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Chapter 4Verbal Messages

Inter-Act, 13th Edition

Chapter 4 Learning ObjectivesThe verbal parts of a messageThe characteristics of languageHow the meaning of a verbal

message in conveyed and understood

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Verbal FundamentalsUtterance

◦ A complete unit of talk that is bounded by the speaker’s silence

Verbal messages◦ The parts of an utterance that use

language to convey meaningLanguage

◦ A symbolic system used by people to communicate verbal or written messages, including: Lexicon (words) Phonology (sounds) Grammar & Syntax (rules)

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Language CommunityLanguage community: group of people

who share a common language or 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

Idiolect: our personal vocabularies, pronunciations and grammar and syntax when talking or writing

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Characteristics of LanguageArbitraryAmbiguousAbstractSelf-reflectiveChangeableRevealingHierarchical

*Thus, language is by nature an imprecise vehicle for transferring meaning

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Meaning in the Language

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Semantic meaning – the meaning derived from the language itself

• Words – symbols used by a speech community to identify things and make statements about them

• Denotation: direct, explicit meaning of a word• Connotation: feelings or evaluations we

personally associate with a word

*The size and accuracy of our vocabulary limit our ability to express what we are thinking and feeling as well as our ability to

understand*

Improving Message Semantics

1. Use specific, concrete, & precise language.

2. Date information to specify when true.3. Index to qualify generalizations.4. Adapt language to your listeners. 5. Demonstrate linguistic sensitivity.

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Examples:The senator brought several things to the

meeting….The senator brought recent letters from her constituency to the meeting. (Precise)

Cancun is really popular with the college crowd…When we were in Cancun two years ago, it was really popular with the college crowd. (Dated)

Men are stronger than women…Most men are stronger than most women. (Indexed)

Now your turn…. Think of some more examples… Turn to your classmate and share your example!

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Abstract to Concrete

Art PaintingOil PaintingImpressionist Oil PaintingRenoir’s La Promenade

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abstract

concrete

Rephrase each statement so that it 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 Information

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Specify 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.

Indexing Generalizations

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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.

Adapt Language to ListenerUse vocabulary the listener

understands.Use jargon sparingly.Use slang appropriately .

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Linguistic SensitivityMonitor your language to avoid:

◦Language that offends or alienates◦Pointing out a person’s race, sex, etc. (nonparallel language)

◦Prejudicial languageUse inclusive language.

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Avoid “Generic” Man Inclusive language

Policeman Police officer

Man-made Synthetic

All of mankind All the people in the world

How would you change the following terms to avoid sexism?

FiremanWaitressRepairmanStewardessMailman

ChairmanCleaning ladyCongressmanAnchormanFreshman

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Verbal Meaning within Conversations

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 Guidelines to Improve Pragmatic Understanding

Quality maxim: Tell the truth, the whole truth, and only the truth. (Ex: How do I look?)

Quantity maxim: Provide the “right” amount of information. (Ex: What kind of bread to you want?)

Relevancy maxim: Relate what you say to the topic being discussed. (Did you study?)

Manner maxim: Be orderly in what you say. Acknowledge a violation. (I don’t know if this is

true..) Rely on cooperation when interpreting violations.

(That will happen…)

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Meaning within the Social/Cultural Context

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!”

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Verbal Styles

Direct Verbal Style Indirect Verbal Style• Openly states

the speaker’s intention

• Straightforward, unambiguous

• Low-context cultures

• Masks the speaker’s true intention

• Roundabout, vague message

• High-context cultures

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Improving Sociolinguistic UnderstandingDevelop intercultural competence.Practice mindfulness, the process of

drawing novel distinctions.Recognize, respect, and adapt to the

sociolinguistic practices of others.

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Homework:How can you improve your ability to use

language in producing or interpreting the meaning of verbal messages? Identify a problem you have forming or understanding verbal messages. Review the guidelines for improving the semantic, pragmatic, and sociolinguistic meaning of verbal messages. Select at least one of these as a goal. Then using the interpersonal communication skills you have studied in the course, write an improvement plan, including specific procedures and a way of assessing whether you’ve reached your goal. Don’t forget to review your assignment rubric!!!

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