Chapter 3 Language and Communication

Chapter Objectives

• Understand the power of language • Identify the five functional competencies • Recognize and address communication problems • Understand that language reflects, builds on and determines context

Language

The system of symbols (words) that we use to think about and communicate experiences and feelings

The Nature of Language

• Language is symbolic • Words have multiple meanings – Denotative meanings – Connotative meanings • Thought informs language and vice versa (cognitive language)

The Nature of Language

• Language is ruled by grammar – Phonological rules – Syntactic rules • Language is bound by context

The Functions of Language

• Communication acquisition – Learn words of a language – Learn to use words appropriately effectively context of the situation and in the

Functional Communication Competencies

• Using language as a means of control • Using language to share information – Questioning – Describing – Reinforcing – Withholding

Functional Communication Competencies

• Using language to express feelings • Using language to express creativity • Using language as a form of ritual

Problems with Language

• Abstraction and meaning – High- and Low-level abstractions – Evasion – Equivocation – Euphemism – Slang/Jargon

Problems with Language

• Situation and meaning

– Semantics – Pragmatics

• Limits of Labeling

Problems with Language

• Confusing facts, opinions, and inferences – Fact: something true and verifiable – Opinion: personal evaluations – Inferences: conclusions about what we observe

The Dangers of Biased Language

• Biased language openly excludes or implies something negative about certain groups.

• Political correctness may not be the solution as it can focus attention on rhetorical arguments.

Language in Context

• Language reflects context (Have a variety of speech repertoires) • Language builds on context (Adjust language to situation) • Language determines context (Choose formal / informal language)

Language in Context

• The relational context • The situational context – High language: formal, polite, or “mainstream” language – Low language: easy going language for more comfortable environments

Language in Context

• The cultural context – Culture, words, and thought • Sapir-Whorf hypothesis • Linguistic determinism/relativity – High and Low Context cultures

Language in Context

• The cultural context (cont.) – Gender and language • Interruptions • Qualifiers, hedges, disclaimers • Tag Questions • Resistance Messages – Geography and language – Accommodation

Language in Context

• Technology as Context – When using technology, you must use strong, clear language to make up for lack of nonverbal cues – English has become the language of technology – Acronyms and emoticons can enhance communication