Speech In Action

Children, particularly those on the autism spectrum, are able to acquire communication skills much more easily when their learning incorporates movement. Even very simple actions such as tapping and hand clapping can have a noticeable impact on their speech and language development. Speech in Action is an innovative approach to learning that combines simple techniques from speech and language pathology with physical exercises that have been carefully designed to meet the individual child's particular needs and abilities. This practical workbook describes the approach, and how it works, and contains 90 fully-photocopiable lesson plans packed with fun and creative ideas for getting both mouth and body moving. Suitable for use either at school or at home, the activities can be dipped into in any order, and are organised by level of ability, with something for everyone. The final chapter contains the success stories of children the authors have used the activities with, demonstrating how the approach can be used in practice. This will be a useful resource for teachers, occupational therapists, and other professionals who work with children with delayed communication skills, as well as parents and carers who would like to support their child's speech and language development at home.

Do you remember the topic of the last speech you heard? If not, you're not alone. In fact, studies show that audiences remember only 10% to 30% of speech or presentation content. Given those bleak statistics, why do we give speeches at all? We give them, says communications expert Nick Morgan, because they remain the most powerful way of connecting with audiences since ancient Greek times. But as we've evolved to a more conversational mode of public speaking, thanks to television, we have forgotten much of what the Greeks taught us about the nonverbal aspects of speech-giving: the physical connection with audiences that can create an almost palpable emotional bond. Morgan says this "kinesthetic connection" comes from truly listening to your audience—not just with your brain but with your body. In this book, he draws from more than 20 years as a speech coach and consultant, combining the best of ancient Greek oratory with modern communications research to offer a new, audience-centered approach to public speaking. Through entertaining and insightful examples, Morgan illustrates a 3 part process—focusing on content development, rehearsal, and delivery—that will enable readers of all experience levels to give more effective, passion-filled speeches that move audiences to action.

This volume provides extensive critical information about current discussions in the study of speech actions. Its central reference point is classic speech act theory, but attention is also paid to nonstandard developments and other approaches that study speech as action. The first part of the volume deals with main concepts, methodological issues and phenomena common to different kinds of speech action. The second part deals with specific kinds of speech actions, including types of illocutionary acts and some discourse and conversational phenomena. Reduced series price (print) available! [email protected].

Phonology for Listening brings listening in English Language Teaching into the 21st century. Learners have problems decoding fast spontaneous speech, and Phonology for Listening - using many recorded examples - provides teachers of English with new concepts, fresh thinking and innovative practical ideas to help students decode the realities of spontaneous speech. It is written for teachers of English worldwide. There are four parts, each with five chapters. The window on speech framework introduces the framework which is used for the analysis and presentation of recorded examples and for teaching listening. Describing spontaneous speech examines what happens to words when they are subjected to the speeds, rhythms and stresses of spontaneous speech. Accents identity and emotion in speech describes accents of Britain and Ireland, North America and of Global English. Identity, prejudice and emotion are also covered. Teaching listening describes practical activities - both low-tech and hi-tech - for improving the teaching of listening in the classroom. Updated and corrected, December 2013 Soundfiles are available for download from the Speech in Action website at www.speechinaction.com

A Syllabus for Listening: Decoding is for teachers, teacher trainers, textbook and course book authors in English language teaching (ELT). This book will help you add a decoding dimension to all your listening activities, which means that your students will be better prepared for real-world spontaneous speech encounters. If you are designing a listening course, or writing listening exercises for a course book, this is essential reading. There are four parts. Decoding and Perceptionpresents key ideas which are essential to understanding why the teaching and learning of listening needs to be improved. A Critique of Training, Theory and Practice presents a critical analysis of conventional approaches to listening in teacher training and the ELT classroom. A Syllabus for Listening presents specific items for the syllabus, including word clusters, streamlining processes and, crucially, ear-training. Education, Tools and Activities describes innovative classroom activities for teaching decoding: exploiting recordings and classroom language, using pen-and-paper prompts, together with the voices of teachers and learners. Sound files are available for download from www.speechinaction.com My teaching of listening has changed utterly. Happy teacher. Happy students. It's fabulous. Jane Hadcock, Teacher, Essex Integration. To inspire ELT, another original book from a pioneer of teaching listening. Alice Henderson, Associate Professor of English, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, France Interesting and challenging ideas that will stir up your views on listening. Martin Hewings, author of English Pronunciation in Use: Advanced. The product of years of scholarship and research - this is a triumph! Sheila Thorn, founder of The Listening Business, author of Real Lives, Real Listening.

This work consists of an examination and revision of some of the main theses of Speech Act Theory in relation to the problem of ideology and action-guiding language. Starting from the idea that linguistic philosophy must take into account how the social structure of the linguistic community may influence and direct the way its language is used, a critical method of analysis is proposed, developing Speech Act Theory in a way suitable for this purpose. The main guideline of this proposal is the consideration that a theory of action rather than a theory of meaning should be taken as central in the analysis of language. The notion of illocutionary force, the problem of intentions and conventions in the constitution of speech acts, the definition of context, and the classification of speech acts, are then discussed. Based on the conclusions of this discussion a pragmatic method for the analysis of language is formulated.

How is the biblical text understood and how does it function in the life of the reader today? Richard Briggs first provides an illuminating introduction to the nature and claims of speech art theory. This seeks to extend our understanding of both spoken and written means of communication by seeing them not as merely representational or 'reality-depicting', but as acting or causing acts to be performed through the words themselves. Briggs goes on to discuss to what extent the application of speech act theory might be helpful in the interpretation of biblical texts. In one of the first book-length explorations of this topic, he examines in detail several biblical speech acts of particular theological significance, including the confession of sin, forgiveness and teaching. Through exploring the specific ways in which the reader is drawn into the performative action of the biblical text, and how speech act theory forces the reader to look beyond language into the world which gives the language its ability to function, speech act theory is shown to offer valuable insights within today's complex hermeneutical debate. 'A very significant volume . . . ' Alan Torrance, Professor of Divinity, University of Andrews 'An excellent piece of work . . . which is thoroughly acquainted with speech act theory and takes the debate forward in a variety of creative, exegetical and theological ways.' Dr Craig Bartholomew, University of Gloucestershire

In this timely and innovative book, Tamar Katriel takes a language and discourse-centred approach to the subject of peace activism in Israel-Palestine, one of the most significant political issues of our time, while also posing more general questions about the role played by language in activist movements – how activists themselves conceptualize their speech and its relationship to action. Viewing activism as a globalized cultural formation that gives shape and meaning to grassroots organizations' struggles for political change, this book explores the relations between the cultural categories of speech and action as constructed and evaluated in activist contexts. It focuses on the specific empirical field of defiant discourse associated with the soldierly role in Israeli culture, using it to offer an in-depth exploration of the cultural underpinnings of defiant speech. Katriel interrogates discourse-centered activism as part of social movements' action repertoires on the one hand, and of the local cultural construction of speech cultures on the other. This is critical reading for all students and scholars studying activism and social movements within linguistics, Middle Eastern studies, peace studies, and communication studies.