Language (Verbal Communication) The past, the present, and the future all walk into a bar. It was tense.

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Overview Analogical vs. Digital codes Language vs. Language use Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis 4 characteristics of language Understand the concepts in each Be able to recognize examples from each Levels of Meaning Coordinated Management of Meaning What is the overall purpose of CMM? (hint: which “rule” does it apply to?) Know the 6 aspects of CMM Be able to apply them to a situation Know the application of constitutive vs. regulative rules

What does this mean? დავით ლომიაშვილი

Foundations of Language Digital codes Meaning is conveyed symbolically Symbols are units of meaning that are arbitrary and conventional Verbal Best to convey: Abstract, logical meaning Analogic codes Indicate meaning by being similar to what they convey Nonverbal Best to convey: Relational, emotional meaning

Foundations of Language Language is a structure Words, grammatical rules, speech sounds Language and reality are separate Language as a structured system representing reality Language use is not arbitrary Meanings attached to structure = meaning

Foundations of Language All people know is determined by language use Saussure believes that signs/symbols are not referential, signs/symbols constitute objects Language = formal system Speech = actual use of language to accomplish a purpose Communicators do not create rules of language Communicators DO create forms of speech

Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Linguistic Determination Language  Way we interpret world Linguistic Relativity Speakers of different languages experience world differently

1. Symbols and words are arbitrary Denotative definition Connotative definition Example: Jerk Denotative: dictionary Connotative: the meaning that a group ascribes to the word, private and often emotional

1. Symbols and words are arbitrary We decide what meanings are attributed to symbols Cultural level Generational level Personal level Your behaviors, actions , experience can define a word for someone else *Think about a time when misunderstanding was due to a different definition of a word Cultural – what is this picture of? Generational, English, recognized culturally Example – lift in Ireland

2. Language allows us to create realities We define world we live through language Learning a new language *Look for words that cause physiological and emotional reactions in others Story about Joe - stupid

3. Language gives us the ability to think in different ways Abstract and complex *Think about what you learn in class – how does that change how you think?

4. Language allows for self-reflexivity We can talk about how we talk  self-reflexivity Without this, we wouldn’t have a communication discipline *Think about how you influence other people by the way you talk to them. What worlds will you create or change with your words today?

Levels of Meaning Semantic Meaning Syntactic Meaning Pragmatic Meaning At level of word Connotative and denotative Syntactic Meaning At level of utterance Word order Pragmatic Meaning At level of speech act Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM) *Which ones do we focus on in this class?

Coordinated Management of Meaning How we create meaning in our mind for a specific situation Coordinate 6 different variables Do this instantly and pragmatically

Coordinated Management of Meaning Cultural Pattern What group do I identify with? Life Script Who am I? Relationship Who are we to one another? Episode What activity are we engaged in? Situation? Speech Act What is the sender trying to do? Content Actual words

Coordinated Management of Meaning Constitutive Rules: tell us how to interpret or give meaning to behavior Regulative Rules: guide speaker or actor’s behavior (what’s acceptable)

Take Away Points Vocab: digital and analogic codes, language, speech Know the difference between language as a structure and language (or speech) as the means through which to accomplish a goal Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Know the 4 points outlined about language Understand the concepts in each Be able to recognize examples from each What is the overall purpose of the Coordinated Management of Meaning? (hint: which “rule” does it apply to?) Know the 6 aspects of Coordinated Management of Meaning Be able to apply them to a situation Know the application of constitutive vs. regulative rules