Oral Communication in

Context
Quarter 1 – Module 5:
Speech Context and Styles


 
understanding
symbols

 

1
Page
 Quarter 1 – Module 5:
Speech Context and Speech Styles
Welcome to the Oral Communication in Context Grade 11/12 Alternative Learning
Material on Speech Context and Speech Styles!

This unit focuses on the various ways and situations in which people communicate.
It discusses how a communicator’s style of speaking changes according to the context
and how statements elicit various responses from listeners.

This module consists of lessons, namely:

o Speech Context
o Speech Styles

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. define speech context;
2. identify the various types of speech context in different situations;
3. employ appropriate verbal and non-verbal behavior in different speech context;
4. distinguish the types of speech style;
5. identify the social situations in which each speech style is appropriate to use; and
6. observe the appropriate language forms in using a particular speech style.
Code: EN11/12OC-Ifj-15, 16

Topic: Speech Context

What is speech context?

There is never a day that you do not communicate. It could be a group discussion,
Facebook status update, dinner conversation with someone you are interested in,
or small talk with a family member. In this case, it is necessary for you to
understand the concept of speaking in a variety of communication situation and
the number of people you are communicating with.

In the previous lessons, you have already learned the various components of
communication. You were also informed of the verbal and non-verbal cues that the speaker uses
in order to achieve his/her purpose. You have now realized that your ability to communicate
affects your relationship with the people around you. This time you are going to discover that
communication can be classified into different types based on the number of
participants and their purpose in the process. The tasks in this module will let you ascertain
the meaning of the term “speech context” as well as its types and find out how to act and apply
appropriate verbal and non-verbal behaviour in different speech situations.

What is Context?
According to DeVito (2005), “Context refers to the setting in which the communication
takes place. Context helps to establish meaning and can influence what is said and how it is
said.” Among its more relevant definitions, context is the set of circumstances or facts that
surround a particular event, situation etc. In speech communication, it refers to the
environment, background or setting that determine, specify, or clarify the meaning of an event.
(LumenLearning.com/Elements of Communication).
A person is exposed to several communication contexts in his/her everyday life.

What is Speech Context?

Speech context refers to the number of communicators and the setting in which the
communication process happens. It depends on the situation involved or the type of occasion,
2

if there is. It can also be formal or informal, personal or impersonal depending on the
Page

relationship of the communicators and the context.

Speech context is the situation that brings people to a conversation or a speaking event. It is
important for people who communicate to understand the situation or the environmental
context of the speech they are about to listen or deliver. It also helps you communicate
appropriately, understand the meaning of any message conveyed, and respond accordingly.

TYPES OF SPEECH CONTEXT

1. INTRAPERSONAL Communication

When humans involve themselves in thinking, dreaming, imagining, worrying and

reflecting over different things in the environment, they undergo Intrapersonal
communication.

Intrapersonal communication is when the person communicates within himself

and herself. It is the communication that you do with yourself. This refers to a type of
communication that is focused on one person, where the speaker acts both as the sender
and as the receiver of the message. The message is made up of thoughts and feelings
while the medium is the brain that processes what you think and feel. (Hybels & Weaver,
2012, p 16)
“The message is made up of your thoughts and feelings. The channel is your
brain, which processes what you are thinking and feeling. There is feedback in the sense
that as you talk to yourself, you discard certain ideas and replace them with others.”
(Hybels & Weaver, 2012, p 16)

Examples:
• There is a voice within you that tells you, “It’s okay, you can still do it! You can make
it!” when you are losing your drive to finish the task that you are doing.
• When you told yourself not to talk to your friends when you have read in a Facebook
post that they were in a party and you were not invited.
• You spent the night thinking and analyzing why a student from the other class talked
to you on the way home and you decided it probably meant nothing.
• You felt happy while thinking about how your teacher appreciated you for submitting
your project before the due date and you reflected on why this was so.

2. INTERPERSONAL Communication

Human beings are social beings that is why they talk, mingle, converse and
interact with others. This speech context that happens between two people or more
who are developing and maintaining a communication rapport is known as is
Interpersonal Communication.
Interpersonal Communication refers to the type of communication that takes place
between and among people and creates a personal relationship between and among
them. Normally, it includes two individuals, and it can vary from casual and very
personal to formal and impersonal.
Solomon and Theiss (2013) state that “the inter part of the word highlights how
interpersonal communication connects people… when you engage in interpersonal
communication, you and another person become linked together… The personal part
means that your unique qualities as a person matter during interpersonal
communication…” (p. 5)

Types of Interpersonal Communication

a) Dyad Communication – communication that happens/occurs between two people.

Examples:
• You consoled your brother who was feeling down.
• A conversation between your father and mother about the latest
announcement of your Barangay Chairman.
• You offered feedback on the speech performance of your classmate.
• You provided comfort to a friend who was feeling down.
3

b) Small Group– This applies to interactions involving at least three but not more than
Page

twelve people engaged in face-to-face interactions to achieve the desired goal. In this
 type of conversation, all participants can freely express their ideas throughout the
discussion.
Examples:
• You are having a discussion with your two brothers about the surprise party
you are planning for your Mom’s birthday.
• Kathlyn who came back from the United States called her three brothers and
four sisters and announced that she is getting married.
• You are participating in an organizational meeting which aims to address the
concerns of your fellow students.
• You are having a discussion with your group mates on how to finish the
assigned tasks.

c) Public
We tend to attend symposiums, go on rallies and interact where a huge group of
individuals are around. This is a public form of communication. It usually happens
when individuals and/or groups engage in dialogue in the public sphere in order to
deliver a message to a specific audience.

