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Verbal Verbal Verbal Verbal

4: Inter-Act, 134: Inter-Act, 13thth Edition Edition

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LanguageLanguage

A symbolic system used by people to communicate verbal or written messages

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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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Improving Sociolinguistic Improving Sociolinguistic UnderstandingUnderstanding

• Develop intercultural competence.

• Practice mindfulness, the process of drawing novel distinctions.

• Recognize, respect, and adapt to the sociolinguistic practices of others.