1. Sound: Spoken language is fundamentally based on sound. This includes the production of specific sounds (phonemes) and their combination into words, phrases, and sentences.
2. Time: Spoken language unfolds over time, with sounds produced in a specific order. This temporal dimension is crucial for understanding meaning, as the sequence of sounds affects interpretation.
3. Intonation and Prosody: Beyond individual sounds, spoken language employs intonation (variations in pitch) and prosody (rhythm and stress) to convey meaning. These features can express emotion, emphasis, and grammatical structure.
4. Contextual Dependence: Spoken language is deeply tied to the context in which it is produced. This includes factors like the speaker's relationship to the listener, the situation, and the surrounding environment. This dependence influences word choice, tone, and the overall message conveyed.