Speech style, according to Martin Joos (1976), refers to the form of language Speech style, according to Martin Joos
Martin Joos (1976), refers to the form of language
that a speaker uses which is characterized by the degree of formality.
There are five speech or communicative styles to learn – intimate, casual,
consultative, formal and frozen.
1. Intimate. This style is for very close relationships like couples, family, and best
friends. It is also used for self-addressed questions or self-talk, etc. It is used in
private conversation between people who are very close and know each other quite
well because they have the maximum of shared background information.
Intimate style could also be seen in couple talking about their future
plans, family sharing ideas, very close friends sharing secrets, etc.
2. Casual. This style is an informal communication between groups and peers. It is
used in conversation between friends and insiders who have something to share
and have shared background information but don’t have close relations. Jargon,
slang or the vernacular language are used.
More often than not, casual is your style of speaking. You speak casually
in your everyday conversation with friends, phone calls or even chats.
3. Consultative. This style is used in semi-formal communication in a two-way
participation. The speaker does not usually plan what he/she wants to say. This
style is the most operational among others, that’s why professional or mutually
acceptable language is a must in this style. It could be noted that sentences end to
be shorter and spontaneous.
Examples of situations where this style is used are communication
between teachers and students, employers and employees, doctor and
patient, judge and lawyer, expert and apprentice, etc.
4. Formal. In this speech style, the speaker avoids using slang terminologies.
What the speaker says is something that has been prepared beforehand. Its
complex sentence and noun phrases are well structured, logically sequenced and
strongly coherent.
Formal speech style is used in situations like meetings, speeches, school
lessons, court proceeding, a corporate meeting, at a swearing in ceremony,
in an interview or in a classroom.
5. Frozen. It is the most formal communicative style that is usually used during
respectful events and ceremonies. It is used generally in a very formal setting. It
uses fixed and static language. Furthermore, it does not require any feedback from
the audience.
Other examples of frozen speech are national pledge, anthem, school
creeds, marriage ceremonies, etc.
that a speaker uses which is characterized by the degree of formality.
There are five speech or communicative styles to learn – intimate, casual,
consultative, formal and frozen.
1. Intimate. This style is for very close relationships like couples, family, and best
friends. It is also used for self-addressed questions or self-talk, etc. It is used in
private conversation between people who are very close and know each other quite
well because they have the maximum of shared background information.
Intimate style could also be seen in couple talking about their future
plans, family sharing ideas, very close friends sharing secrets, etc.
2. Casual. This style is an informal communication between groups and peers. It is
used in conversation between friends and insiders who have something to share
and have shared background information but don’t have close relations. Jargon,
slang or the vernacular language are used.
More often than not, casual is your style of speaking. You speak casually
in your everyday conversation with friends, phone calls or even chats.
3. Consultative. This style is used in semi-formal communication in a two-way
participation. The speaker does not usually plan what he/she wants to say. This
style is the most operational among others, that’s why professional or mutually
acceptable language is a must in this style. It could be noted that sentences end to
be shorter and spontaneous.
Examples of situations where this style is used are communication
between teachers and students, employers and employees, doctor and
patient, judge and lawyer, expert and apprentice, etc.
4. Formal. In this speech style, the speaker avoids using slang terminologies.
What the speaker says is something that has been prepared beforehand. Its
complex sentence and noun phrases are well structured, logically sequenced and
strongly coherent.
Formal speech style is used in situations like meetings, speeches, school
lessons, court proceeding, a corporate meeting, at a swearing in ceremony,
in an interview or in a classroom.
5. Frozen. It is the most formal communicative style that is usually used during
respectful events and ceremonies. It is used generally in a very formal setting. It
uses fixed and static language. Furthermore, it does not require any feedback from
the audience.
Other examples of frozen speech are national pledge, anthem, school
creeds, marriage ceremonies, etc.
Activities. Activities.
A. Name This Style: Identify the speech style being described in each item. Write your answer on the A. Name This Style: Identify the speech style being described in each item. Write your answer on the
space provided before each number. space provided before each number.
_______________________1. Style used when conversing with your friends. _______________________1. Style used when conversing with your friends.
_______________________2. Professional language is used making it the most _______________________2. Professional language is used making it the most
operational among all speech styles. operational among all speech styles.
_______________________3. Completely private language is used within family of very _______________________3. Completely private language is used within family of very
close friends. close friends.
_______________________4. Fixed and static language is used in this style. _______________________4. Fixed and static language is used in this style.
_______________________5. Style done during very formal setting like ceremonies and _______________________5. Style done during very formal setting like ceremonies and
oath taking. oath taking.
_______________________6. The language used is comparatively rigid and has a set, _______________________6. The language used is comparatively rigid and has a set,
agreed upon vocabulary that is well documented; and is often of a standard variety. agreed upon vocabulary that is well documented; and is often of a standard variety.
_______________________7. Certain terms of endearment, slangs or expressions whose _______________________7. Certain terms of endearment, slangs or expressions whose
meaning is shared with a small subset of persons to person can be used. meaning is shared with a small subset of persons to person can be used.
_______________________8. Speaker of this style must frame whole sentences ahead _______________________8. Speaker of this style must frame whole sentences ahead
before they are delivered. before they are delivered.
_______________________9. Often very relaxed and focused on just getting the _______________________9. Often very relaxed and focused on just getting the
information out, thus, slangs are quite often used in this style. information out, thus, slangs are quite often used in this style.
_______________________10. This two-way participation style uses semi-formal _______________________10. This two-way participation style uses semi-formal
communication. communication.
B. Matching Style: Match the communicative situation in Column A to its appropriate communicative/ B. Matching Style: Match the communicative situation in Column A to its appropriate communicative/
speech style in Column B. Write the letter of your answer on the space provided before each number. speech style in Column B. Write the letter of your answer on the space provided before each number.
SET A SET A
Column A Column B Column A Column B
_____ 1. talking to a superior A. Intimate _____ 1. talking to a superior A. Intimate
_____ 2. having a heart-to-heart talk with a loved one B. Casual _____ 2. having a heart-to-heart talk with a loved one B. Casual
_____ 3. talking to a stranger C. Consultative _____ 3. talking to a stranger C. Consultative
_____ 4. consulting a doctor D. Formal _____ 4. consulting a doctor D. Formal
_____ 5. leading a prayer before meal E. Frozen _____ 5. leading a prayer before meal E. Frozen
SET B SET B
_____ 1. reciting Panatang Makabayan A. Intimate _____ 1. reciting Panatang Makabayan A. Intimate
_____ 2. giving last-minute instructions to players B. Casual _____ 2. giving last-minute instructions to players B. Casual
_____ 3. brainstorming with your classmates C. Consultative _____ 3. brainstorming with your classmates C. Consultative
_____ 4. delivering campaign speeches D. Formal _____ 4. delivering campaign speeches D. Formal
_____ 5. talking and laughing with your best friend about memorable E. Frozen _____ 5. talking and laughing with your best friend about memorable E. Frozen
experiences experiences