1. Topic 16
a) Spoken language - general characteristics of
the variety
b) Complementation of verbs and adjectives
Jana Neterdova, 363208

2. Spoken language

Speech
− transitory
− processed in real time
− non-linguistic noises
− explanation, repetition and clarification is possible
when necessary

3. Spoken language

Functions of speech
− used more frequently than writing
− to socialize individuals

the phatic function (establishing and maintaning interaction)

the emotive function (expressing the addresser's attitude)

the conative function (seeking to affect the behaviour of the
addressee)
− exchanging information

4. Spoken language

Linguistic features of speech
− segmentation is achieved by intonation (falling, rise
and fall-rise tone)
− normal non-fluency phenomena (hesitation, pauses,
fillers, false starters, unfinished structures, grammatical
blends...)
− clause complexes or clusters
− simple grammatical structures (preference to
coordination and finite clauses)
− inexplicitness (shared knowledge, situational
context...)

5. Spoken language

Linguistic features
− repetitivness = compensation for the transitory
character of the spoken medium
− lexical sparity, i. e. a very high proportion of
grammatical words (more than 75%)
− monitoring features

sentence adverbials (so, well)

comment clauses (I think, you know)
− interaction features

vocatives, directives, questions and any other structure
inviting the partcipation of the addressee and indicating a
response
− informality

6. Complementation of verbs

grammatical patterns that follow a verb or
adjective and complete the specification of a
meaning relationship which that word implies

verb complementation

intransitive verbs - no complementation required

transitive verbs
− monotransitive verbs - require a direct object (a noun
phrase, a finite clause, non-finite clause)
(They have a large house.)
− complex-transitive verbs (SVOC and SVOA clausal
patterns)

direct object and to-infinitive clause (The police reported the
traffic to be heavy.)

direct object and bare infinitive clause (I saw Mary open the
window)

7. Complementation of verbs

direct object and -ing participle (I saw him lying on the
beach.)

direct object and -ed clause (She had her car cleaned.)
− ditransitive verbs - require two objects: an indirect and
a direct (He gave the girl a doll.)

indirect object and prepositional object (She reminded him
of the agreement.)

indirect object and that clause (She convinced him that she
was well.)

prepositional object and that-clause object (Peter
recommended to me that I buy some whisky.)

indirect object and wh-clause object (Mary asked me when I
would return.)

indirect object and to-infinitve clause object (I persuaded
him to leave.)

8. Complementation of verbs
− copular verbs - require a subject complement or a
predication adjunct

current copulas: appear, be, feel, look, smell, sound, taste,
seem

resulting copulas: become, get, grow
(The girl seemed/became very restless.)

adverbial complementation: space adjucnts and time
adjuncts
(My room is upstairs. The party starts at 7 pm.)

9. Complementation of adjectives

often form a lexical unit with a following
preposition, for some adj. the complementation
being obligatory (averse to, fond of...)

adjective complementation by a finite clause
− that-clause following an adj. may have an indicative
verb, a subjunctive verb or putative should
(We were certain that Peter was still alive. I am anxious
that Peter be/should be permitted to leave.)

adjective complementation by a to-infinitive
clause
− the subject of the main clause is also the subject of the
infinitive clause (Jane is slow to react.)

10. Complementation of adjectives
− the subject of the infinitve clause is unspecified (Jane
is hard to convince. The food is ready to eat.)

adjective complementation by an -ing participle
clause
(We are used to having a car. I am hopeless at
driving.)

11. Thanks for your attention!