This type refers to a communication that enables you to send or deliver a message
before or in front of a group or a crowd. The message can be transmitted for
informative or persuasive purposes.

"In public communication, unlike interpersonal and small groups, the channels
are more exaggerated. The voice is louder and the gestures are more expansive
because the audience is larger. The speaker might use additional visual channels
such as slides or a Power Point presentation.” (Hybels & Weaver, 2012, p 19).

Examples:
• Delivering a graduation speech to your fellow graduates.
• You were elected as the new SSG president of your school and were given a
chance to deliver a message of gratitude to your fellow students.
• You deliver a graduation speech to your batch.
• You participate in a declamation, oratorical, or debate contest watched by a
number of people.

d) Mass Communication
One form of public communication is mass communication. Mass
Communication is a more public form of communication between an entity and a large
and diverse audience, mediated by some form of technology. This may be either
real time or on a taped delay basis, or it may be rooted in the usually recent past.
This refers to communication that takes place through television, radio,
newspapers, magazines, books, billboards, internet, and other types of media. This
may be either real time or on a taped delay basis, or it may be rooted in the usually
recent past.

Examples:
• You are watching a televised briefing of IATF on COVID-19.
• You have recorded a commentary for your school’s Online Discussion of the
pandemic and uploaded it in your social media account
• You are a student journalist articulating your stand on current issues through
the school’s newspaper.

VERBAL AND NON-VERBAL BEHAVIOR IN A SPEECH CONTEXT

Speech context differs by the rules of what is and what is not appropriate behaviour.
Different speech context whether it is intrapersonal, interpersonal, public or mass
communication requires different approaches. Though there might be some occasional
similarities, you should at least know how to behave and respond to various speech contexts
appropriately.
4
Page

When talking to your self

 You might be familiar with the feeling of quietly talking to yourself in your mind, and it's
normal — and good for you. By performing this, it makes you think and reflect on the things
you have done or are planning to do. Communicating to oneself has proved to have contributed
of effective communication towards himself and to others. But here are some important
reminders that you need to keep in mind:

1. Use self-talk to your advantage: Cheering yourself up before an important event or

talking to yourself while completing a task are two perfect opportunities for self-talk
(Gould, 2018, Talking to yourself is normal, n.d.).
2. Don’t overdo it. While it is normal to talk to yourself constantly, it is better not to overuse
yourself of doing so. The most common reason why people end up talking to themselves
is because they feel like they do not have someone else to talk to. To address this, you
need to be more sociable, it would give you more people to talk to other than yourself.

When talking to one person or a small group of people

Consoling your friend who is feeling down, or simply talking with your classmates about
your plans for a group activity is an example of a dyad and small group communication. This
kind of communication implies that the conversation is being shared and there is exchange of
ideas. Small group involves different skills because unlike dyad, it consists of more than two
people. In both cases, you can be as natural as yourself, however, unlike a running conversation
in your head, you have to consider that there are others who are equally important in the
conversation. Thus, to achieve successful communication in a dyad or small group, you have to
consider the following;

1. Listen carefully - Needless to say, this is the very basic foundation of effective
communication. You have to listen carefully and understand what the other person is
saying. Asking clarifying questions lets the other person know that you are indeed
listening attentively. More so, take active part. You also need to be heard and understood
when it is your time to speak.
2. Check your tone and body language. The vocabulary of the body is more revealing
than the actual words you speak. So, watch your tone and body language while you are
talking. Is your tone tough? Do you smile and encourage the person you are talking to?
Your body language tells more about your emotions and thoughts than your actual
words. Bear this in mind the next time you have a conversation with someone. Check
your body language to ensure that it is consistent with your words (Oakes, 2017).

When talking to the public

Speaking in front of the crowd requires many preparations; from analyzing your target
audience, to planning and drafting your speech up to the rehearsing part. The key therefore is
to come prepared. Be yourself while you are on stage and speak in the way that you will be
easily understood by your audience.
You will know more about this in the succeeding modules about the “Principles of Speech
Delivery”

Topic: Speech Style

What is Speech Style?

How do you talk to a family member? To a classmate? To you teacher? Principal? Or how
do you say a pledge?

Good communication skills require appropriate word choice of speaker as well as his/her
structure of sentences (Dapat, et.al, 2016). When talking to another person, words carefully are
chosen and so is the manner those words are spoken. As we are tagged as ‘social beings’ we
need to be creative in several ways as to how we express our messages. At this, we need to learn
the different types of speech styles.

