1. Developing skills of power language
From Communication Applications

2. Power Language Language is POWER. What does this statement mean?
What might “power language” be?

3. Power Language Power language displays Clarity Courtesy and tact
Ownership of thoughts and feelings
Inclusion of others
Vividness and imagery
Appropriate usage

4. Clarity
HOW: Speech is precise, clearly organized, and grammatical. Speech is easy to understand.
EFFECT: An idea is well-developed and comprehensible. Understanding may be enhanced.

5. Courtesy and Tact
HOW: Speaker listens empathically, negotiates with respect, disagrees without being disagreeable, and focuses discussions on issues rather than on people.

6. Courtesy and Tact
EFFECT: Showing respect and consideration to others promotes positive relationships. Speaker is considered a real “pro” in social and professional interactions.

7. Ownership of Thoughts and Feelings
HOW: Speaker takes responsibility for thoughts and feelings. Speaker uses “I” messages to express opinions, ideas, and feelings: “I was bored” rather than “That was boring.”

8. Ownership of Thoughts and Feelings
EFFECT: When the speaker is seen as responsible, self-confident, and non- judgmental, clarity and understanding are promoted. Speaker is viewed as someone who gets things done rather than a “blamer.”

9. Inclusion of Others
HOW: Speaker listens empathically and personalizes speech with direct references to others: “What do you think about this issue?” “I’d really like to hear your opinion.”

10. Inclusion of Others
EFFECT: Including others helps establish a common ground and paves the way for cooperation and understanding. Speaker is seen as open-minded and interested in others.

11. Vividness and Imagery
HOW: Speaker expresses ordinary ideas in new and imaginative ways. Imagery is used to help people visualize complex ideas.
EFFECT: Speech is interesting and memorable. People look forward to hearing what the speaker has to say.

12. Appropriate Usage
HOW: Speaker uses a level of language that is appropriate for the specific context.
EFFECT: Speaker is often viewed as reasonable, thoughtful, and possessive of a strong command of the language. Others trust him or her to communicate appropriately.

13. Which is most important?
Order the six characteristics of power language according to importance, in your opinion.
Clarity
Courtesy and tact
Ownership of thoughts and feelings
Inclusion of others
Vividness and imagery
Appropriate usage

14. Levels of Usage
Speech is like clothing. Different levels of formality are appropriate for different occasions.
Story time: My mother’s first summer job
The context determines the standards!

15. Levels of Usage Classifications of levels of usage: Formal Technical
Informal
Standard
Ungrammatical

16. Levels of Usage
Formal language is language that conforms to a highly structured set of rules.
When is formal language appropriate?
Parliamentary procedure (government meetings and sessions, some social clubs)
Legal proceedings
Many religious services

17. Levels of Usage
Technical language is language associated with a particular profession, activity, or field of study.
Also called jargon.
What are some fields that have technical language?
Medicine
Law
Finance
Technology

18. Levels of Usage
Technical language is language associated with a particular profession, activity, or field of study.
Also called jargon.
What are some fields that have technical language?
Medicine
Law
Finance
Technology

19. Levels of Usage When is technical language appropriate?
When is technical language inappropriate?

20. Levels of Usage
Standard language is the language used by the majority of knowledgeable communicators within a specific language.
Referred to as “correct” speech.
How is standard language determined?

21. Levels of Usage When is standard language appropriate?
When is standard language inappropriate?

22. Levels of Usage
Informal language is the type of language most often used in casual situations and close interpersonal relationships.
Types of informal language:
Colloquialisms
Slang

23. Levels of Usage
Colloquialisms are terms associated with a specific regional culture.
Colloquialisms don’t translate well into new cultures.
Colloquialisms can cause speakers to sound uneducated in formal speaking situations.

24. Levels of Usage
Slang can be described as temporary language because it is typically used for only a brief period of time by a limited group of people.
Slang changes quickly because it stems from popular culture.
Slang can date you or eventually limit your ability to express yourself.

25. Levels of Usage
Ungrammatical language is language that does not use expected standards of grammar or mechanics.
When is ungrammatical language appropriate?

26. Levels of Usage Guidelines for power language:
Use standard language in most situations, limit informal language to casual settings, and eliminate ungrammatical language from your speech.

