Mastering Oral Communication: Principles and Text Types

Spontaneous Oral Texts: Conversation

Conversation is the spontaneous manifestation of oral language, but to be effective, it must follow specific rules:

• The Principle of Cooperation: Participants in a dialogue should strive to assist one another by following these conversational maxims:
  • Maxim of Quantity: Provide only the necessary information.
  • Maxim of Quality: Ensure information is truthful for effective communication.
  • Maxim of Relevance: Keep information aligned with the topic.
  • Maxim of Clarity: Be clear to avoid misunderstandings.
• The Principle of Comity: This refers to the rules governing our attitude, the image we project, and how we treat our interlocutor. This depends on the communicative situation, the actors involved, mutual respect, and trust.

Planned Individual Oral Texts

• Speech: A brief introduction performed at events such as inaugurations.
• Lecture: An elaborate presentation of scientific or humanistic content targeting a specialized audience, usually prepared in advance.
• Talk: A dissertation similar to a conference but aimed at a lay audience.
• Dissertation: An exposition and argumentation on a subject by a specialist.
• Sermon: A religious discourse focused on doctrinal teaching and prescriptive order.
• Mitin (Political Rally): A speech used for the propaganda of social or political ideas, utilizing an appellative form.
• Arenga: A discourse aimed at influencing the minds of listeners to carry out specific actions, utilizing an appellative function.

Collective Oral Texts

• Discussion: A talk directed at several people to present ideas on agreed-upon topics, governed by a moderator.
• Debate: A controversy in which two or more people exchange opposing information and opinions to convince the public, governed by a moderator.
• Interview: A pre-planned dialogue in which an interviewer asks an interviewee questions, usually of a topical nature.
• Sport (Roundtable): A conversation where participants discuss a previously agreed-upon topic with preset ideas. Each participant is allotted time managed by a moderator to cover several issues in a colloquial register.