Which of the following stylistic features characterise spoken discourse?
(a) Greater use of explicit connectives
(b) Greater dependence on non-verbal connectives
(c) Greater syntactic embedding
(d) Greater use of fillers and repetitions

Choose the correct option:

Correct option is D

Explanation:

The correct answer is Greater dependence on non-verbal connectives and Greater use of fillers and repetitions.

Spoken discourse is fundamentally different from written discourse in its structure, spontaneity, and delivery. It relies significantly on non-verbal elements like gestures, intonation, pauses, and facial expressions to convey meaning, support coherence, and regulate interaction. This non-verbal communication supplements the verbal message and often replaces the need for explicit logical connectors.

Moreover, spoken language is often characterized by disfluencies, including fillers (like “uh,” “um,” “you know”) and repetition. These features help speakers maintain the flow of speech, think while speaking, and emphasize certain points. Unlike written discourse, where such elements are usually edited out, in spoken discourse they serve pragmatic and interactive functions.
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Information Booster:

Spoken discourse is typically interactive, real-time, and informal, often relying on shared context between speaker and listener.

Non-verbal connectives (e.g., body language, tone, pauses) play a crucial role in making communication effective, especially in casual and face-to-face conversations.

Fillers and repetitions serve as discourse markers, helping in turn-taking, emphasizing ideas, or giving speakers time to think.

Spoken language often exhibits shorter clauses, parataxis (placing clauses side by side without connectives), and simplified grammar, unlike the complex structures in written language.

Prosodic features (intonation, stress, rhythm) are also key components of spoken discourse that contribute to meaning and emotional tone.

Spoken discourse analysis is a vital area in applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, and discourse studies, helping understand language in social interaction.

Transcription of spoken discourse often retains these features (fillers, pauses, non-verbal gestures) to preserve the communicative dynamics of the spoken event.

Additional Knowledge:

Greater use of explicit connectives is more typical of written discourse, where clarity and logical sequencing are prioritized. In spoken discourse, ideas may flow with fewer formal connectors.

Greater syntactic embedding refers to complex sentence structures, which are more common in written academic or formal language than in spontaneous speech. Spoken language tends to avoid such complex constructions for ease and fluidity.