Transcript  A collection of symbols governed by rules and used to convey messages (meaning) between individuals.


A collection of symbols governed by rules and
used to convey messages (meaning) between
individuals
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Made of Symbols
 Alphabet, numbers, gestures, verbal sounds
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Is Rule Governed
 Semantic, syntactic, pragmatic, phonological
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Meaning between individuals
 Is a process
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Meaning
 in people not words
 Change with time, place, and experience
 Denotative- dictionary meaning
 Connotative- subjective/personal meanings
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Grammar, Accent
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Labels
 Person’s Name
 Title
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Affiliation
 Jargon and Slang
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Attraction and interest
 Joe and Jane or Jane and Joe
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Responsibility
 I versus You messages
 You make me mad…I feel angry when…
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Linguistic determinism:
 Whorf-Sapir Hypothesis
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 Reflects
▪ Impact of the world on a culture
▪ Eskimos/Snow
 Shapes
▪ Understanding of what is important to the culture
▪ Time, Family Relationships
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Used to spare one’s feelings
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Used to be politically correct
 Reflects concerns of a particular group of people
 Used to Manipulate feelings, level of
responsibility; status
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Talk About:
 Music, Current Events, Sports, Business
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Gossip about
 sports figures and media personalities
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Conversation
 is a game; make it fun
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Words:
 use swear words, interrupt more
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Goal:
 Use language as a way to assert control
 Reach goals, solve problems, offer advice
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Talk About:
 Relationship problems, Family, Health, Reproductive
matters, Weight, food, Clothing
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Gossip About:
 Close friends and family
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Conversation
 is about feelings, relationships
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Words:
 justifiers, intensive adverbs, talk less in mixed sex dyads
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Goal:
 Use conversation to meet need for empathy
 Use Language to maintain Harmony