Week 6 - Formal Talk

The article ‘Facilitating learning and change’ from infed has many features of formal talk. Formal talk can be defined as a type of ‘speech that has rules, although these rules are different depending on the situation’ (Study Guide 2014). The main feature of this article that directs it to being of formal talk is its official structure and aim. Its purpose is to educate the reader on a selected topic and to provide factual and informative information. Formal talk is a non-casual form of speech and is generally well practised and not impromptu. This article carries these features and has an order of writing to create the formality.

The features of facilitation I can identify based on the reading are the article formal structure. The article begins with an introduction and contents of what information can be found through this article. The article then structures this information in order of the contents. This formal structure and aim of the article allows readers to gain the knowledge of the topic that is facilitating learning. The article is consistently formal and uses no causal language. Its visual elements such as font, colour, etc. is also formal. Using a regular easy to read font and black text for the body and red text to highlight a title. This structure aligns to formal talk.

Facilitation is based around a set of rules that the writer must know and understand as well as have a good knowledge of formal talk. Both facilitation and formal talk is based around a structure and has a particular aim and purpose. For example, the article ‘Facilitation learning and change in groups and group session’ has the aim at educating the audience about the benefits of facilitating learning and how to set about working as a facilitator in a group.

Although this article is not actually scripted as such it has been well thought out and planned. It follows and exact structure to achieve its aim and purpose. This is a feature of formal talk. The article uses appropriate language and follows a structured and logical order. Overall I would identify the article ‘Facilitating learning and change is groups and group sessions’ as a type of formal talk. 

Reference List:

Central Queensland University 2014, ‘COMM12033 Speech and Script Study guide’, Rockhampton