Module One
INTRODUCTION TO SPOKEN LANGUAGE AND CONVERSATION
Introduction
This module should be read in conjunction with the Programme of Study.
The Programme of Study lists the topics that are in the module and gives you the relevant page references for your textbook. This module aims to give you more direction as you work through the various topics. It will aim to highlight the most important items in the topic, as well as areas that need particular care. It will also point you towards the resources you should be using.
Remember to double-check the syllabus to make sure you cover all the items that you need to.
Module Overview
At AS, you studied examples of speeches that were planned, such as politic speeches, but at AL, you are expected to be able to understand features of spontaneous exchanges (i.e. unplanned conversation). This requires a new set of skills, including reading transcripts (written records of conversations), and also a range of new terminology specifically associated with spoken language. As such, Module One is an introduction to spoken language which will equip you with the appropriate skills and terminology to study child language acquisition (CLA) in Modules Two and Three, where you will be reading transcripts of conversations including children’s speech. Some of the material covered here will also link to topics covered later on in the course for Paper 4.
In this module we will consider examples of transcribed speech from adults, so you can see the skills that children are mastering as they learn to speak and interact with others. Assignment One therefore will also be based on a transcript containing adults’ speech, but please note that this is an introduction only; in the exam, you will only be tested on transcripts containing children’s speech such as the ones you will practise in Assignments Two and Three.
You will also have chance to review the grammar you learnt at AS in order to ensure you have a solid foundation on which to build. If you did not study AS with Wolsey Hall, please pay particular attention to these materials.
Topics
Topic One (1.1): Introduction to AL English Language – Examinations and Course Structure
Topic Two (1.2): Textbooks and Resources
Topic Three (1.3): Recap – Key Skills and Grammar from AS English Language
Topic Four (1.4): Features of Spoken Language and Unscripted Conversation
Topic Five (1.5): Prosodic and Paralinguistic Features
Topic Six (1.6): Conversational Interaction
Topic Eight (1.8): Transcribing Speech