LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION The aim of this tutorial is to help you to understand the relationships between language, communication, and critical thinking.

Good communication skills are an essential part of critical thinking  Communication skills enable effective critical thinking and decision-making.  Effective communication involves several related skills:  Keeping avenues of communication open  Communicating with others clearly and accurately  Taking care with word use  Developing awareness of your own and others’ language use  People’s communication styles 2 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Language is the key  Language is a system of communication with arbitrary symbols, whether spoken, written, or non-verbal.  By creating a shared reality among people, language is the primary means of transmitting cultural concepts and traditions, including critical thinking skills. 3 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Functions of language  Language has one basic function: the communication of information about ourselves and the world. This is informative language.  Other functions of language include:  Directive language – used to direct or influence actions  Expressive language – communicates feelings, used to generate emotive impact  Ceremonial language – used in prescribed formal circumstances  Most languages serve multiple functions. 4 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Language enables effective critical thinking  Using language effectively to convey information, provide direction, and express feelings is essential for individual and collaborative critical thinking.  It is important to understand that while language greatly enriches our communication of ideas and feelings, it also can contribute to ambiguity and misunderstanding.  Intellectual curiosity and awareness of other people’s language use are two critical thinking skills that can make us less susceptible to misunderstanding and manipulation. 5 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nonverbal language  Nonverbal cues, such as body language and vocal tone, often help us interpret verbal communication.  Nonverbal cues are commonly used to reinforce verbal communication.  Images, such as artwork or photographs, are also means of communicating ideas and feelings. 6 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Language is a cultural construct  Good critical thinkers realize that word choices and nonverbal cues significantly influence how verbal communication is interpreted – or misinterpreted.  The following approaches greatly assist effective communication:  Communicate clearly, and be conscious of language’s complexity and flexibility  Be willing to ask people for clarification if you are uncertain of their meaning 7 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Same word, different meanings  Like all languages, the English language is in constant flux. This dynamic state means that word meanings change constantly as words move in and out of use.  In order to communicate accurately and clearly, it is important to understand the difference between the denotative and connotative meanings of words. 8 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Denotative and connotative meanings  All words have both denotative and connotative meanings.  The denotative meaning of a word or phrase expresses the properties of the object, being, or event the word is symbolizing; its dictionary definition.  The connotative meaning of a word or phrase includes feelings and personal feelings based on past experiences and associations. This means a word’s connotative meaning may be in a dictionary listing, but also could be shared only among small groups. Stereotypes are a good example. 9 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Types of word definitions  There are four major types of word definitions:  Stipulative definitions are definitions given to new words or terms, or are new definitions of existing words.  Lexical definitions are the commonly used dictionary definitions for words or terms.  Precising definitions are used to reduce vagueness. They are split into two subsets: (a) theoretical definitions, used to provide theory, and (b) operational definitions, used to provide standards in data collection.  Persuasive definitions are used to influence or persuade others. 10 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Evaluating definitions  Five criteria are useful in evaluating word definitions.  Good definitions are neither too broad nor too narrow.  Good definitions state the essential attributes of the term being defined.  Good definitions are not circular.  Good definitions avoid obscure and figurative language.  Good definitions avoid emotive language. 11 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Communication styles  Good critical thinkers are aware that there are differences in individual as well as in group communication styles.  Understanding our styles and those of others facilitates good relationship communications and critical thinking skills. 12 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Communication styles  There are four basic types of communication style.  Assertive communicators clearly and respectfully communicate their own needs and strive for mutually satisfactory solutions.  Aggressive communicators attempt to get their own way by controlling other people through manipulation and control tactics.  Passive communicators avoid confrontation and are compliant, often putting their needs after those of others.  Passive-aggressive communicators avoid direct confrontation but use devious means to get their own way. 13 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Communication styles: other factors  Other factors may influence communication styles. These factors include, but are not limited to  Gender  Ethnicity  Culture  Dress 14 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Language as manipulation  Language can be used to deceive as well as to inform.  Typically, manipulation occurs through the use of three devices: emotive language, rhetorical devices, and/or deliberate deception. 15 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Emotive language  Emotive language:  Emotive language is used to elicit a certain emotional impact, either positive or negative. When a factual issue arises, emotive language can slant the truth and obscure our critical thinking abilities.  It is particularly dangerous when used to cover weak arguments, for marketing purposes, or when it masquerades as news in the media. 16 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Rhetorical devices  Rhetorical devices, like emotive language, use psychological persuasion rather than reason to persuade others.  Common rhetorical devices include  Euphemisms  Dysphemisms  Sarcasm  Hyperbole 17 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Euphemisms and dysphemisms  Euphemisms replace negative terms with neutral or positive terms in order to conceal or sugar-coat the truth.  Dysphemisms, in contrast to euphemisms, use negative terms to produce negative effects. They are often used to win over one group, while at the same time alienating others. 18 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Sarcasm and hyperbole  Sarcasm involves the use of ridicule, insults, taunting, and/or caustic irony. Like other rhetorical devices, it is used to deflect critical analysis and to encourage feelings of disapproval toward the subject.  Hyperbole is a device that uses exaggeration or overstatement to distort the facts.  As good critical thinkers, we must be able to recognize and resist these rhetorical devices. 19 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Deception and lying  Although rhetorical devices may involve deception, the deception is not always deliberate.  A lie, on the other hand, is a deliberate attempt to mislead without prior consent.  Lies can  Damage trust  Derail honest communication 20 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Detecting lies  As good critical thinkers, we must be able to detect, recognize and challenge lies.  Always cross-verify and check information  Be aware of nonverbal cues of lying, such as less physical movement and blinking, changes in voice tone and pitch, errors in storytelling, etc. 21 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Conclusions Language is a form of symbolic communication that allows us to organize, express and critically analyze our experiences. It shapes our understanding of reality and of ourselves. Good communication skills are vital in critical thinking. As good critical thinkers, we need to clearly define terms, be mindful of our communication styles and those of others, and be aware of the manipulative and deceptive powers of language. 22 © 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.