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Speaking is the delivery of language through the mouth.

To speak, we create sounds using many parts of


our body, including the lungs, vocal tract, vocal chords, tongue, teeth and lips. This vocalized form of
language usually requires at least one listener. When two or more people speak or talk to each other, the
conversation is called a "dialogue". Speech can flow naturally from one person to another in the form of
dialogue. It can also be planned and rehearsed, as in the delivery of a speech or presentation. Of course,
some people talk to themselves! In fact, some English learners practice speaking standing alone in front
of a mirror.
Speaking can be formal or informal:
Informal speaking is typically used with family and friends, or people you know well.
Formal speaking occurs in business or academic situations, or when meeting people for the first time.
Speaking is probably the language skill that most language learners wish to perfect as soon as possible. It
used to be the only language skill that was difficult to practice online. This is no longer the case. English
learners can practice speaking online using voice or video chat and services like Skype. They can also
record and upload their voice for other people to listen to.
The French writer Calathél has said that- “A few moments of pause and silence during the speech destroy
the power.
make it strong.”
Functions of Speaking:
There are a lot of functions of speaking in human lives every day. However, these functions can be divided
into three main categories.
1.Interaction
2.Transaction
3.Performance
1.Speaking as Interaction
The role of speaking as interaction is mostly of a social conversation. It reflects the roles and the
relationships of the speaker in a social setting. For example, chatting to a fellow passenger, telling a friend
about an amusing experience, etc. are the interaction that we conduct through speaking.
2.Speaking as Transaction
The role of speaking as transaction is to make someone understood the message that we want to give to
him/her. The focus of this type of speaking is giving and receiving information and obtaining
goods/services. For example, classroom group discussions, shopping, making a telephone call, ordering
food from a menu in a restaurant, etc. use speaking as transaction of information.
3.Speaking as Performance
The role of speaking as performance is to transmit information before an audience. It generally
incorporates public speaking. It focuses on form, accuracy, organization, and sequencing, etc. of speaking.
For example, political speeches, conducting a class debate, giving a lecture, etc. use speaking as
performance.
Three main elements in speech
1 Stress: stress means emphasis if we make a sound with more energy the sound will come out with force
this indicates that there are degrees of stress.
2 Pitch: which is the degree of highness or lowness in which one speaks.
3 Intonation: it means the melody of speech, the changing pitch of the voice, it includes rising and falling
off the tone.
THE FOUR SPEAKING SKILLS
It is a common desire for all of us to speak a second language well. To do this we need to know what skills
are required to become a good speaker. This short article will help you to understand four important skills
that you need to develop:
1.FLUENCY. Fluency is about how comfortable and confident you are in speaking English. If you can speak
for an extended period of time, that is an indicator of strong fluency. It is also about showing a clear
connection between each point that you are trying to make. This skill means that the listener can follow
what you are saying and does not get lost.
2.VOCABULARY. Of course, if you don’t have the words to say what you want to say, then you cannot say
it. Being a good speaker means constantly growing you’re vocabulary. The more interesting words you
know, the stronger your speaking skills. The best way to grow your vocabulary is to read in English and
make a note of any new words that you encounter in a vocabulary notebook.
3.GRAMMAR. The dreaded G word! Grammar does matter and the fewer mistakes you make, the better
your speaking skill will be. However, do not worry about making mistakes either! A good speaker does not
have to use perfect grammar. Certainly, though, it is a good idea to make sure that you have mastered
the major tenses.
4.PRONUNCIATION. Pronunciation is a complex area, with a lot of sub skills that can be practiced. The
basic rule of thumb is that an average speaker can speak and be understood. A skilled speaker can use the
sub skills of pronunciation to emphasise and make the communicative effect of their speech more
impactful. The sub skills of pronunciation include: word and sentence stress, intonation, rhythm and the
use of the individual sounds of a language. A good way to practice your pronunciation is to copy! Simply
listen to how someone with good pronunciation speaks, and try to imitate them as closely as possible.
Aims of Speaking Skills:
The main objectives of speech skills can be clarified as follows –
1.The main objective of speaking skills is to develop an ability in the students to effectively present their
feelings and ideas so that they can make a concise presentation of all the facts.
2.To inculcate a sense of self-confidence by removing hesitation and understanding in the students and
thereby Speak with confidence in a fluent manner on various matters.
3.To develop in the students the ability to use idioms and proverbs according to the context so that they
could make the presentation effective.
Main Problems in Speaking Skills:
Many types of problems are experienced by the language teacher in the development of language skills.
The major problems with speech skills are as follows –
1.Students use faulty sentences in their speech to justify the narrator, given, assert and adjective does not
get space, due to which speech skills become defective.
2.According to the need for the topic and knowledge in the speech, the lack of emotion and life also makes
it defective and speech becomes ineffective.
Measures and Solution of Problems relating to ‘Development of Speaking Skills’
.Language teachers and the school system have an important role in the development of speech skills.
1.The teacher should develop a sense of confidence in the child for the development of speech skills.
Children’s hesitation should also be eliminated in the classroom.
2.Students should accept the teacher’s speech and errors in a positive way. One should take the help of
intimate behavior in removing it.
3.The teacher should motivate the students to participate in speech-related competitions. They should
be provided with page nutrition from time to time.
4.To encourage students to use the same word in speech like ‘means and the same sentence over and
over again. To make the speech effective.
Methods of enhancing speaking skills in Language Skills
1.Storytelling: it is an activity in which a speaker narrates the story before the listeners in an efficient way
so that listeners understand up to a maximum extent.
2.Roleplay: in this activity, the learner acts and behaves like another person with the help of dialogue and
speech mimicry.
3.Speech and conversation
4.Simulation
5.Pictures
6.Debate
7.Discussions
TYPE OF SPEAKING SITUATION

There are three kinds of speaking situation in which we find ourselves

1. INTERACTIVE: it includes face to face conversation and speaking


2. PARTIAL INTERACTICE SPEAKING; speaking situation can be public speech where the convention
is that the audience does interrupt the speech
3. NON-INTERACTIVE: few speaking situations can be totally non interactive such as when
recording a speech for radio broadcast.

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