1- Do you change the way you speak depending on the situation you are in? Is there a difference in the way you would speak to a friend in English as opposed to an English speaker employer, for example?
I change the way I use the language according to different situations. That is to say, I adapt to the situation in the way that I speak. I believe, to some extent, that this is human nature to use language in different ways in different contexts. For example, formal and informal language are used in different contexts such as speaking to friends compared to speaking to potential employers in a job interview.
2- How do you choose which words are appropriate to use? What signals a need to change or vary your language?
Well, choosing the right words is never an easy task but rather a bit complicated and depending on the context and situations. The most important aspect in this matter is to deliver the message that one wants to deliver to the listeners. In other words, It is not only about the words but even about how one’s language is perceived and understood. Therefore, I try to choose words that send the right signals to the listeners.
3- What could happen if you don’t adapt your speaking to the situation?
Mainly, the communication could potentially deliver the wrong message or I can be misunderstood. To deliver a clear and comprehensible message, I need not only to speak the language but even to make my language understandable. For example, talking to a child in the same way as I talk to colleagues at work would result in incomprehensible messages or a bit of a strange communicative context.
4- Can you give an example of a situation where you would have to change the way you are speaking to fit the situation better?
Actually, there are many situations that I can think about. However, the most obvious example is about formal and informal language. For example, speaking before an audience is never the same as speaking to a close friend. Formal contexts need formal language that can deliver the right message to the audience and ensure a comprehensible speech for everyone. On the other hand, talking to a friend would not necessarily include too clear communication as there are many issues I and my friend can understand without even saying them!
5- Can you give an example where you were aware you needed to use a different way of speaking, but struggled with it? Why do you think you struggled? How did you overcome it?
I can remember one situation when I would present something in Swedish while I was still a learner or a new learner. Mainly, I did not know all professional terms in Swedish and I had to use them to be understood. However, I explained to my colleagues that I wasn’t that good at Swedish and I tried to do the best that I could.