LANGUAGE Oral language is meant to be spoken and heard, rather than written and read.

Oral Language follows rules –Grammatical –Syntax –Clarity –Meaning

LANGUAGE IS SYMBOLIC Word symbols have no meaning of their own; instead, the meaning of the word symbol resides within individuals. Word symbols have no meaning of their own; instead, the meaning of the word symbol resides within individuals.

Words aren’t really “bad” or racist until the person that speaks them intends the meaning to be “bad”. Words Don’t Mean...People Mean. Words Don’t Mean...People Mean. Honky! Coon!

Connotation the meaning we assign to words through experience and emotion Denotation the dictionary meaning of a word Consider the connotation of the following word pairs: Skinny/Slender Skinny/Slender Nerd/ Intellectual Nerd/ Intellectual Clean/ Cleanse Clean/ Cleanse Jock/ Athlete Jock/ Athlete Learning impaired/ Stupid Learning impaired/ Stupid

CHARACTERISTICS OF POWER LANGUAGE CLARITY CLARITY COURTESY AND TACT COURTESY AND TACT OWNERSHIP OF THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS OWNERSHIP OF THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS INCLUSION OF OTHERS INCLUSION OF OTHERS VIVIDNESS AND IMAGERY VIVIDNESS AND IMAGERY APPROPRIATE USAGE APPROPRIATE USAGE (Communication Applications Text, p. 117)

LEVELS OF USAGE FORMAL LANGUAGE: language that conforms to a highly structured set of rules. FORMAL LANGUAGE: language that conforms to a highly structured set of rules. (Communication Applications Text, p. 118)

LEVELS OF USAGE Technical Language (jargon): a language associated with a particular profession or activity. (Communication Applications Text, p. 119) Technical Language (jargon): a language associated with a particular profession or activity. (Communication Applications Text, p. 119)

LEVELS OF USAGE Standard Language: the language used by the majority of communicators within a specific language. (Communication Applications Text, p. 120) Standard Language: the language used by the majority of communicators within a specific language. (Communication Applications Text, p. 120)

LEVELS OF USAGE Informal (slang, dialect/colloquialism): the language used most often in casual situations and close interpersonal relationships. Informal (slang, dialect/colloquialism): the language used most often in casual situations and close interpersonal relationships. (Communication Applications Text, p )

LANGUAGE TO AVOID 1. TROUBLESOME LANGUAGE SEXIST SEXIST RACIST RACIST PROFANE OR OBSCENE PROFANE OR OBSCENE JUDGEMENTAL JUDGEMENTAL ACCUSATORY ACCUSATORY ASSUMPTIVE ASSUMPTIVE ABSOLUTE ABSOLUTE (Communication Applications Text, p. 125)

LANGUAGE TO AVOID 2. Powerless Language Fillers Fillers Tag lines Tag lines Vague wording Vague wording (Communication Applications Text, p )

Overview of Verbal Strategies Speak to be understood Speak to be understood Speak to show strength Speak to show strength Speak to include, not exclude Speak to include, not exclude Speak to stimulate others’ interest in you Speak to stimulate others’ interest in you

Source Myers, Virginia Hunter; Smith, June Hubbell and Swanson, Marcia Myers. Communication Applications. New York: Glencoe-McGraw Hill, Myers, Virginia Hunter; Smith, June Hubbell and Swanson, Marcia Myers. Communication Applications. New York: Glencoe-McGraw Hill, 2001.