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Communicating Verbally

Communicating Verbally. Nature and Use of Language. Language is Body of Symbols Speech Community Use Same Language Words are Symbols Used by Speech Community. Purposes of Language. We use language to… Designate, label, define, limit Evaluate Discuss things outside our immediate experience

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Communicating Verbally

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  1. Communicating Verbally

  2. Nature and Use of Language • Language is Body of Symbols • Speech Community Use Same Language • Words are Symbols Used by Speech Community

  3. Purposes of Language We use language to… • Designate, label, define, limit • Evaluate • Discuss things outside our immediate experience • Talk about language

  4. Language and Meaning • Meanings are in people, not words. • Words have two levels of meaning: Denotation and Connotation • Meaning varies depending on syntactic context • Language will change over time • Language of dominant group absorbs language from immigrants

  5. The Impact of Language • Naming and Identity • Influence on elections (Barrack who???) (G.W. Smith, 1998) • Popular names (Steele and Smithwick, 1989) • Names and ethnicity (California statistic) (Fryer and Levitt, 2004) • Name and marriage (unity vs. independence) • Credibility – Dr. Fox hypothesis • Status • Sexism and Racism

  6. Cultural Influences on Language • Low-context Cultures: • People say what they mean and get right to the point. • Clear , eloquent speech is considered praiseworthy. • Self expression valued

  7. Cultural Influences on Language • High-context Cultures: • People present meanings indirectly, and expect others to use context cues to interpret meaning. • Relational Harmony valued and maintained by indirect expression of opinions. • Abstain from saying “no” directly • Talk “around” the point by allowing others to fill in the missing pieces.

  8. Gender Influences on Language Women (Feminine Styles of Language) • Women Tend to Use More Intensifiers (He’s really cute.) and Hedges • Women communicate to build relationships • Women use words of empathy and support • Discuss feelings, relationships, personal problems • Women Ask Questions More Frequently • To Gain More Information • To Get Elaboration • To Determine How Others Feel

  9. Gender Influences on Language Men (Masculine styles of Language) • Use words of status and problem solving • Emphasize making conversation fun • Communicate to get the job done • Offer advice • Use statements to exert control, preserve their independence, enhance their status. • Speech is judged more dynamic, aggressive, and strong.

  10. Improve Language Skills • As we move from general to specific, we also move from abstract to concrete. Gambling Games of Skill Card Games Poker Seven Card Stud • Use Concrete, Precise, and Dated information!

  11. Use Linguistic Sensitivity • Adapt vocabulary to listener • Avoid jargon • Avoid slang • Use inclusive language • Avoid offensive language

  12. Other Problems with Language • Equivocal language consists of statements that have more than one commonly accepted definition. Family catches fire just in time Trees can break wind

  13. Other Problems with Language • Relative words gain their meaning by comparison good chance? unlikely? common?

  14. Other Problems with Language • Emotive language seems to describe something but actually announces the speaker’s attitude toward it. I’m not cheap, I am thrifty.

  15. Other Problems with Language • Euphemism – to use words of good omen • She is “plump” or “thick” or “big-boned” • She is NOT “fat”

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