13. Spoken language in science and the humanities

Abstract

Although a great deal of communication in science and the humanities is conducted through the medium of spoken language, ‘talk’ had long led a shadowy existence in research in science communication and only recently begun to receive scholarly attention. The purpose of this chapter is to offer an overview of this slowly growing body of research. By foregrounding the role and status of participants, this overview focuses on communication 1) between experts, 2) between experts and novices, and 3) experts and lay audiences. In doing so, this chapter provides a comprehensive understanding of the critical role of spoken language in communicating scientific and academic matters across contexts. It shows that spoken language is not just a tool of information exchange but a dynamic and indispensable resource used to interactively co-construct and share knowledge, expertise and evidence. It also raises awareness of the challenges that the different participant constellations pose for effective communication in science and the humanities