If the sentence is a unit of written English, what would be a suitable name for a unit of spoken English?
spoken English units
<I think either "clause" or "sentence". >
But syntatic sentences are the exception and not the norm in spoken English.
But syntatic sentences are the exception and not the norm in spoken English.
That's why I also said "clause". I might add "phrase", so the most basic one would be a "phrase", which doesn't even need a verb. The reason why I didn't say "sentence" is because in speech you can't really hear the "periods" (or full stops).
So... like, that guy was way too stupid... he was trying... he was digging a hole with his own hands and... and there was a shovel, I mean, just behind him... he didn't notice it... like, he wasn't using it, you know... How stupid is that?
I would say in most informal speech there's no periods, or at least it's not obvious where they would be.
So... like, that guy was way too stupid... he was trying... he was digging a hole with his own hands and... and there was a shovel, I mean, just behind him... he didn't notice it... like, he wasn't using it, you know... How stupid is that?
I would say in most informal speech there's no periods, or at least it's not obvious where they would be.
<<I would say in most informal speech there's no periods, or at least it's not obvious where they would be. >>
I disagree. Your example is a story, and stories are usually very hard to tell in a straightforward manner without prior memorization. I would say standard communication falls much easier into written sentence structure.
I disagree. Your example is a story, and stories are usually very hard to tell in a straightforward manner without prior memorization. I would say standard communication falls much easier into written sentence structure.
That's an interesting question.
I'm not sure there's an "official" linguistic term to indicate a spoken English unit. I mean, a term that is generally used within the linguistic community to indicate just that.
Anyway, what about "idea unit"? Or "bite-sized piece of meaning"? Or "elemental chunk of content"? Or.... or... "spoken English unit"?! Yes! I'm thinking the very term MollyB wanted to give a specific name to is probably the best name for itself and should be preserved unchanged.
With every good wish,
Achab
I'm not sure there's an "official" linguistic term to indicate a spoken English unit. I mean, a term that is generally used within the linguistic community to indicate just that.
Anyway, what about "idea unit"? Or "bite-sized piece of meaning"? Or "elemental chunk of content"? Or.... or... "spoken English unit"?! Yes! I'm thinking the very term MollyB wanted to give a specific name to is probably the best name for itself and should be preserved unchanged.
With every good wish,
Achab