Looking Out, Looking In 12 th Edition Chapter 5 1 Language: Barrier or Bridge Chapter Summary Language is Symbolic Understanding and Misunderstanding

Looking Out, Looking In12th EditionChapter 5 1

Language: Barrier or Bridge

Chapter Summary

•Language is Symbolic

•Understanding and Misunderstanding

•The Impact of Language

•Gender and Language

•Culture and Language


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


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”



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



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 rudeFIGURE 5.1Page 161



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.”



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)


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



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?



ABC News Video

Click on box to play video



PowerNotice 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?”

“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.”

or



Disruptive Language•Opinion Statements

•Opinion statements can never be proved or disproved

•Consider these examples from page 173

You tell a lot of ethnic jokes. You’re a bigot.

You forgot my birthday. You don’t care about me.

Fact Opinion

You keep interrupting me. You’re a control freak.



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



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



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”



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



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



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


Gender and Language

Content•Conversation Traits

Female•Personal and domestic subjects•Relationships•Family•Health•Reproductive matters

Male•Music•Current events•Sports•Business •Other men


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


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?”


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


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


Culture and Language

Language and Worldview•Linguistic Relativism

•The worldview of a

culture is shaped and

reflected by the

language its

members speak


Language: Barrier or Bridge

Chapter Summary

•Language is Symbolic

•Understanding and Misunderstanding

•The Impact of Language

•Gender and Language

•Culture and Language

Documents

Looking Out, Looking In 12 th Edition Chapter 5 1 Language: Barrier or Bridge Chapter Summary Language is Symbolic Understanding and Misunderstanding