Speech Codes Theory
General Purpose: Speech Codes Theory is a theory about communication and culture.
Specific Purpose: Speech Codes Theory recognizes that culture is based in shared meaning and values, and impacts how we are able to understand others and coordinate our actions with others.
Key terms, concepts, and definitions:
Culture in speech codes theory is based in speech boundaries, not geographic location or ethnic similarities.
Speech Codes are defined as a socially constructed system of language for any given subculture.
There are six primary propositions of speech codes theory:
1. Distinctiveness: Distinctive cultures have distinct speech codes, but sometimes the distinctive features are taken-for-granted when individuals remain within their distinctive speech code. For instance, it may be hard for someone to recognize their own cultural speech codes without comparing their speech code to observe other speech codes.
2. Multiplicity: Even within a particular culture, individuals use different features of speech codes to talk to various members within the boundaries of the speech code. For instance, individuals recognize the different ways to talk to their manager, their friends, and their families, or how to speak differently at work, school, or in other settings.
3. Substance. A speech code involves a cultural distinctive psychology, sociology, and rhetoric. Combined, these three components represent the structure of the culture. Psychology discusses how the individual is represented in the speech code culture. Sociology represents a “system of answers” for how the self and other individuals are linked together through the use of speech codes determining who talks to who, when, and in what contexts. Rhetoric, in this context, represents two ideas: discovery of truth and persuasive appeals.
4. Interpretation: How speech codes are used results in how communication is interpreted and valued within the boundaries of a speech code. For instance, some speech codes view small talk as “just small talk” but other speech codes see small talk as a way to connect with loved ones. The significance of speaking depends on the speech codes used by speakers and listeners to create and interpret their communication.
5. Site: The rules and terms of a speech code are part of the speech code. For instance, we learn the meanings of phrases and words from native speakers of the speech code, as these meanings are part of the speech code.
6. Force: Using shared speech codes allows for predicting, explaining, and controlling how the speech codes are used. The use of predicting, explaining, and controlling in speech codes theory is not the same as these terms in social scientific theory. Instead, this theory is used to explain that individuals can learn a speech code and predict the use of this speech code in a speech community, allowing individuals to enter new speech codes and understand these cultures.
What does the theory do? This theory describes how language reflects culture, and how we create and maintain culture through our speech codes. It allows us to talk about differences in culture, meaning in culture, and figure out how talk is valued in a speech community.
Where can it be applied? This theory can be applied in understanding how different cultures value talk, metacommunication, and what talk is valued in cultures.
Summary source:
Philipsen, G., Coutu, L.M., Covarrubias, P. (2005). Speech codes theory: Restatement, revisions, and response to criticisms. In W.B. Gudykunst (Ed.), Theorizing about intercultural communication (pp. 55-68). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Exemplar article:
Edgerly, L. (2011). Difference and Political Legitimacy: Speakers' Construction of 'Citizen' and
'Refugee' Personae in Talk about Hurricane Katrina. Western Journal Of Communication, 75, 304-322. doi:10.1080/10570314.2011.571653
Philipsen, G. (1975). Speaking ‘like a man’ in Teamsterville: Culture patterns of role enactment in an urban neighborhood. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 61, 13-22. doi: 10.1080/00335637509383264
Philipsen, G. (1976). Places for speaking in Teamsterville. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 62, 15-25.
doi: 10.1080/00335637609383314
Specific Purpose: Speech Codes Theory recognizes that culture is based in shared meaning and values, and impacts how we are able to understand others and coordinate our actions with others.
Key terms, concepts, and definitions:
Culture in speech codes theory is based in speech boundaries, not geographic location or ethnic similarities.
Speech Codes are defined as a socially constructed system of language for any given subculture.
There are six primary propositions of speech codes theory:
1. Distinctiveness: Distinctive cultures have distinct speech codes, but sometimes the distinctive features are taken-for-granted when individuals remain within their distinctive speech code. For instance, it may be hard for someone to recognize their own cultural speech codes without comparing their speech code to observe other speech codes.
2. Multiplicity: Even within a particular culture, individuals use different features of speech codes to talk to various members within the boundaries of the speech code. For instance, individuals recognize the different ways to talk to their manager, their friends, and their families, or how to speak differently at work, school, or in other settings.
3. Substance. A speech code involves a cultural distinctive psychology, sociology, and rhetoric. Combined, these three components represent the structure of the culture. Psychology discusses how the individual is represented in the speech code culture. Sociology represents a “system of answers” for how the self and other individuals are linked together through the use of speech codes determining who talks to who, when, and in what contexts. Rhetoric, in this context, represents two ideas: discovery of truth and persuasive appeals.
4. Interpretation: How speech codes are used results in how communication is interpreted and valued within the boundaries of a speech code. For instance, some speech codes view small talk as “just small talk” but other speech codes see small talk as a way to connect with loved ones. The significance of speaking depends on the speech codes used by speakers and listeners to create and interpret their communication.
5. Site: The rules and terms of a speech code are part of the speech code. For instance, we learn the meanings of phrases and words from native speakers of the speech code, as these meanings are part of the speech code.
6. Force: Using shared speech codes allows for predicting, explaining, and controlling how the speech codes are used. The use of predicting, explaining, and controlling in speech codes theory is not the same as these terms in social scientific theory. Instead, this theory is used to explain that individuals can learn a speech code and predict the use of this speech code in a speech community, allowing individuals to enter new speech codes and understand these cultures.
What does the theory do? This theory describes how language reflects culture, and how we create and maintain culture through our speech codes. It allows us to talk about differences in culture, meaning in culture, and figure out how talk is valued in a speech community.
Where can it be applied? This theory can be applied in understanding how different cultures value talk, metacommunication, and what talk is valued in cultures.
Summary source:
Philipsen, G., Coutu, L.M., Covarrubias, P. (2005). Speech codes theory: Restatement, revisions, and response to criticisms. In W.B. Gudykunst (Ed.), Theorizing about intercultural communication (pp. 55-68). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Exemplar article:
Edgerly, L. (2011). Difference and Political Legitimacy: Speakers' Construction of 'Citizen' and
'Refugee' Personae in Talk about Hurricane Katrina. Western Journal Of Communication, 75, 304-322. doi:10.1080/10570314.2011.571653
Philipsen, G. (1975). Speaking ‘like a man’ in Teamsterville: Culture patterns of role enactment in an urban neighborhood. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 61, 13-22. doi: 10.1080/00335637509383264
Philipsen, G. (1976). Places for speaking in Teamsterville. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 62, 15-25.
doi: 10.1080/00335637609383314