Oral Communication in Context Unit 5:

Speech Styles
Speech Styles
In what way does your style or manner of speaking differ when
you are talking to a person who is close to you and when you
are talking to an acquaintance? There are various types of
speech style, and each of them is meant to be used in a certain
type of communication situation. This unit will help you
become familiar with each of the speech styles and use them
to communicate effectively.

Lesson 1: What Are Speech Styles?

How do you greet your friends in a party, your parents at home,or

your teacher in a classroom setting? We greet persons according
to our relationship with them, the level of formality weare currently
involved in, or the setting of the situation.

Learn about It!

When a person interacts with others, he or she uses a

particular style of speaking or speech style. A speech style
also indicates the level of formality with which a person
speaks.

In his book The Five Clocks, Dutch linguist Martin Joos

identified five types of speech style: intimate, casual,
consultative, formal, and frozen. These speech styles are
also called language registers.

According to Ronald Wardhaugh in his book An Introduction

to Sociolinguistics (1986), “No one speaks the same way all
the time.” For him, “language will exhibit considerable
 internal variation, and single-style speakers will not be found.” As such, you will find yourself
using different speech styles in different situations. In some situations, you may even transition
from one speech style to another. However, Wardhaugh states that this variation has limits (or
norms). For instance, you cannot just alter the meaning of words or pronounce them
differently. If you do any of these, not only is it unacceptable, but also the receivers of your
message might not be able to understand what you are conveying.

When you interact with others, it is important to choose an appropriate speech style to use. In
doing so, you should consider several factors, which include the following:

a. Audience – Who are you speaking with? What is your relationship with him, her, or them?
Your audience may be acquaintances, peers, friends, family members, teachers, counselors,
doctors, and other professionals.

Topic – What is the subject of the conversation or the communication situation?

Is it aserious topic or a lighthearted one?

b.
Subject of the Conversation Communication Situation
poetry English class
product reviews marketing team discussions
existence of God discussion between theologists
jokes about a political candidate friendly conversations

c. Purpose – What is the objective of the communication? What do you and the other
participants in the conversation aim to achieve?

Subject of the Communication Objective of the Communication

Conversation Situation
poetry English class to analyze the elements and themes
of the poem read
product reviews marketing team to improve sales and increase
discussions product awareness
existence of God discussion between to prove that there is a Supreme
theologists Being
jokes about a political friendly conversations to express political opinions in a
candidate satirical way
d. Location – Where is the communication being held? What is the environment like?

Subject of the Communication Objective of the Location

Conversation Situation Communication
poetry English class to analyze the elements classroom setting
and themes of the
poem read
product marketing team to improve sales and business meeting
reviews discussions increase product
awareness
existence of theologists to prove that there is a theological forums
God Supreme Being
jokes about a friendly conversations to express political casual talks in a food
political opinions in a satirical park
candidate way

Assessing the factors present in a communication situation and asking yourself the given
guide questions will help you in choosing the speech style to use.

Intimate and Casual SpeechStyles

We all have some personal concerns that we only share with
our closest friends or family members. We may tell a secret to a
close friend that we cannot just simply divulge to our common
classmate or acquaintance, or we may simply tell a certain
problem or difficulty to our closest family members.

Learn About It!

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1. Intimate Speech Style
The intimate speech style,
according to Martin Joos, is
characterized by a complete
absence of social inhibitions. This
style is used by participants who
share a very close relationship,
such as between very close
friends, siblings, husband and
wife, parents and children, and boyfriend and girlfriend. In this
style, the participants share a completely private vocabulary,
making it difficult for others who are outside of the group to understand. Since the
participants have an intimate relationship and they often know each other’s intention, there is
no need for a clear articulation of words or additional explanations.

The following are some other features of an intimate speech style:

a. Conversations are usually done in private.
b. Participants usually use short, incomplete utterances.
c. Grammar and proper word choice are not given importance.
d. Nonverbal cues are often used to convey messages.
e. Participants share inside jokes.
f. Words that signal intimacy, such as terms of endearment (e.g., sweetheart, dear,
honey) are used.

Being the most intimate among the speech styles, this should be avoided in public and in
professional situations.

Husband: Honey, it seems like our kids take much of our time lately.
Wife: I thought so too . . .
Husband: Would you like to have some “we time” tomorrow?
Wife: Well, I’d love to, hon!

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2. Casual Speech Style
The casual speech style is a relaxed or informal dialogue between friends, peers,
colleagues, or family. Thus, the participants may use group language so only members of the
group can understand it.

Other characteristics of this speech style include the following:

a. The tone is conversational. Slang (or nonstandard words or expressions), colloquial
words, elliptical sentences (some words are omitted), and informal contractions (e.g.,
ain’t, dunno, gonna) are used.
b. General words rather than technical ones are used.
c. Interruptions are common.
d. Nicknames are used in addressing one another.

This speech style is used in informal situations. You may also use this when you would like to
make someone feel at ease or when you want to know that individual on a more personal
level.

Friend 2: Dunno . . . Will let you know once I finish my tasks.

3. Consultative Speech Style

Aside from our peers, close friends, and family members, we

also communicate with other people who we meet and
interact with in our school, business, and professional
transactions. We vary the use of speech style depending the
situation that we are involved in.

