The Nature of Speaking

Multiple-choice exercise

Choose the best answer for each question

  1. What's B's utterance in this dialogue?
    A: Have you got a minute?
    B: Sure. What do you need?
    1.   Preferred Response followed by Initiate: inform
    2.   Preferred Response followed by Follow up (turn passing)
    3.   Temporised Response followed Initiate: elicit
    4.   Preferred Response followed by Initiate: elicit
  2. We went to the course and played half a round and it started to rain and I suggested going off and John agreed. is an example of ...
    1.   hypotaxis
    2.   false starting
    3.   simplification
    4.   parataxis
  3. The three main processing pressures are:
    1.   time, size of audience and topic familiarity
    2.   time, preparation level and topic familiarity
    3.   familiarity with the audience, preparation level and topic familiarity
    4.   time, preparation level and roles of speakers and listeners
  4. When speaking is described as innovative, the reference is to phenomena such as ...
    1.   the very informal nature of slang
    2.   the invention of new words
    3.   the need to use modality carefully
    4.   the use of simplified grammar
  5. I went to the shop ... well, I went to the supermarket actually ... and bought a loaf of bread. is an example of.
    1.   repetition
    2.   reformulation
    3.   false starting
    4.   simplification
  6. Context dependency refers to ...
    1.   discourse competence
    2.   where, when and who we speak to
    3.   noticing the hearer's reactions
    4.   strategic competence
  7. The four sorts of Initiation are:
    1.   Concede, Request, Direct, Inform
    2.   Elicit, Request, Direct, Tell
    3.   Elicit, Request, Enquire, Inform
    4.   Elicit, Request, Direct, Inform
  8. Formulaic expressions include things like:
    1.   Hmm. Are you certain it's him?
    2.   I don't care
    3.   ... and then ... and so ...
    4.   Far be it from me to argue but ...