Lesson 2.

– Types of Speech Style

In engaging in a communication, you use a specific style appropriate with the occasion, the topic,
as well as your relationship to the person you are talking to. Generally, there are five (5) speech styles:
frozen style, formal style, consultative style, casual style and intimate style.

Objectives: At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

Distinguish types of speech style

Identify social situations in which each speech style is appropriate to use.
Observe the appropriate language forms in using a particular speech style.

Engage : Communication Style Self-Assessment

This questionnaire is adapted from

www.newlineideas.com/communication-style-quiz.html and is “Speech is a mirror of
designed to help you assess your preferred communication style. the soul: as a man
Thinking about your behavior with others, read each statement and speaks, so is he.”
indicate which best typifies your behavior where:
1=Aggressive; 2=Passive; 3=Passive aggressive; 4=Assertive. Total -Publilius Syrus
your score for each communication style category.

_____ I express my opinions honestly, openly, and appropriately all the time
_____ I can get angry and am comfortable letting this show
_____ I find it difficult to say “no”
_____If I do not agree with a task I’ve been given, I find a way of dragging my feet on it.
_____If someone knows more than me, I feel comfortable asking for help from him/her
_____I feel guilty if I leave on time for a valid reason and other people are still working
_____I can be sarcastic.
_____I think my way of doing things is better than other people’s.
_____If someone takes advantage of me, I find a way of getting my own back.
_____I feel I have a right to say “no” to other people’s requests and to negotiate a compromise.
_____If I am in a large meeting, I do not speak up.
_____I like to be in control of a situation
_____If the situation dictates, I can stare people down.
_____I make good eye contact with other people.
_____If I am unsure about a given task, I find it uncomfortable to ask for help.
_____I have been known to talk about other people behind their backs.

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_____When I have to deal with someone in authority, I find it difficult to look them directly in the eye.
_____I am a good listener and equally other people listen to what I have to say.
_____Rather than confronting someone about an issue, I would rather give them the cold shoulder or drop
hints to other people that I am not happy.
_____I am not afraid to be direct with someone, even if they think I am being rude.

Your scores:
____ Aggressive
____ Passive
____ Passive Aggressive
____ Assertive

Your highest score represents the communication style you tend toward the most of the time.
Even if the highest score is “Assertive”, pay attention to your next high score, especially if it is within two
points.

Aggressive- I am direct in expressing my needs, desires, and opinions giving little or no thought
to other people. In this communication style, psychologically, the aggressive communicator wins but the
other communicator loses.

Passive Aggressive- I indirectly make sure that others are aware of my needs, desires, and
opinions and give little or no thought to theirs. Using this communication style, psychologically, the
passive aggressive communicator wins but the other communicator loses.
Passive- I do not express my needs, desires, and opinions directly and I put others’ needs above
my own. Using this communication style, psychologically, the passive communicator loses and the other
communicator wins.
Assertive- I clearly and directly express my needs, desires, and opinions in a way which is
considerate of others. Finally, in this communication style, psychologically, we end in a win-win
scenario, for both side in the communication process.

Explore: Read and Understand the text

CHECKPOINT:

What are the types of Speech Style? How do they differ with each other?

Speech styles vary according to social context-who we are talking to, about what, for what
purposes. One way of classifying speech styles is according to the directness of our speech as seen in the
self-assessment above.

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 There are two parts to our chosen communication style: how direct we are in expressing our
views, wants, and opinions and the thought or consideration that the sender of the message gives to the
opinions, wants, and needs of the recipient.
In psychological terms, each participant in the communication process ends each communication
as either a winner or loser. The ideal, of course is to work toward a win-win situation.
Directness
Highof Openly Aggressive Behavior Assertive Behavior
Communicatio I am direct in expressing my needs, wants, and I clearly express my needs, wants and opinions
opinions and I give no thought to other in a way which is considerate of others.
people’s I win, you win
I win, you lose.
Passive aggressive behavior Passive Behavior
I indirectly make sure that others are aware of I do not express my needs, wants, and opinions
Low my needs, wants, and opinions and that these directly. I put others’ needs above my own.
are more important than theirs. I lose, you win
I win you loses.

Low Thought Given to Others High

Another way of classifying speech styles considers levels of formality and status. Depending on
the degree of closeness and relational proximity between sender and receiver. Speech styles may move
from less formal (Intimate) to most formal (Frozen)

Speech Style Descriptions Examples

Frozen Style  Highest rank in styles  Rituals, church rites
 Used in very formal and speeches state
setting ceremonies and other
 Uses expressions occasions
which have not
changed through the
years. (So, help me
God, I do, etc.)
Formal Style  Uses in one-way  Speeches, seminars,
communication lectures, etc.
 Uses in structured and
formal communication
 Data are carefully
planned, organized
and researched.
 Uses verbal and non-
verbal communication
 Delivery style is
considered
Consultative Style  Used in transactions  Interview, casual talk.
where the participants
engage in an active
exchange of
information.
Casual Style  Used in ordinary  Chat with a friend,

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 conversations. classmate,
 Uses standard and acquaintances, etc.
non-standard
languages like slang.
Intimate Style  A private conversation  Conversation with
used among close close friends and
friends and family family

Communication style is characterized by the way people appear (or attempt to appear) in
communication, the way they relate to the ones they communicate with and how their messages are
typically interpreted. They express not only aspects of their identity such as their age, gender, family and
social background- they also indicate the contexts in which language is being used.

