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SPEAKING
Speaking is considered to be the most important skill of a language, be it first or second. Day-to-day human
communication is mostly performed by speaking. Without it, human communication is crippled. Speaking is a
productive skill, which calls for people's performance. Speakers perform in a situation of communication. It is the test
of learning of a language. That is, speaking ability is the measure of knowing a language. Speakers converse with others
and it is much more than the ability to read, write, and listen. It is more complicated than it seems at first and involves
more than just pronouncing words. Through speaking, a person verbalizes thoughts and ideas.
Speaking skills may refer to several phenomena. First, it may refer to the ability to utter any sound; second, it may refer
to communicating in any language; and third, it may refer to the ability to impress others with nice talks. In
ESL/EFL/ELT, we are concerned with the second meaning. This skill is to be acquired with constant practice with the help
of teachers or other means. Speaking involves three areas of knowledge:
i) Mechanics (pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary): Using the right words in the right order with the correct
pronunciation.
ii) Functions (transaction and interaction): Knowing when clarity of message is essential (transaction/information
exchange) and when precise understanding is not required (interaction/relationship building)
iii) Social and cultural rules and norms (turn-taking, rate of speech, length of pauses between speakers, relative roles of
participants): Understanding how to take into account who is speaking to whom, in what circumstances, about what,
and for what reason.
Importance of Speaking Skill
The importance of speaking skills in daily life is easily realized. Every single day, we have to speak, for this or that
purpose. At home, we interact with family members and neighbors. We ask directions from passers-by. We bargain with
the shopkeepers at the marketplace. At work, we talk to colleagues and superiors. We discuss business issues and
concerns during business meetings. We talk about the latest products and services. Indeed, such skills are being utilized
anywhere and everywhere.
Without speaking skills, it would be very difficult to express thoughts and ideas to others. It would be almost
impossible to gain understanding from these people if we cannot even convey our message clearly and accurately.
Speaking is the skill by which we are most frequently judged. McDonough and Shaw (2003) note: "In many contexts,
speaking is often the skill upon which a person is judged at face value. In other words, people may often form judgments
about our language competence from our speaking rather than from any of the other language skills." It is the vehicle
par excellence of social solidarity, social ranking, professional advancement, and business.
Speaking is also a medium through which much of a language is learned, and which for many is particularly conducive
to learning. Therefore it is very important for first or second language acquisition.
Characteristics of Spoken Language
Spoken language has the following characteristics:
i) Spoken language comes out through the activity of vocal organs and is intended to be heard and interpreted.
ii) Spoken language in social interaction is often fragmentary and full of formulaic expressions, such as, Hello! How are
you?
iii) Spoken language is less organized and coherent, and may be infested with hesitation, pauses, and fillers.
iv) Spoken language is often less complex in its grammatical and discourse structure.
v) Spoken language tends to be less densely packed with information than written language.
vi) Spoken language is often supplemented by audience feedback. Bygate (1987) terms it as the reciprocity condition of
speech.
Brown and Yule (1983) examine the various forms of language most frequently used by speakers of the language. These
are:
i) incomplete sentence;
ii) very few subordinate clauses;
iii) very few passives;
v) replacing/refining expressions;
iv) topic-comment structure (e.g. The sun - it is blazing.);
vi) frequent reference to external objects;
vii) use of generalized vocabulary;
viii) repetition of the same syntactic form.
Reasons for Speaking
We speak for various reasons. As social beings, we have to interact with other people in private or public. We have to
express our thoughts and opinions as part of communication. Our existence will be jeopardized without speaking. Here
is a random list of a few reasons for speaking in our daily life (McDonough and Shaw 2003):
i) Asking for assistance and advice in a shop.
ii) Asking for directions in a different town.
iii) Making an appointment by telephone.
iv) Discussing and negotiating arrangements.
v) Talking socially to a variety of people.
vi) Sorting out arrangements for a car to be serviced.
Our everyday life is abuzz with speaking. We have to perform multifarious tasks for which speaking is essential. The
nature and extent of speaking may vary from person to person but there is no total detachment from it.