27. Functions of Oral Language
The five functions of oral language:
Expressing and responding to feelings
Giving and seeking information
Controlling or persuading
Participating in social rituals
Creating and imagining

28. Functions of Oral Language
The ability to express and respond to feelings empowers speakers to interact with others in a healthy way.
When expressing feelings or responding to others’ feelings, it is best to use “I” statements rather than “you” statements.
Roommate drama

29. Functions of Oral Language
The ability to give and seek information empowers speakers to operate in professional and social contexts effectively.
Cryptic boss miscommunication

30. Functions of Oral Language
The ability to control and persuade empowers speakers to influence others.
“It takes competent communication skills and knowledge to get others to achieve the results you want while still preserving the relationship.”

31. Functions of Oral Language
The ability to participate in social rituals empowers speakers to live within society.
A social ritual is a communication situation that is frequently repeated in daily social interaction.
Examples:
Greeting
Introducing
Giving compliments

32. Functions of Oral Language
The ability to create and imagine empowers speakers to find new solutions and generate new ideas.
It takes skill to communicate a brand new idea, or an idea that is new to your receiver.

33. Language to Avoid Users of power language avoid language that is
Sexist
Racist
Profane or obscene
Judgmental
Accusatory
Assumptive
Absolute

34. Sexist Language
DESCRIPTION: Sexist language implies that something is more suited to a specific gender. It groups men or women into a category and perpetuates gender-based stereotypes.

35. Sexist Language
ALTERNATIVE: Replace gender-related terms with general terms. Examples of sexist/nonsexist language:
Mankind/humankind
Chairman/chair
Masculine pronouns/plural pronouns, he or she, avoid them altogether

36. Racist
DESCRIPTION: Racist language applies labels or behavioral characteristics to an entire race of individuals. It is the language of prejudice and stereotypes and is extremely offensive.

37. Racist
ALTERNATIVE: Racist language is never appropriate. Use personal names and descriptions that do not refer to ethnic identity.
Examples
Derogatory terms.
Calling attention to a person’s race when it isn’t necessary.

38. Profane or Obscene
DESCRIPTION: Profane language is vulgar, irreverent, or abusive language that can be considered offensive in social and professional contexts. Dependence on profanity or obscenity can damage a speaker’s credibility.

39. Profane or Obscene
ALTERNATIVE: This type of language is never appropriate. Learn to express and assume ownership for feelings. Say, “I am angry” or “I am frustrated” when these feelings arrive.

40. Judgmental
DESCRIPTION: Judgmental language implies an inappropriate evaluation or critique of someone or something. Qualitative words such as good, bad, worthwhile, or worthless may imply that you are sitting in judgment of someone or their behavior. Why questions can be seen as defensive.

41. Judgmental
ALTERNATIVE: Try to assume ownership of your remarks and use descriptive, supportive words that give information in an objective way. For example, instead of saying, “That was a good introduction,” the critic would say, “Your introduction caught my attention.”

42. Accusatory
DESCRIPTION: Using “you” messages improperly can make a speaker sound bossy or judgmental. The listener may feel as if he or she is being accused or attacked.

43. Accusatory
ALTERNATIVE: Instead of saying sentences like, “You need to clean this up,” try saying, “I feel like the house is messy right now.”

44. Assumptive
DESCRIPTION: Assumptive language implies that everyone shares your views, opinions, or concerns. Overusing words such as everyone and forms of the verb to be can trigger the response, “No, I don’t” and quickly put listeners on the defensive.

45. Assumptive
ALTERNATIVE: Try using qualifiers such as may be, can be, or appears to be.
Story time: Statistics Department Drama

46. Absolute
DESCRIPTION: Absolutes assume that there are no exceptions. Absolute language is risky for two reasons: few things stay the same forever, and there are exceptions to every rule.

47. Absolute
ALTERNATIVE: Avoid words such as every, always, never, or will. Instead, use less rigid terms such as most, usually, seldom, or may.

48. Avoiding Powerless Language
Powerless language is vague and accomplishes little.
A filler is a word or phrase used to cover up hesitancy in speech:
“Um”
“Uh”
“You know”
“totally”
Story time: Coach history teacher

49. Avoiding Powerless Language
A tag is a statement or question added to the end of a statement to invite approval or cooperation from others.
Tags can convey lack of confidence.
“Don’t you think?”
“Right?”

50. Avoiding Powerless Language
Vague wording communicates little.
Overuse of the pronouns “they” and “it” can make communication impersonal, abstract, and without detail.

51. Practice Avoiding Fillers and Tags
In your assigned group, brainstorm a list of questions about a topic with which you are all familiar.
Have one group member ask another a question from the list.
The second person must give a thirty-second response without the words “uh,” “like,” “you know,” or other fillers or tags.
A third group member should time and tally the number of tags or fillers.