The form of language that the speaker uses and is characterized by the degree of formality
5

is known as speech style (Martin Joos, 1976:156). The context dictates and affects the way
Page

people communicate, which results in various speech styles. Speech style is the “way in which
something is said, done expressed or performed” and it corresponds to specific speech contexts.
It is also termed as language registers. It refers mainly to the way one communicates than the
meaning of the communication. Speech style refers to the distinctive way we communicate to
others and depends on the listener, the situation, and various factors. This lesson helps you
improve your communication skills by providing you the socially acceptable ways in delivering
your speech.

There are five (5) types of speech style discussed in these module and they generally
occur in interpersonal context.

Types of Speech Style

1. Intimate
a. This style is private, which occurs between or among close family members or
individuals.
b. It is the style of speech used for very close relationships.
c. The language used in this style may not be shared in public.
d. example: conversation between couples
2. Casual
a. This style is common among peers and friends.
b. It is an informal communication style between groups and peers who have
something to share and have shared background information but do not have
close relations.
c. Jargon, slang, or the vernacular language are used.
d. This style is usually seen in the streets, during lunch time with friends and the
like.
e. example: classmates talking to each other about Kpop during recess
3. Consultative
a. This style is the standard one where professional or mutually acceptable language
is a must in this style.
b. It is used in semi-formal and standard communication.
c. Examples of this are situations that show communication between teachers and
students, employers and employees, doctor and patient, judge and lawyer, or
president and his/her constituents.
4. Formal
a. This style is used in settings that places formal procedures or is used in formal
settings.
b. Unlike the consultative style, this speech style is one-way in nature or
straightforward speech.
c. What the speaker says is something that has been prepared beforehand.
d. Examples are sermons by priests and ministers, State of the Nation Address of
the President, formal speeches, or pronouncements by judges.
5. Frozen
a. This style is “frozen” in time and remains unchanged.
b. It is the most formal communicative style that is usually used during solemn
ceremonies and events.
c. It does not require any feedback from the audience.
d. Common examples are the Preamble to the Constitution, Lord’s Prayer, and
Allegiance to country or flag.
6
Page
 Directions. Read carefully and follow the instructions for each activity. USE
READ YELLOW PAPER in answering the activity and write legibly. Do not forget to LABEL
your output.
NAME: ______________________________________Grade Level/Section/Specialization: _____________________
FACILITATOR: _____________________ SUBJECT: Oral Communications in Context Date: ___________
MODULE 5: Forms of Communication and Communicative Situations

ACTIVITY 1: SPEECH CONTEXT

Directions: Identify the speech context described in each communicative situation and write your
answer on your paper. You may choose the answers from the box.

INTRAPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
INTERPERSONAL: DYADIC COMMUNICATION
INTERPERSONAL: SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION
INTERPERSONAL: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
MASS COMMUNICATION

1. Webinars for teachers are conducted via Facebook live.

2. The principal interviews a teacher-applicant.
3. Emman talks to himself in front of the mirror.
4. Four students are discussing their thesis proposal.
5. Miggy requested his brother Mikko to help him on his task.
6. The city mayor delivered a speech for his townsfolk
7. You are talking to your friend over the phone.
8. Your group leader is giving his idea on your task and the members react to it.
9. You are thinking of what to do on your birthday.
10. Students attending a class in school.
11. A child dreaming of her future.
12. The barangay captain is sharing his plans during the Barangay assembly.
13. You are arguing with your brother.
14. The teachers are having their meeting.
15. You are regretting about your mistakes.

ACTIVITY 2: SPEECH CONTEXT IN PIX

The following situations showcase different communication situations. Identify the type of
speech context being demonstrated by the picture.

1. 2. 3.

4. 5.
7
Page
ACTIVITY 3: SPEECH STYLE
Directions: Identify the type of speech style appropriate for the following situations. Write your
answer before the number.
1. Talking to a counselor or psychiatrist
2. Giving last-minute instructions to players
3. Delivering campaign speeches
4. Delivering news reports
5. Talking and laughing about memorable experiences
6. Having a one-on-one conversation with a loved one
7. Delivering an oratorical speech
8. Leading a prayer before meal
9. Reading school policies
10. Reading pledge of allegiance to the flag
11. Talking to a stranger
12. Inquiring at a hotel
13. The judge announces his final verdict over a case.
14. Teachers chat during vacant hours at the faculty room.
15. A friend talks to his girlfriend for their wedding plans.

ACTIVITY 4: ORGANIZE ACCORDING TO SPEECH STYLE

Copy the GRAPHIC ORGANIZER below on your paper. Then, distinguish how you should
communicate in the following speaking situations. Write the letter of the speaking situation under
the appropriate type of speech style.

a) attending solemn ceremonies

b) listening to announcements
c) using slang word like “bro”
d) conversing with close people
e) reciting the Girl/ Boy Scout Law
f) addressing the one in authority
g) producing well-formed sentences
h) talking to friends about hobbies
i) caring less about grammar
j) talking to the utility staff in your school

intimate
frozen casual

Speech
Style

formal consultative

ACTIVITY 5: EXPLAIN “HOW DO YOU TALK TO?” (Ipaliwanag kung papaano)

1. Teachers
2. Cashier at a store
3. The school principal
4. People belonging to your chat groups
8

5. Stranger
Page