Below are descriptions of other styles that may be useful in particular contexts:
Specific : precise and detailed, avoiding vagueness; concrete
Well-reasoned: providing convincing argumentation and reasoning, persuasive
Confident : assured of personal or other abilities, judgment, or other qualities
Supportive : helpful, caring, encouraging, understanding, reassuring, sympathetic
Expressive : effectively conveying meaning or feeling; eloquent
Forceful : pushy; authoritative; threatening; aggressive

Language varies according to use and users and according to where it is used and to whom, as
well as according to who is using it. The more we know who we are in relation to who we are talking to,
given the situation or event, and the purpose we want to achieve, the more appropriate and effective we
become as communicators.

Explain : Watch and listen:

To further understand the lesson, please watch this video entitled “Types of Speech Style”
following these links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8vReAUspSk

You may also read this article to widen your knowledge about these speech styles through this link

https://philnews.ph/2019/08/21/what-are-the-five-types-of-speech-style-or-communicative-style/
#:~:text=A%20speech%20style%2C%20according%20to,consultative%2C%20casual%2C%20and
%20intimate.

CHECKPOINT:

Do you learn something from the videos? If so, kindly differentiate now the type of
speech style?

Elaborate:

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 Activity 26. Compare and contrast the speech styles by filling up the table below. (5 pts. Each)

Speech Style Characteristics Social Situations Where the

Style is Used

Intimate Style

Casual Style

Consultative Style

Frozen Style

Frozen Style

Evaluate:

Activity 27. Classify the spoken texts below according to their speech style. Write Intimate,
Casual, Consultative, Formal, or Frozen on the line before the item number.

_________________ 1. “Would you like to first of all tell us something about yourself?”

Explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________ 2. “Father of all mankind, look kindly on your people as we beg you to give us your
blessing on this event we are to begin…”

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Explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________ 3. “Hi there! What’s up?”

“Nothing much. Trying to de-stress and chill. You?”

Explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________ 4. “So let’s just remind ourselves that we need to do our assignments by next
meeting. Is there anything we might have overlooked? Is everyone on board?”

Explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________ 5. “There are all sorts of things we can do with words. We can make statements,
requests, ask questions, give orders, make promises, give thanks, offer apologies, and so on.”

Explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________ 6. “In his famous work, How to do things with Words (1953), J. L. Austin outlined
his Theory of Speech Acts and the concept of performative language, in which to say something is to do
something.”

Explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________ 7. “I now pronounce you man and wife.”

Explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

_________________ 8. “To be, or not to be- that is the question:

Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them.”
Explanation:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

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SUMMARY:

The purpose of the different types of speech is to help people know the specific approach they
should use in every situation ,person and place. Knowing these things can help one prevent
misunderstandings and arguments from happening because if they don’t watch what they say, they would
look disrespectful Infront of others. Every people have different style when they express their speech
even they use the same language because style refers to the way of how people speak. Most of people
speak quite differently when they speak to different people: to a child, to a friend, or to a boss at work.
People even speak differently to the same person when they meet them in different situation; at work
people use the language of office or at the game people use language of game. It means speech style is the
distinct variations or forms of the language used for the same purpose by a particular situation or the form
of language that the speaker uses.

According to Joos (1976) speech style is the form of the language which the speaker uses, and it
depends on the degree of formality. He identified this style into five styles. Those are frozen, formal,
consultative, casual and intimate style. Moreover, the use of speech style also is influenced by several
factors that can make people change his or her speech style, such as the setting, the participant, the topic
and the purpose of the conversation.

REFERENCES
Books:
1. Vicente, Amelia, et., Al. ,(2015) EXCELLENCE IN SPEECH COMMUNICATION, Rex
Publication
2. Uychoco,Marikit Tara A.,Santos, Maria Lorena (2017), COMMUNICATION FOR
SOCIETY :PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION First Edition, Manila, Rex Publication
3. Wakat, Geraldine S.,et.al.(2018) PURPOSIVE COMMUNICATION, Manila, Lorimar
Publishing House

Online Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8vReAUspSk
https://philnews.ph/2019/08/21/what-are-the-five-types-of-speech-style-or-communicative-style/
#:~:text=A%20speech%20style%2C%20according%20to,consultative%2C%20casual%2C%20and
%20intimate.
https://philnews.ph/2019/08/21/what-are-the-five-types-of-speech-style-or-communicative-style/