Language: Barrier or Bridge

1. Language: Barrier or Bridge • Chapter Summary • Language is Symbolic • Understanding and Misunderstanding • The Impact of Language • Gender and Language • Culture and Language 1

2. Language is Symbolic • Signs • Signs have a direct connection with communication • Language is symbolic • Symbols enable more effective communication • Not all languages use the same symbols • Messages mean different things to different people • “Take a little of the top,” means one thing to you and another to the barber 2

3. Understanding and Misunderstanding • Understanding Words • Semantic Rules • The way users of language assign meaning to a word • Bikes are for riding and books are for reading • Equivocation • Statements that have more than one associated meaning • Some amusing newspaper headlines • “Family Catches Fire Just in Time, “Trees Can Break Wind,” and “Man Stuck on Toilet; Stool Suspected” 3

4. Understanding and Misunderstanding • Understanding Words • Relative Language • Words that gain meaning by comparison • “Fast and Slow,” “Smart and Stupid,” “Short and Long.” • Relative language is not always clear • How cheap is cheap? • Static Evaluation • Statements that contain or imply the word is • Subscripting is a devise that reduces static evaluation 4

5. FIGURE 5.1 Page 161 Understanding and Misunderstanding • Understanding Words • Abstraction • Abstract vs. Behavior Language • Specific things people do or say • Overly abstract language can lead to serious problems • Specific language can be undesirable and even seen as rude 5

6. Understanding and Misunderstanding • Understanding Structure • Syntactic Rules • Govern the grammar of language • We tend to notice when they’re violated • African-American English (AAE) • It is important to look past syntax in order to avoid miscommunication • “I be angry,” vs. “I am angry.” 6

7. Understanding and Misunderstanding • Understanding Context • Pragmatic Rules • Pragmatic rules govern the way speech works in everyday interaction • Pragmatic rules govern common saying such as: • “How’s it going,” and “What’s up.” • If someone were to answer these questions literally we’d be confused • Even e-mail has PRAGMATIC RULES (stop yelling) 7

8. The Impact of Language • Naming and Identity • Research suggests that names are more than just means of identification • Names can shape and reinforce a child's identity • Naming a child after a family member can create a bond • Names also play a role in the identity of groups • Labeling of ethnic groups have changed as our culture has developed different sensitivities 8

9. The Impact of Language • Affiliation • Communicators are attracted to those with similar speaking styles • Communicators who wish to show group affiliation will adapt • This process is called convergence • Converges can also take place in the virtual world • E-mail and IM users have commonly recognized acronyms • “LOL,” “ROTFL,” “JK,” and “BRB.” • Can you think of any others? 9

10. The Impact of Language • ABC News Video Click on box to play video 10

11. The Impact of Language • Power • Notice the difference between the two statements “Excuse me, sir. I hate to say this, but I . . . uh . . . I guess I won’t be able to turn in the assignment on time. I had a personal emergency, and . . . well . . .it was just impossible to finish it by today. I’ll have it on your desk on Monday, OK?” or “I won’t be able to turn in the assignment on time. I had a personal emergency, and it was impossible to finish it by today. I’ll have it on your desk Monday.” 11

12. The Impact of Language • Disruptive Language • Opinion Statements • Opinion statements can never be proved or disproved • Consider these examples from page 173 Fact Opinion You forgot my birthday. You don’t care about me. You keep interrupting me. You’re a control freak. You tell a lot of ethnic jokes. You’re a bigot. 12

13. The Impact of Language • Disruptive Language • Fact-Interference Confusion • Conclusions arrived at from an interpretation of evidence • Instead of trying to guess the other person’s emotion use the skill of perception checking we learned in Chapter 3 • Emotive Language • Seems to describe but actually announces the speakers attitude toward it 13

14. The Impact of Language • Disruptive Language • Remember to take responsibility for your emotions • Nonemotive statements are more accurate and have a better chance of being received accurately by others 14

15. The Impact of Language • The Language of Responsibility • “It” • These statements replace the personal pronoun “I” with it • “I” language clearly Identifies the speaker • “But” • The word “but” cancels the thought before it • “You’re a really great person, but I think we should see other people” • “You’ve done great work for us, but we’re going to have to let you go” 15

16. The Impact of Language • The Language of Responsibility • “I” and “You” Language • “I” language accepts responsibility • “You” expresses judgment • “You left this place a mess!” • “You didn’t keep your promise!” • “You” language doesn’t have to contain the word “you” • That was a stupid joke, translates to your jokes are stupid. • Mind your own business translates to you’re too nosey 16

17. The Impact of Language • The Language of Responsibility • A complete “I” statement has four elements. It describes • the other person’s behavior • your interpretation • your feelings • consequence that the other person’s behavior has for you 17

18. The Impact of Language • The Language of Responsibility • “We” Language • Implies the issue is the concern of both parties • “We need to figure out a budget that doesn’t bankrupt us.” • “We aren’t doing a very good job of keeping this place clean.” • “We” language suggests that “we’re” in this together • “We” statements are not always appropriate 18

19. Gender and Language • Content • Conversation Traits • Male • Music • Current events • Sports • Business • Other men • Female • Personal and domestic subjects • Relationships • Family • Health • Reproductive matters 19

20. Gender and Language • Reasons for Communicating • The goals of almost all ordinary conversations contain • Being friendly • Showing interest • Talking about topics that interest the other person • If these rules are ignored the conversation can become unpleasant for all who are involved 20

21. Gender and Language • Conversational Style • Women ask more questions in mixed-sex conversations • Men tend to interrupt more in mixed-sex conversations • Women use conversation to pursue social needs • Statements of emotion are much more common • “I’ve felt the same way myself.” • “How did you feel about that?” 21

22. Gender and Language • Nongender Variables • The link between gender and language is not clear cut • The language between the sexes is more similar than different • Woman use less powerful language • Historical role in society at large • Powerless speech can help build rapport • Men and women speak within their gender roles 22

23. Culture and Language • Verbal Communication Styles • Each language has its own unique style • Verbal styles vary in their directness • High-context culture • Value language to maintain social harmony • Low-context culture • Value language to express thoughts and feelings • Is the language Elaborate or Succinct 23

24. Culture and Language • Language and Worldview • Linguistic Relativism • The worldview of a culture is shaped and reflected by the language its members speak 24

25. Language: Barrier or Bridge • Chapter Summary • Language is Symbolic • Understanding and Misunderstanding • The Impact of Language • Gender and Language • Culture and Language 25