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 Learn about It!

The consultative speech style is considered to be the most

operational style among the other styles. It is used in
semiformal situations in which a speaker needs to provide
background information because the listener (or
addressee) may not be able to understand without it.

For example, in a discussion between an insurance agent and

a prospective client, the agent needs to provide the

Check Your Understanding

Analyze the conversation and answer the questions that follow:

Rose: Hello. I would like to open a savings account.

Bank representative: Sure, Ma’am. Do you have two valid IDs?
Rose: I only have my passport with me right now. Would that be okay?
Bank representative: Do you have any other means of identification?
Rose: I have a driver’s license, but I don’t have it with me today.
Bank representative: I see. I’m sorry but we can only proceed with the transaction
when you bring another ID with you. Please bring a copy of your ID picture as well.
Rose: Thank you for your help.

1. What is the relationship between the two characters?

2. How did the bank representative address Rose?
3. How did they discuss their transaction?
4. In what way did Rose converse with the bank representative?
5. Did this conversation use the consultative speech style? Why or why

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How do you address a subject in a formal setting? The first three
types of speech style seem ordinary and comfortable to use
because they involve informal registers. In using formal and
frozen speech styles, we need to prepare to communicate at a
certain level where there are considerations for academic and
business formalities.

Learn about It!

4. Formal Speech Style

What distinguishes the
formal speech style from
the consultative style is the
lack of listener
participation. Unlike in
interactions that use the
consultative style, the
listener does notparticipate,
in most cases, in an
interaction that
requires the formal style. A formal style is often used in formal
situations, such as in a graduation ceremony, an official
meeting, a television newscast, and a conference, where
there is only one-way communication. Since thereis little
or no feedback from the listeners or audience, the speaker
needs to plan ahead his or her utterances, or what he or she
is going to say.

The following are the other characteristics of formal speech style:

a. Interruptions are not allowed. Only the speaker is the source of information.
b. Pronunciation is very clear.
c. Words are carefully chosen, and grammar rules are followed.
d. Sentence structures are more complex and varied.

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 e. Extensive and technical vocabulary is required.
f. Ideas are cohesive and organized.
g. All background or necessary information is clearly given.

This speech style is also used in sermons, speeches, and announcements. This is also the
style that is used for academic and business writing.

In this example, the speaker discussed the importance of what teacher feedback means in writing.
Notice that it follows standard grammatical conventions, and the ideas are presented in a logical
and organized manner.

5. Frozen Speech Style

The frozen speech style, also called the oratorical style, is the
most formal style and is reserved for very formal situations such
as in religious services, state affairs, and court proceedings. This
style is used to address or is given before an audience of absolute
strangers. It uses prescribed and highly formal language, such as
in official or historical documents and literary texts.

Here are other characteristics of this style:

a. It uses “frozen” language, where statements are learned by rote. Examples are the
Lord’s Prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem.
b. It has a symbolic or historical nature.
c. It is typically prescribed by law, custom, or ritual.
d. It involves certain fixed or stock expressions that are rarely or never altered
change
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Examples include the following:

● “I now pronounce you husband and wife” in wedding ceremonies

● “I solemnly swear to . . .” in oath-taking ceremonies
● “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help
you God?” in court proceedings

Take a look at this excerpt from the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

The prayer of Saint Francis has been used for decades in several schools, occasions, songs,
and other formal events. This song of prayer has become “frozen” through time.

Wrap Up

A speech style indicates the level of formality with which a person speaks.

Type of Speech Definition or Function Examples

Style
Casual Speech It is a conversational speech that conversation between peers and
Style often always uses informal friends
language.
Intimate Speech It is characterized by a complete communication between closest
Style absence of social inhibitions. This friends, partners, and family
style is used by participants who relations
share a very close relationship.

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 Consultative It is a professional discourse business registers between
Speech Style wherein one needs to have a professionals such as
background information for student-teacher, patient-doctor,
better communication results client-lawyer
Formal Speech It is a prepared speech that uses Graduation speeches and other
Style formal language registers. formal ceremonies
Frozen Speech This type of communication rarely prayers, bible passages, pledge of
Style or never changes. allegiance, songs

Bibliography

Antonio, Mary Ann K., Rodrigo A. Litao, and Marilu R. Madrunio. 2011. Contextualizing Oral
Communication. Manila: University of Santo Tomas Publishing.

Dunn, Daniel M., and Lisa J. Goodnight. 2003. Communication: Embracing Difference. Boston:
Allyn & Bacon.
Horan, D. 2012. Living the ‘Prayer of St. Francis’ With All of Creation. Retrieved from
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-p-horan-ofm/living-the-prayer-of-st-francis-wit
h-all-of-creation_b_1937279.html

Hybels, Saundra, and Richard Weaver II. 2011. Communicating Effectively. 10th ed. New York:
McGraw-Hill.

Wardhaugh, Ronald. 2006. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Fifth ed. Massachusetts:

Blackwell Publishing.

n.d. "Peace Prayer of Saint Francis." LoyolaPress. Accessed May 10, 2018.
https://www.loyolapress.com/our-catholic-faith/prayer/traditional-catholic-prayers/sain
ts-prayers/peace-prayer-of-saint-francis.

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