Module |
Speech Styles: Intimate, Casual, and Consultative |
At the end of this module, I can:
Speech style is “the way in which something is said, done, expressed, or performed,” and it corresponds to specific speech contexts. The speech styles—intimate, casual, and consultative—generally occur in interpersonal contexts.
There is a significant difference in the language used, degree of formality, and manner of expression in each style due to the different types of people involved and their degree of closeness.
By simply listening, one can recognize the speech style used by two people engaged in a conversation. Likewise, it is also easy to employ the speech style appropriate to the situation and to the person you are talking to. Usually, your relationship with the person whom you are talking to dictates the speech style you will use. Unless you have personal differences within your family, the style expected of you and another family member is intimate. The casual style is applicable if you are with your peers, friends, classmates, and coworkers (in the future). Professional conversations are usually consultative in style. They are less casual, more businesslike and more serious, and never intimate. You employ this style when you are speaking with your mentors, superiors in school, authorities, and later on, with your superiors at work, clients, and other professionals.
The speech style establishes the kind of relationship that exists between communicators. Similarly, listening to the speech style of the person with whom you are communicating with can help you identify the relationship that he or she wants to establish with you. From there, you can adjust your speech style accordingly.
As the term intimate indicates, the intimate speech style is usually used by persons who are close or very familiar with each other. In this style, the language used may be both formal and informal depending on the situation and the matter being talked about. Terms of endearment (e.g., mahal or babe for husband and wife) and terms that show respect (e.g., mom, dad, kuya, and ate) are often used in this speech style. Therefore, private or sensitive matters are usually talked about (e.g., family finances, purchase of a property, among others) using this speech style.
You use the casual speech style when you talk to your classmates, peers, and other people who are not as close to you as your family members or are not in your innermost circle of family and best friends. In this style, the language used is often informal and conversational. In addition, the casual speech style allows a more diverse range of topics. Terms of endearment are rarely used in this style.
How will you react if a stranger begins talking to you in an intimate manner?
To consult is to ask or seek advice from a person, usually a professional who has an expertise on a specific subject or field. You use the consultative style of speech when talking to a doctor, lawyer, engineer, counselor, and other professionals who you think can help you with your need for information, advice, or opinion. You may also be consulted by your future clients if you become the person knowledgeable enough to give expert advice, opinion, and information. This speech style requires more formality in terms of language, manner of speaking, and gestures. This style is observed when a doctor is talking to his or her patient or when a lawyer is advising his or her client.
Aside from the degree of closeness between the persons involved, the use of a specific speech style depends on the topic being discussed and on the purpose of the communicators. For instance, a mother and a daughter may use the intimate speech style when they are talking about school matters. Meanwhile, they may use the casual speech style when they are talking about hobbies or vacations. On the other hand, a doctor speaking to a patient who is also a family friend may use the casual speech style, rather than the more formal consultative style.
While professionalism and courtesy are expected when communicating using the consultative speech style, it would not hurt to be friendly. Sometimes, it makes the communication situation less tense and more comfortable even if it takes place in a professional setting.
There are times when people with certain levels of relationship take part in a communication situation where a different speech style is expected. On other occasions, people in a certain formal situation develop a friendship, which enables them to use a more casual speech style despite the setting. While relationships determine the speech style used, the setting, communication context, and other factors may also affect the style that becomes useful in interaction. Thus, it is important to note that these styles may overlap or may change depending on certain factors.
Can a person’s speech style help him or her achieve his or her purpose for communication? Cite examples to support your answer.
What speech style should you apply in each scenario?
Are you close to your siblings or cousins (if you do not have siblings)? Do you use the intimate speech style when communicating with them?
Read this short description of speech styles in the Korean language and culture at http://www.indiana.edu/~korean/E305/politeness_speechstyles.html. The classification of speech styles is different from the general speech styles discussed in this module. Which of the Korean speech styles can be classified as intimate, casual, or consultative? Explain your answers.
Form a group with five members. Together with your groupmates, think of three communication situations, one for each of the three speech styles. Afterward, identify verbal and nonverbal cues that are used in the communication situations.
Participants:
| Verbal Cues | Nonverbal Cues |
Participants:
| Verbal Cues | Nonverbal Cues |
Participants:
| Verbal Cues | Nonverbal Cues |
Track: Arts
You and your friend are the creators of a famous comic strip that is published in a famous broadsheet in the country. A publishing house commissioned you to create comic strips that will be included in a book on communication. You will create three comic strips that show communication situations in various community settings. You will determine the communication situation that will serve as the plot of each comic strip. Work together to determine the comic characters that will be drawn. Make sure that the scenes drawn depict the communication experiences in the community and that the characters’ dialogues reflect specific scenarios. You will present your output, together with the classifications of the speech styles used in each scenario, to the entertainment editor who will approve the comic strips to be part of the book on communication.
It is never too early to learn how to conduct yourself in formal communication situations as you will be able to apply what you will learn when you communicate with your future employers, clients, business partners, among others. Visit the following websites and find out how to conduct yourself in business-related communication situations.
The intimate, casual, and consultative speech styles do not necessarily fall under one type of speech context, but they are easily distinguishable from one another and from more formal speech styles. It is also easy to determine which speech style applies to a specific communication context. An intimate conversation usually occurs between or among family members, while a casual one regularly happens between or among friends or acquaintances. A consultative interaction, meanwhile, often occurs between a professional and his or her client.