum

Regards,
ALFYD, English Language Teacher