Communication - Verbal

Communication is the sharing of meaning.

Words are symbols They represent things but are

not the actual things

When you say, hear, or see the WORD elephant, you are not seeing or hearing the elephant but a symbol that stands for elephant.

Here is an example of what you might paraphrase from

the notes to the left:

Words = symbols ≠ actual things

Communication - Verbal

The MEANINGS of words are NOT always found in a dictionary!

Because people experience words in their own way, each person may have totally different emotional responses to the words.

The definition found in a dictionary is called the denotative meaning.

The definition found within an individual (emotional or personal response to a word) is called the connotative meaning.

Here is an example of what you might paraphrase from

the notes to the left:

MEANINGS NOT always in dictionary

each person = different emotional responses to

words.

denotative meaning = dictionary definition .

connotative meaning = definition within individual

(emotional/personal response)

Communication - Verbal

Denotative meaning is the literal meaning.

Connotative meaning is an individual’s feeling of the meaning.

Examples: The words home, house, residence and dwelling all have the same denotation, but the connotation of each word is very different.

Denotation: Where a person lives at any given time.

Connotation:Home: cozy, loving, comfortableHouse: the actual building or structureResidence: cold, no feelingDwelling: primitive or basic surroundings

Here is an example of what you might paraphrase from

the notes to the left:

Denotative = literal

Connotative = feelings

Communication - Verbal

More examples of connotative & denotative meanings:

Examples: slim, scrawny, and svelte

Denotation: thin

Connotation: What do you “picture” as differences between these three words that have the same denotative meaning?

What is your connotation of the following words that refer to a young person?

youngster, child, kid, little one, small fry, brat, urchin, juvenile, minor

Communication - Verbal

ALL WORDS HAVE DENOTATIVE MEANINGS AND MAY HAVE DIFFERENT CONNOTATIVE MEANINGS FOR EACH PERSON.

QUICK DRAW THE WORDS: VACATION DESSERT DOG TREE

Meaning is found in people!

Here is an example of what you might paraphrase from

the notes to the left:

Words have denotative AND connotative meanings

Communication - Verbal

Why does language change? The world is constantly changing. New words are needed to describe new

things and ideas. Words change as they are used in

different ways by different people and societies or cultures.

1950: Gay = happy

1985: Gay = happyGay = homosexual

2010: Gay = homosexualGay = weird

What other words can you think of that have changed?

Communication - Verbal

Specialized language types:

Technical Relates to a particular subject

and is marked by specialization

Educational (ex: ESL) Technology (software,

Internet) Electrical Hobbies (cooking, athletics,

stamp collecting) Others?

Communication - Verbal

Specialized language types:

Regional Speech that is particular to a

geographical area

bubbler, water fountain danish, roll creek, stream pop, soda

Communication - Verbal

Specialized language types:

Slang Informal, nonstandard

vocabulary, unique to a particular group.

the bomb Airhead Blown away Catchin’ some Z’s Others?

Communication - Verbal

Specialized language types:

Cultural

Terms related to the particular background of a group of people

Taro Catchment barrel Quinceanera Others?

Communication - Verbal

Words can “include” or “exclude.” “Hey, come on over with us!” “No, we already have our group.”

Words can “build up” and “put down.” “That was great!” “Dude, you really screwed up!”

Words “reveal” and “conceal.” “That really makes me feel like…” “Never mind; it’s not important.”

Communication - Verbal

REVIEW – What did you learn today about communication?

Symbols

Meanings

Change

Specialized language

Include/exclude

build up/put down

Reveal/conceal