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Connecting
through
Verbal Communication
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Chapter 4
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“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.”
--Mark Twain
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3. How Do You Define Language?
“Language is a structured system of signs, sounds, gestures, and marks that is used and understood to express ideas and feelings among people within a community, nation, geographic area, or cultural tradition.”
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Think of an occasion when you’ve miscommunicated due to a language problem. What was the specific language challenge?
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5. How Important Is Language?
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6. How is language important?
Language is powerful
Language affects thought
“The most powerful stimulus for changing minds is not a chemical.
It is not a baseball bat. It is a word.” George A. Miller
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Agree or Disagree?
“Language is powerful, and what you say can either help you or hurt you.”
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8. Power of Appropriate Language
Muted group theory:
Status and power are clearly linked. Women,
ethnic minorities, out-groups have little voice.
Style-switch:
Move between the language of one’s
coculture and language of the dominant
culture to operate successfully.
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What is the relationship between language, talk, speech, and communication? -- four different but related phenomena --
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10. What are the elements of language?
Sounds
Words
Grammar
Meaning/Semantics
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11. Do Words Contain Meaning?
“But ‘glory’ doesn’t mean ‘a nice knock-down argument,’” Alice objected.
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said “it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less.”
“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master--that’s all.”
a word means just what I choose it to mean
Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass
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What do we mean when we say, “meanings are not in words but in people?”
Denotation is _______?
Connotation is _______?
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13. How Do Words Communicate Meaning?
Both are dogs (denotation).
How might connotations vary?
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14. Words Can Be Concrete or Abstract
The Ladder of Abstraction
Cynthia
Best Friend
Friend
Roommate
Employee
Person
Concrete
Abstract
Human
Life
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15. How Do Words Communicate Meaning?
Meaning depends on commonalties
Myocardial infarction vs. heart attack?
Communication apprehension vs. fear?
Language can obscure meanings
Regional variations?
Slang or jargon?
Euphemism?
Doublespeak?
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Meanings change over time (dynamic). What words are “new” in our vocabulary in the last decade? For example: iPod jump drive
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17. Language, Meaning, and Humor
Church Bulletins
Thursday night--Potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
Welfare Department Letters
I am forwarding my marriage certificate and six children. I have seven but one died and was baptized on half sheet of paper.
I cannot pay the full amount at the moment as my husband is in hospital. As soon as I can I will send on the remains.
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18. How is language a barrier to communication?
Bypassing
Indiscrimination
Polarization
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19. Meanings Can Be Misunderstood:
Bypassing
What is bypassing?
To avoid bypassing, use these techniques:
Be person-minded, not word-minded
Query and paraphrase
Be approachable
Be sensitive to contexts
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20. What place do stereotypes have in our communication?
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21. Language Can Shape Our Attitudes:
Indiscrimination
What is indiscrimination?
Indiscrimination often results in stereotyping
How do you reduce indiscrimination in communication?
Indexing
Dating
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22. Language Can Lead to Extremes:
Polarization
What is polarization?
What is the pendulum effect?
To avoid polarization:
Reduce the use of extreme statements.
Give specific information to reduce misunderstanding.
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23. Gender-Inclusive vs. Sexist
What is gender-inclusive language?
What is sexist language?
Avoid sexist language:
Remove it from your communication.
Practice and reinforce non-sexist language.
Use polished rephrasing.
Check root meanings of words.
Check every outgoing message.
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24. Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2008
Alternative Language
Common: Suggested:
Mankind People, human beings, humanity
Man hours Hours, staff
hours, work hours, total hours
Man-made Hand made synthetic, artificial The best man The best person for the job for the job
Manpower Personnel, staff, human resources,
available workers
Useful hyperlink:
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25. How does culture affect language use?
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
Language helps us think.
Culture and language are bound together.
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26. How Can We Use Language More Effectively?
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27. How to Use Language Effectively
Use accurate language
Use vivid language
Use immediate language
Use appropriate language
Use metaphorical language
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