1. Communicating Verbally
Chapter 4

2. Understanding Verbal Symbols
Language – system of symbols that allows us to convey meaning
Grammar – set of rules dictating how words can be combined

3. Understanding Verbal Symbols
Encoding – forming messages to be sent
Decoding – applying meaning to the message or code

4. Attributes of Verbal Symbols
Words are symbolic
Language evolves
Words are powerful

5. Attributes of Verbal Symbols
Meanings for words can be denotative or connotative
Denotative – literal, agreed on meaning of a symbol (dictionary definition)
Connotative – personal meaning based on past and subjective experiences

6. Words Vary in Abstraction – from concrete to abstract
Process of abstraction
Strategic ambiguity
Equivocation
Euphemisms

7. Factors Affecting Verbal Symbols
Culture and ethnicity
Idiom
Phatic communication
Code-switching
Speech communities

8. Factors Affecting Verbal Symbols
Sex and gender
Two-culture theory – belief that being male or being female constitutes different cultures with different rules, norms, and language patterns

9. Factors Affecting Verbal Symbols
Generation – age cohorts distinguish themselves from the generation before them
Context – setting or situation in which the transaction occurs

10. The Dark Side of Verbal Symbols
Polarization – using language in extremes or an either-or fashion

11. The Dark Side of Verbal Symbols
Rectification – when we respond to the word or label instead of the things themselves
Muting – language use that lets some ideas and experiences go unnamed

12. The Dark Side of Verbal Symbols
Sexist language use
Generic he
Man-linked words
Racist language use
Homophobic language

13. The Bright Side of Verbal Codes
Confirmation - use language in such a way as validate and support the another person
Disconfirmation - use language in such a way as to ignore and disregard another person

14. Choices for Improving Verbal Communication
Perspective taking – cultivating a respect for other’s and their viewpoints
Owning of our thoughts and feelings
I-messages vs. you-messages

15. Choices for Improving Verbal Communication
Understanding the ladder of abstraction
Indexing
Probe the middle ground