Chapter 2 Verbal Communication

How You Know What Verbal Messages Mean Langue and parole, or formal grammatical structured language versus everyday talk Relationships and other frames of familiarity also determine our use of talk

Verbal Communication and Multiple Meanings Polysemy – having multiple meanings for the same word (“Duck!”) This creates ambiguity Frames become important to help reduce the ambiguity of verbal communication

How Language Establishes Communicative ‘Frames’ Naming Sapir/Whorf hypothesis Classifying concepts into thought units

Types of Verbal Meanings Denotative – the use of talk to identify or define objects Connotative – the use of talk to establish and understand the implications and deeper meanings of words

Verbal Communication and Intentionality Intentionality – the belief that messages indicate a sender’s intentions purposefully We need to build relationships to help us understand the intentions of others Relationships build connotative understanding

Verbal Communication and Hidden Values The words we use are value- laden and ‘encode’ our values to the audience Examples of God and Devil terms Effective speakers take care in the words they choose

The Functions of ‘Talk’ in Relationships Instrumental (to make something happen) Indexical (to indicate something about the relationship) Essential (to create the ‘reality’ of the relationship) Politeness, ‘face wants’

Ways of Speaking Low-code and high-code Narrative Fisher’s Narrative Paradigm Burke’s Dramatistic Pentad Giving accounts

Breaking Down Burke’s Pentad