IMPORTANCE
OF SPEECH
Like listening, speech
also is a primary skill in language learning. In fact listening and speaking
are complementary to each other and are interrelated. One skill doesn’t exist
without the other. Both of them are used continuously in the communication
process. The listener and speaker change roles in the communication process.
Speaking ability in a language certainly depends on the listening ability. The
right type of listening practice will result in good speech habits because
imitation plays an important role in forming speech habits. Linguists like Brumfit and Cele Murcia are of the opinion that listening and speaking should
be treated as intertwined conversational skills.
The primary purpose of learning a language is communication.
Communication is of two types.
1.
Oral Communication, i.e., using the
language in the form of speech. In other words, speaking the language in order
to express or convey one’s ideas, feelings, thoughts or desires.
2.
Written Communication, i.e., using the
language in the form of writing.
FLUENCY AND ACCURACY IN SPEECH
There has been a growing demand for developing communicative skills while
teaching English in schools and other educational institutions. The
Communicative Approach in the outcome of such a demand. Speaking a language,
however, is not mere transition of thought and ideas into speech. One should be
able to speak the language well with considerable ease and effortlessly
(Fluency) and correctness and precision (Accuracy).
Fluency
refers to the ability to speak or write a language, especially a foreign
language, well and with considerable ease. The ability to do something
skillfully without making mistakes is known as Accuracy. So a speaker of English should be both fluent and
accurate while speaking the language. But according to Murphy, fluency is more important than accuracy. In his opinion all
the fluency aspects should be presented as major skills and accuracy aspects as
minor skills.
DEVELOPING FLUENCY AND ACCURACY IN THE PUPIL’S SPEECH
In order to develop fluency and
accuracy in the speech of the pupils the teacher can take up the following
exercises in the class.
1.
Pupils should be encouraged to
participate in task-centered activities like role-play, pair work and group
work.
2.
They should be encouraged to participate
actively in individual activities like elocution competitions, debates and
essay writing competitions.
3.
The teacher should introduce certain
interaction skills in the class like question-answers, dialogues, inquiring
about time, route etc. and encouraged the pupils to participate.
4.
The class may be divided into groups of
convenient size. Each may be given an interesting topic for discussion. Each
group should discuss the topic in detail and come out with a report of its
discussions and findings.
While conducting all these different
activities in the class the teacher should act as a friend, guide and monitor.
He should suggest and guide them whenever he feels that his need is felt by the
pupils. He should note down the general mistakes committed on the part of the
pupils and discuss them with the pupils after the activities are over.
Interference of the teacher during the activity and correction of mistakes
committed by the pupils discourage the pupils from active participation.
TYPES OF SPEECH
We have already seen that communication is of two types namely Oral Communication and Written Communication. Oral
communication or speech is further divided into the following types:
1.
Personal
Communication
As can be seen from the
above chart Personal Communication is further divided into Intra-personal
Communication and Inter-personal Communication.
A.
Intra-personal
Communication
‘Intra’ means ‘within’
or ‘to oneself’. So intra-personal communication means speaking within, or
talking to oneself. Thinking, feeling, desiring- experiencing within oneself in
the form of ideas, opinions, interests and intentions is called intra-personal
communication. In fact the speaker has to talk to himself in the process of
thinking before he speaks it out. Thinking, mentally working out a solution to
a problem and soliloquies are the best examples of intra-personal
communication.
B.
Inter-personal
Communication
The type of
conversation that usually takes place between two peoples is what is called
interpersonal communication. In this type of communication we find two people
participating, the speaker and the listener. They frequently exchange their
roles. The conversation between parent and child, between master and servant,
between teacher and the pupil in the classroom, and role-plays and telephone
conversations are the best examples of inter-personal communication.
2.
Social
Communication
In the words of Aristotle, “Man is a social animal”.
The use of language is a social necessity and the skill of using a language
develops fast in a social setting. The type of communication that takes place
within and among small groups in a society is called social communication.
3.
Mass
Communication
When the speaker addresses or speaks to a large gathering or crowd it is
called mass communication. Public meetings, election meetings, TV and radio
lessons are the best examples of mass communication. Here it is well to
remember that mass communication is always embedded with a specific purpose.
Speaking correct English requires mastery of
two major skills namely Linguistic
Skills and Communication Skills.
They are further divided into various sub-skills as shown hereunder.
The sub-skills of speech
can be further elaborated and explained.
They
are:
1.
Producing speech sounds in an
intelligible manner.
2.
Using appropriate word stress, sentence
stress and intonation patterns.
3.
Making statements (Assertive Sentences),
asking questions (Interrogative Sentences), giving directions or making
requests (Imperative Sentences) and expressing surprise or awe (Exclamatory
Sentences).
4.
Conveying ideas in a proper sequential
order.
5.
Evoking suitable responses in the
learners.
6.
Narrating one’s experiences and events
in one’s life.
7.
Describing accurately what one observes
in the surroundings.
8.
Using appropriate expressions in
accordance with the situations like Excuse
me, Thank You, Good bye, Doesn’t matter, You are welcome, I beg your pardon etc.
9.
Uttering sentences at a reasonable
speed.
