The Role of Speaking in Academic Context

The Role of Speaking in Academic ContextBy : GitanjiliYoo Chen ChenThe role of speaking in academic context

Speaking as both a central and peripheral activityThe place of other languages in spoken interactionSpeaking, listening and interactionThe cyclical and integrated nature of speakingInterruption1. Describing objects, location, structure and directionPosition, weight, structure, colour, composition, size, shape, functionExample :

The liver is the largest organ in the body. It weighs a little more than three pounds in an adult. It is shaped like a wedge and it is situated under the diaphragm, mostly on the left side of the body. There it is protected by the lower ribs. The liver is a little like an intricate chemical factory. It takes the particles of glucose - which come from digested starches and sugars - and changes them into another kind of carbohydrate called glycogen. It then stores the glycogen. When you need sugar in your body, the liver turns the glycogen into glucose again and sends it to the body tissues through the bloodstream.2. DefiningProvide more information and explanation about certain termsExample:

Diseases and symptomsWe normally define a disease as an abnormal condition of the body that has a specific cause and characteristic outward 'signs' and symptoms. Technically speaking, we usually say that a 'sign' is an indication of a disease that is noticed by the doctor but not by the patient, while a 'symptom' is something the patient himself feels - but this distinction is often not so clear in ordinary conversation.3. Giving instructionstelling someone how to do something"first, "then, "nextExample: Creating a new Web pageYou don't need any special tools to create a Web page. You can use any word processor, even WordPad or SimpleText, which are included with the basic Windows and Macintosh system software.

To create a new Web page:First, open a text editor or word processor.Then, choose File > New to create a new, blank document.Next, create the HTML content as explained in the rest of this book.When you've done that, choose File > Save As.In the dialog box that appears, choose Text Only (or ASCII) for the format.Next, give the document the .html or html extension.Then, choose the folder in which to save the Web page.Finally, Click Save.4. Drawing conclusionsSummary of the main ideaExample:

In conclusion, it is certainly true that the twentieth century gave us some advantages by, for example, making us richer, healthier and freer to enjoy our lives. However, in our opinion, it did not make us wiser. The twentieth century also made our earth dirtier, our people less humane, and our spiritual lives poorer. We should, of course, continue to enjoy the benefits of technological advancements because they free us to pursue our interests and goals. However, we must make a concerted effort to preserve our natural environment for future generations. Moreover, we should take the time now to make our lives more meaningful in an increasingly impersonal, computerised world.4. Drawing conclusionsIn short,In a word,In brief,To sum up,To conclude,To summarise,In conclusion,It is generally accepted thatSpeaking Activities in Academic ContextFormalAvoid colloquial words and expressions.ExplicitMake it clear to the listener how various parts of the talk are related. These connections can be made explicit by the use of different signalling words.PrecisionFacts and figures are given precisely.HedgedTo make decisions about your stance on a particular subject, or the strength of the claims you are making. A technique common in certain kinds of speaking is known by linguists as a 'hedge'.ResponsibleFor demonstrating an understanding of the source text.Must be able to provide evidence and justification for, any claims you make.AccuracyUses vocabulary accurately. ComplexSpoken language is less complex than written language.Spoken language has shorter words, it is lexically less dense and it has a less varied vocabulary. The language used has less grammatical complexity, including fewer subordinate clauses and more active verbs.

Characteristics opportunities for speakingOne-to-one meeting with tutor/supervisorIntiative:Predicting problems and asking for help before/as they ariseNeeds Driven:Asking for practical guidance and support as neededPractically:Managing personal study through interaction with the tutorSocial/Cultural role:Becoming more familiar with the tutor/course director through occasional drop in attendance in one-to-one meetingThank You.