4: Interpersonal

1. 4: Interpersonal Verbal

2. Language The body of words and the systems for their use in messages that are common to a group of people

3. Language Influences Perception • Sapir-Whorf hypothesis - a culture’s language shapes how people think and feel • Polarized language - words based on opposites or extremes

4. Language and Meaning • Symbolic interactionism – the meaning of words results from social interaction • Coordinated management of meaning – explains how people come to agree on the rules of meaning in an interaction.

5. Levels of Meaning • Denotation – the direct, explicit meaning a speech community formally gives a word. • Connotation – the feelings or evaluations we personally associate with a word.

6. Language and culture • High-context culture – direct, specific, and detailed messages. • Low-context culture – indirect, general, and ambiguous messages.

7. Characteristics of Language • Arbitrary • Ambiguous • Varies in abstraction • Allows for self-reflection • Changes over time • Reveals attitudes • Emphasizes hierarchy and control

8. Improving Language Skills • Choose specific language • Adapt language to listener • Use slang appropriately • Date Information • Index Generalizations • Use Communication Accommodation • Demonstrate Linguistic Sensitivity

9. Abstract to Concrete Art Painting Oil Painting Impressionist Oil Painting Renoir’s La Promenade abstract concrete

10. 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.

11. Date Information 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 twoyears ago, it was really popular with the college crowd. -Verderber/Verderber

12. Indexing Generalizations Mentally or verbally accounting 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. -Verderber/Verderber

13. Speaking Appropriately • Monitor your language to avoid • Language that offends or alienates • Jargon • Profanity • Generic “he” and “man” when referring to both men and women

14. Generic Man Alternative Police officer Policeman Man-made Synthetic All of mankind All the people in the world -Wood

15. Fireman Waitress Repairman Stewardess Mailman Chairman Cleaning lady Congressman Anchorman Freshman How would you change the following terms to avoid sexism?

16. Language in Unique Message Contexts • Language of humor • Language of cyberspace