In the above extract many features of non-fluency features are shown, mainly because of the minor language barrier, and both speakers not speaking in their home language. Such non-fluency features are pauses, repetitions, topic change, repairing, and turn taking.” I was watching (.) Dutch TV” indicates a one second pause, this is most probably due to the fact that he was thinking what he wanted to say in Swedish, then translated it into English from knowledge. An example of repetition is “Jonas: But actually, the erm, Dutch, Dutch and Swedish it’s kinda” he repeats the word Dutch while thinking of the next word.
An example of topic change would be “Interviewer: You know boten Anna, (.) It’s, It’s a weird, Weird song. It’s, In Sweden, Some words are recognisable err, for, err, for, for Dutch, But ya-know, But some words are completely different //”; “You Know…” Is a common start for a topic changer as it’s confirming that the other person can relate to what he/she is about to say.
Scripted English is very different from spontaneous English as scripted English lacks non-fluency features, and all the features of spontaneous spoken English, mentioned above. Because each person or actor that has scripted lines knows what he/she will say before he/she even says it / before it goes ‘live’. This shows that the speakers have rehearsed and that there will be no spontaneous spoken English features.
Being a spontaneous piece, there are not a lot of pauses, which shows that both people are quick thinkers and are used to the situation. That they are expecting, in a sense, the answer or question that the other one gave. With so little pauses, the conversation seems rather professional.
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The two people speaking in my transcript have a relationship as mother and son, Sarah, as earlier mentioned, being the mother, and Dan being the son. The difference of age (about 20 years) does not influence the language choice that each individual speaker, in my transcript, has, as they both live together so language choices merge in a sense. They both belong to the same class and region of people so their manner of speech, when it comes to class and region, aren’t very apparent, if existent at all! How ever in another transcription between people of various classes, regions, ages or gender, these languages choices may be apparent.
An example of the merge of linguistic choices between the two speakers in the transcript is apparent below.
Dan: (2) With the computer? (.) Like that’s gonna happen! (2) *laughs* (4) There we go! Bye bye.(4) Second! Woo hoo! (4) What did you get today then? (.) On your thing.. (.) Mum, What did you //
Sarah: // Nooo, Gotta get them aswel. Bummer!(2) Oh, yea, the scooter thing I think.
As shown above, the merge of language choices is apparent as the language is quite used between the two speakers is very similar. There is a slight difference but it’s quite minor. The younger speaker, Dan, Uses a lot of pauses, it seems that Sarah, the mother, with her maturity has developed a skill of thinking ahead slightly and not having so many pauses in her speech.
The language choice and use from both speakers may differ slightly from Standard Spoken English since both speakers in my transcript are playing a game on a games console, and so are using semantic fields and terminology to do somewhat with what they’re both doing.
If a third party were to read this transcript I think he/she would understand a majority of it as it’s very basic and changes topics. The only parts that they may not understand would be the semantic fields and topic specific terms such as “Rosalina” and “Peach Gardens” as these are all in relation to the game that both speakers are playing while talking. The speakers do not mention the games console or what game they’re playing as the conversation isn’t scripted and isn’t meant for a third party to listen in, and understand the conversation.
If a third party were to be introduced to try and understand the transcript, I think he/she wouldn’t have to be there themselves, but it would help an immensely.
The nature of the spoken English in my script is a general day-to-day conversation between a son and his mother. The simple purpose of this is for the two people to socialise and converse, it allows both to converse while sharing a common like, playing the particular game that they’re playing at the time of this transcription.