1 Verbal Verbal 4: Inter-Act, 13 4: Inter-Act, 13 th th Edition Edition
Dec 31, 2015
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LanguageLanguage
• Lexicon – collection of words and expressions
• Phonology – sounds used to pronounce words
LanguageLanguage CommunityCommunity• Language community: group of people who share a
common language• Languages are collections of dialects.• Dialect: form of the language spoken by a specific
culture or co-culture, understood by the larger language community
• Speech community: speak a common dialect, particular style, observe common linguistic norms or scripts
• Privileged dialect marks one as part of the “in-group” of society.
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Characteristics of Language
• Arbitrary• Ambiguous• Abstract• Self-reflective• Changeable• Revealing• Hierarchical
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Language and MeaningLanguage and Meaning
• Semantic meaning – the meaning derived from the language itself
• Words – arbitrarily chosen symbols used by a speech community to name things
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Levels of MeaningLevels of Meaning• Denotation – the direct, explicit meaning of a word found in a dictionary
• Connotation – the feelings or evaluations we personally associate with a word
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Improving Message Improving Message SemanticsSemantics
1. Use specific language.
2. Date information.
3. Index generalizations.
4. Adapt language to listeners.
5. Demonstrate linguistic sensitivity.
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Abstract to ConcreteAbstract to Concrete
Art
Painting
Oil Painting
Impressionist Oil Painting
Renoir’s La Promenade
abstract
concrete
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Rephrase each statement so that it Rephrase each statement so that it is less abstract and more concrete:is less abstract and more concrete:
• Edward always finds something critical to say.
• Most people have lost any sense of personal responsibility.
• Let’s keep our trip from getting too expensive.
• Politicians are dishonest.
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Dating InformationDating InformationSpecify a time that indicates when a given fact was true or known to be true:
Palm Springs is really popular with the college crowd.
When we were in Palm Springs two years ago, it was really popular with the college crowd.
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Indexing GeneralizationsIndexing Generalizations
Mentally or verbally account for individual differences:
Because men are stronger than women, Max is stronger than Barbara.
In general, men are stronger than women, so Max is probably stronger than Barbara.
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Adapt Language to Adapt Language to ListenerListener
• Use vocabulary the listener understands.
• Use jargon sparingly.
• Use slang appropriately .
LinguisticLinguistic SensitivitySensitivity• Monitor your language to avoid:
– Language that offends or alienates
– Pointing out a person’s race, sex, etc. (nonparallel language)
– Prejudicial language
• Use inclusive language.
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Avoid Avoid ““Generic” ManGeneric” Man
Inclusive Inclusive languagelanguage
Policeman Police officer
Man-made Synthetic
All of mankind All the people in the world
-Wood
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How would you change the How would you change the following terms to avoid sexism?following terms to avoid sexism?
• Fireman
• Waitress
• Repairman
• Stewardess
• Mailman
• Chairman
• Cleaning lady
• Congressman
• Anchorman
• Freshman
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ConversationsConversations• Pragmatic meaning: meaning that arises from
understanding the practical consequences of the utterance
• Speech act: verbal message that implies how the listener should respond
• Cooperative principle: conversational partners are able to understand meaning because they assume their partners are collaborating
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Conversation MaximsConversation Maxims• Quality maxim: Tell the truth, the whole truth, and
only the truth.
• Quantity maxim: Provide the “right” amount of information.
• Relevancy maxim: Relate what you say to the topic being discussed.
• Manner maxim: Be orderly in what you say.
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Language and CultureLanguage and Culture• Sociolinguistic meaning: varies in meaning
according to norms and expectations of a particular co-culture
• Idioms: expressions used by members of a language or speech community whose meaning differs from the usual meanings in that combination of words:
“The gas I bought today cost an arm and a leg!”
Verbal StylesVerbal StylesDirect Verbal StyleDirect Verbal Style
• Openly states the speaker’s intention
• Straightforward, unambiguous
• Low-context cultures
Indirect Verbal StyleIndirect Verbal Style
• Masks the speaker’s true intention
• Roundabout, vague message
• High-context cultures
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