Unit 4: Literacy B. Oral Literacy


1. Oral language Oral language is the system through which we use spoken words to express knowledge, ideas, and feelings. Oral literacy requires a clear sense of genre, audience, purpose and style.


Tip: Remember GAPS – Genre, Audience, Purpose, Style


Listeners differ from readers in that they only hear the words spoken and observe the delivery of such words. l Language should be clear and word choice appropriate for the specific audience. l Sentences should be concise and varied but never rambling or the listener will get confused. l Te speaker must have a clear sense of the purpose of what they are saying. l Tey must have an awareness of their audience. Te register or appropriateness of the style of text must suit the audience.


l Speakers who are passionate about what they are saying tend to use their entire bodies to support the message they wish to convey. Tone, gestures, pace and pause all combine in the effective delivery of the content.


l Much of the impact of oral language depends upon body language which comprises gesture, stance, and facial expression. (i) Gestures can be used to emphasise a point, to indicate someone or something nearby or to express an emotion. Most people naturally use such gestures when they are engaged in lively discussion - pointing, throwing hands in the air, shrugging shoulders, nodding head etc. It comes naturally!


(ii) Stance refers to the way someone stands or moves while speaking. Confident speakers stand on both feet and lean slightly toward the audience. Tis creates the impression of getting closer to their listeners. Walking around can sometimes be effective but needs to be punctuated with periods of stillness. Constant walking or swaying, creates distraction and can annoy your listeners.


(iii) Facial expression is another key aspect of effective oral communication. Eye contact is the most important element in showing your credibility and sincerity whether in a large or a small group. Good speakers engage one person at a time and use pauses to allow a point to sink in.


l Pauses are particularly effective aſter rhetorical questions. By using such pauses, they engage the attention of the entire audience.


l Te pace or speed of the delivery is also very important. Too slow creates boredom; too quick creates confusion. Te most effective presentations vary pace to suit what is being said.


As a listener, you need to listen actively, not passively. By being aware of the style, structure, content and delivery of an oral text, you maximise your understanding of oral literacy skills and become a better communicator yourself in the process.


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