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Speech Theory

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3 views

Speech Theory

Uploaded by

quicherice
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Here are five notes on key speech theories:

1. Speech Act Theory (Austin & Searle)

●​ Key Idea: Speech is not just about conveying information; it is also about performing
actions.
●​ Key Components:
1.​ Locutionary Act: The act of saying something with a literal meaning.
2.​ Illocutionary Act: The intention behind the statement (e.g., commanding,
questioning, promising).
3.​ Perlocutionary Act: The effect the statement has on the listener (e.g.,
persuading, scaring).
●​ Example: Saying "I promise to help you" performs the act of making a promise.

2. Theories of Language Acquisition (Chomsky vs. Skinner)

●​ Chomsky: Proposed the Universal Grammar theory, suggesting humans are born
with an innate ability to acquire language.
●​ Skinner: Suggested that speech is learned behavior shaped through reinforcement
and imitation.
●​ Debate: Innate mechanisms (Chomsky) vs. learned behavior through the
environment (Skinner).

3. Phonological Theories

●​ Focus on the sound structure of speech and how it is processed and produced.
●​ Generative Phonology: Chomsky and Halle emphasized rules for generating
phonemes in a language.
●​ Optimality Theory: Suggests speech sounds are governed by competing
constraints, where optimal forms arise from balancing these constraints.

4. Cognitive Theories of Speech Production

●​ Levelt's Model: Speech production involves stages:


1.​ Conceptualization: Generating the message to be communicated.
2.​ Formulation: Translating the message into linguistic structures (grammar and
words).
3.​ Articulation: Physically producing the sounds.
●​ Errors (e.g., slips of the tongue) often occur during the formulation stage, revealing
insights about speech processes.
5. Social Interactionist Theory (Vygotsky & Bruner)

●​ Key Idea: Speech development is driven by social interaction.


●​ Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): Language develops when a child is
supported by more knowledgeable individuals (scaffolding).
●​ Implications: Highlights the role of caregivers and peers in shaping speech and
language development.

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