Transcript Verbal Communication - Professor Mark J. Grossman

4: Inter-Act,
th
13
Edition
Verbal
1
Language
A symbolic
system used by
people to
communicate
verbal or written
messages
2
Language
• Lexicon – collection of words
and expressions
• Phonology – sounds used to
pronounce words
3
Language Community
• Language community: group of people who share a
common language
• Languages are collections of dialects.
• Dialect: form of the language spoken by a specific
culture or co-culture, understood by the larger
language community
• Speech community: speak a common dialect,
particular style, observe common linguistic norms or
scripts
• Privileged dialect marks one as part of the “in-group”
of society.
4
Characteristics of
Language
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Arbitrary
Ambiguous
Abstract
Self-reflective
Changeable
Revealing
Hierarchical
5
Language and Meaning
• Semantic meaning – the
meaning derived from the
language itself
• Words – arbitrarily chosen
symbols used by a speech
community to name things
6
Levels of Meaning
• Denotation – the direct,
explicit meaning of a word
found in a dictionary
• Connotation – the feelings
or evaluations we personally
associate with a word
7
Improving Message
Semantics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Use specific language.
Date information.
Index generalizations.
Adapt language to listeners.
Demonstrate linguistic sensitivity.
8
Abstract to Concrete
Art
abstract
Painting
Oil Painting
Impressionist Oil Painting
Renoir’s La Promenade
concrete
9
Rephrase each statement so that it
is less abstract and more concrete:
• Edward always finds something critical
to say.
• Most people have lost any sense of
personal responsibility.
• Let’s keep our trip from getting too
expensive.
• Politicians are dishonest.
10
Dating Information
Specify a time that indicates when a
given fact was true or known to be
true:
Palm Springs is really popular with
the college crowd.
When we were in Palm Springs two
years ago, it was really popular with
the college crowd.
11
Indexing Generalizations
Mentally or verbally account for
individual differences:
Because men are stronger than
women, Max is stronger than Barbara.
In general, men are stronger than
women, so Max is probably stronger
than Barbara.
12
Adapt Language to
Listener
• Use vocabulary the listener
understands.
• Use jargon sparingly.
• Use slang appropriately .
13
Linguistic Sensitivity
• Monitor your language to avoid:
– Language that offends or alienates
– Pointing out a person’s race, sex, etc.
(nonparallel language)
– Prejudicial language
• Use inclusive language.
14
Avoid
“Generic” Man
Inclusive
language
Policeman
Police officer
Man-made
Synthetic
All of mankind
All the people in the
world
-Wood
15
How would you change the
following terms to avoid sexism?
•
•
•
•
•
Fireman
Waitress
Repairman
Stewardess
Mailman
•
•
•
•
•
Chairman
Cleaning lady
Congressman
Anchorman
Freshman
16
Conversations
• Pragmatic meaning: meaning that arises
from understanding the practical
consequences of the utterance
• Speech act: verbal message that implies how
the listener should respond
• Cooperative principle: conversational
partners are able to understand meaning
because they assume their partners are
collaborating
17
Conversation Maxims
• Quality maxim: Tell the truth, the whole truth,
and only the truth.
• Quantity maxim: Provide the “right” amount
of information.
• Relevancy maxim: Relate what you say to the
topic being discussed.
• Manner maxim: Be orderly in what you say.
18
Language and Culture
• Sociolinguistic meaning: varies in meaning
according to norms and expectations of a
particular co-culture
• Idioms: expressions used by members of a
language or speech community whose
meaning differs from the usual meanings in
that combination of words:
“The gas I bought today cost an arm and a leg!”
19
Verbal Styles
Direct Verbal Style
• Openly states the
speaker’s intention
• Straightforward,
unambiguous
• Low-context
cultures
Indirect Verbal Style
• Masks the speaker’s
true intention
• Roundabout, vague
message
• High-context
cultures
20
Improving Sociolinguistic
Understanding
• Develop intercultural competence.
• Practice mindfulness, the process of drawing
novel distinctions.
• Recognize, respect, and adapt to the
sociolinguistic practices of others.
21