Types of Speech Styles

Types of Speech Styles
• The context dictates and affects the way people
communicate, which results in various speech
styles. According to Joos (1968), there are five
speech styles. These are (1) intimate, (2)
casual, (3) consultative, (4) formal, and (5)
frozen. Each style dictates what appropriate
language or vocabulary should be used or
observed.

Types of Speech Styles
1. Intimate – This style is private, which occurs between or among
close family members or individuals. The language used in this
style may not be shared in public.
2. Casual – This style is common among peers and friends. Jargon,
slang, or the vernacular language are used.
3. Consultative – This style is the standard one. Professional or
mutually acceptable language is a must in this style. Examples of
situations are communication between teachers and students,
employers and employees, doctor and patient, judge and lawyer,
or President and his/her constituents.

Types of Speech Styles
4. Formal – This style is used in formal settings. Unlike the
consultative style, this is one-way.
Examples are sermons by priests and ministers, State of the
Nation Address of the President, formal speeches, or
pronouncements by judges.
5. Frozen – This style is “frozen” in time and remains unchanged. It
mostly occurs in ceremonies. Common examples are the Preamble
to the Constitution, Lord’s Prayer, and Allegiance to country or
flag.

Types of Speech Styles
4. Formal – This style is used in formal settings. Unlike the
consultative style, this is one-way.
Examples are sermons by priests and ministers, State of the
Nation Address of the President, formal speeches, or
pronouncements by judges.
5. Frozen – This style is “frozen” in time and remains unchanged. It
mostly occurs in ceremonies. Common examples are the Preamble
to the Constitution, Lord’s Prayer, and Allegiance to country or
flag.

Types of Speech Context
Intrapersonal – This refers to communication that centers
on one person where the speaker acts both as the sender
and the receiver of message.
“The message is made up of your thoughts and feelings.
The channel is your brain, which processes what you are
thinking and feeling. There is feedback in the sense that
as you talk to yourself, you discard certain ideas and
replace them with others.” (Hybels & Weaver, 2012, p 16)

Types of Speech Context
Examples
You spent the night thinking and analyzing
why a student from the other class talked
to you on the way home and you decided it
probably meant nothing.

Types of Speech Context
Interpersonal – This refers to
communication between and among people
and establishes personal relationship
between and among them.

Types of Interpersonal Context
Dyad Communication – communication that
occurs between two people.
Example:
You offered feedback on the speech
performance of your classmate.

Types of Interpersonal Context
Small Group – This refers to communication
that involves at least three but not more than
twelve people engaging in a face-to-face
interaction to achieve a desired goal.
In this type of communication, all participants
can freely share ideas in a loose and open
discussion.

Types of Interpersonal Context
Example:
You are participating in an organizational
meeting which aims to address the
concerns of your fellow students.

Types of Speech Context
Public – This type refers to
communication that requires you to
deliver or send the message before or
in front of a group. The message can be
driven by informational or persuasive
purposes.

Types of Speech Context
“In public communication, unlike in
interpersonal and small group, the channels are
more exaggerated. The voice is louder and the
gestures are more expansive because the
audience is bigger. The speaker might use
additional visual channels such as slides or a
Power Point presentation.” (Hybels & Weaver,
2012, p 19)

Types of Speech Context
Mass Communication – This refers to
communication that takes place through
television, radio, newspapers, magazines,
books, billboards, internet, and other types of
media.

Types of Speech Context
Example:
You are a student journalist articulating
your stand on current issues through the
school’s newspaper.