This model is a tool to assist the identification and labeling of components of interactional linguistics that was driven by his view that, in order to speak a language correctly, one needs not only to learn its vocabulary and grammar, but also the context in which words are used.
To facilitate the application of his representation, Hymes constructed the mnemonic, S-P-E-A-K-I-N-G (for setting and scene, participants, ends, acts sequence, key, instrumentalities, norms, & genre) under which he grouped the sixteen components within eight divisions.
[1] The model has sixteen components that can be applied to many sorts of discourse: message form; message content; setting; scene; speaker/sender; addressor; hearer/receiver/audience; addressee; purposes (outcomes); purposes (goals); key; channels; forms of speech; norms of interaction; norms of interpretation; and genres.
This approach can be used to understand relationships and power dynamics within a given speech community and provide insight on cultural values.
"Setting refers to the time and place of a speech act and, in general, to the physical circumstances".
Conversely, different implicit rules and expectations apply at social gatherings and work settings.
For instance, whether participants are facing one another, what body language they are exhibiting, and whether or not they are separated by a table, chairs, or space in the room.
[6] For example, at the family reunion, an aunt might tell a story to the young female relatives, but males, although not addressed, might also hear the narrative.
Each participant in a speech event is operating with specific rules and expectations, which are important for linguistic competence.
Informal keys include the use of contractions (can't, as opposed to cannot), use of slang or profanity, condensed or loose pronunciations (gonna), missing infinitives ("the kids need bathed" versus "the kids need to be bathed"), and prepositional endings ("What did you do that for?").
The aunt might tell a character anecdote about the grandmother for entertainment, or an exemplum as moral instruction.
[8] Rich points are instances where there is a disconnect between two speakers in a speech event resulting from differences in perceived implicit rules and expectations.
Mistakes often result from disagreements about inclusion of participants, mismatched ends, unexpected act sequences, keys or instrumentalities.
Repair of the conversation occurs when one or more participants in the speech event change one or more of the SPEAKING components in order to ameliorate the mistake.
For example, this may mean that the speaker increases the speed of their speech or participates in rapid turn-taking and interrupting.
[clarification needed] The SPEAKING model has been applied to understand a variety of communities and situations.
[13] In the rise of a variety of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and other software (such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (D365BC)), the SPEAKING model has been relied upon to build a framework for the analysis of computer programs to help companies and individuals choose the best option that suits their needs.