Language

““a collection of symbols governed by a collection of symbols governed by rules and used to convey messages rules and used to convey messages

between individuals”between individuals”

Language is symbolic

SymbolsSymbols- represent a communicator’s - represent a communicator’s thoughtsthoughts

We experience the world through symbolsWe experience the world through symbols Examples of symbols:Examples of symbols:

---Words, gestures, and signs---Words, gestures, and signs

Meanings are in people not words People give words their meaningPeople give words their meaning People often interpret words differentlyPeople often interpret words differently A common communication error takes place when A common communication error takes place when

we assume that everyone attaches the same we assume that everyone attaches the same meanings to words that we do.meanings to words that we do.

We need to clarify meaning when communicating We need to clarify meaning when communicating with otherswith others

Language is rule governed

Phonological rulesPhonological rules: how we pronounce : how we pronounce wordswords

Syntactic rulesSyntactic rules: how we structure language: how we structure language Semantic rulesSemantic rules: how we assign meaning to : how we assign meaning to

specific words and symbolsspecific words and symbols Pragmatic rulesPragmatic rules: tell us how to interpret a : tell us how to interpret a

message in a particular contextmessage in a particular context

Language shapes attitudes

The way we speak gives others certain The way we speak gives others certain impressions of usimpressions of us

Credibility and status are often decided Credibility and status are often decided according to the language we useaccording to the language we use

We need to be aware of how the language we use may effect others By avoiding sexist languageBy avoiding sexist language By avoiding racist languageBy avoiding racist language By avoiding stereotypesBy avoiding stereotypes

A riddle to solve:

A young boy was riding in a car with his A young boy was riding in a car with his father, together they got in a horrific car father, together they got in a horrific car accident, the father died and the son was accident, the father died and the son was rushed to the hospital for critical surgery.rushed to the hospital for critical surgery.

The boy was in the surgery room when the The boy was in the surgery room when the doctor walked up, looked at him, and said doctor walked up, looked at him, and said “I can not operate on this boy, he is my “I can not operate on this boy, he is my son!”son!”

How is this possible?How is this possible?

Sexist language

Language that favors one sex over anotherLanguage that favors one sex over another

What is wrong with the following statements? ““I now pronounce you man and wife.”I now pronounce you man and wife.” ““I can’t believe Ann kept her name when I can’t believe Ann kept her name when

she got married.”she got married.” ““John stayed home with his son while his John stayed home with his son while his

wife went grocery shopping.”wife went grocery shopping.” ““He is a male nurse”He is a male nurse” ““She is a female lawyer.”She is a female lawyer.” ““She is an actress.”She is an actress.”

Racist language

The use of derogatory terms used to label The use of derogatory terms used to label people outside of “the group”people outside of “the group”

Language based on stereotypes

StereotypesStereotypes – mistaken generalizations we – mistaken generalizations we make about othersmake about others

What is wrong with these statements? ““My friend Hachividi is from India, but he My friend Hachividi is from India, but he

acts like a regular guy.”acts like a regular guy.” ““Asian people are smart”Asian people are smart” ““Everyone from France is rude”Everyone from France is rude” ““All Italian men cheat on their wives”All Italian men cheat on their wives”

The language of misunderstandings Equivocal languageEquivocal language – words that have two – words that have two

meaningsmeanings

Examples:Examples:

ProduceProduce- fresh farm products (fruit or vegetables)- fresh farm products (fruit or vegetables)

ProduceProduce- to create something- to create something

TearTear-a drop of clear salty liquid that lubricates the -a drop of clear salty liquid that lubricates the surface between the eyelid and eyeballsurface between the eyelid and eyeball

TearTear- to pull apart into two or more pieces - to pull apart into two or more pieces

Relative words

Gain their meaning by comparisonGain their meaning by comparison The meaning we attach to relative words depends on what The meaning we attach to relative words depends on what

they are compared tothey are compared to Examples:Examples: Large/ smallLarge/ small A lot/ a fewA lot/ a few Near/ far Near/ far Cheap/ expensiveCheap/ expensive

***Using relative words without explaining what we mean ***Using relative words without explaining what we mean may lead to misinterpretationsmay lead to misinterpretations

Slang

Language that is used within a particular Language that is used within a particular group of people who tend to identify with group of people who tend to identify with one anotherone another

What are some examples of slang?What are some examples of slang?

“ “ I’ve got the I’ve got the bling blingbling bling””

““That car is That car is dopedope””

““He lives in a He lives in a phatphat padpad””

Jargon

Specialized vocabulary that is used by Specialized vocabulary that is used by people with common backgrounds or people with common backgrounds or experienceexperience

A simplification of words or concepts A simplification of words or concepts Often only known and understood in a Often only known and understood in a

particular groupparticular group

What are some examples of Jargon?Computer Jargon Computer Jargon

Sports JargonSports Jargon

Educational JargonEducational Jargon

Abstract language

A way of speaking that is unclear or vagueA way of speaking that is unclear or vague Speaker is usually not aware that they are Speaker is usually not aware that they are

being abstractbeing abstract Abstract language causes problems:Abstract language causes problems:

1. Stereotyping1. Stereotyping

2. Confuses others2. Confuses others

3. Misunderstandings3. Misunderstandings

Abstraction ladder

• A ladder of descriptions of objects, people, A ladder of descriptions of objects, people, or eventsor events

• Items lower on the ladder are more Items lower on the ladder are more descriptive—detaileddescriptive—detailed

• Items higher on the ladder are more Items higher on the ladder are more generalized--vaguegeneralized--vague

Example using Abstraction ladder Top of ladder (most abstract):Top of ladder (most abstract):-Car-Car-blue car-blue car-small car-small car-two door car-two door car-sports car-sports car-Porsche-Porsche- 2003 Porsche, midnight blue, convertible, 911 Twin 2003 Porsche, midnight blue, convertible, 911 Twin

turbo with bucket leather seats turbo with bucket leather seats - Bottom of ladder (least abstract)Bottom of ladder (least abstract)

Behavioral description

Helps us to clarify message Helps us to clarify message One of the best ways to avoid abstractionsOne of the best ways to avoid abstractions Move down the abstraction from more general Move down the abstraction from more general

descriptions to more detailed descriptionsdescriptions to more detailed descriptions

***In studies couples that use behavioral ***In studies couples that use behavioral

description rather than blame tend to be description rather than blame tend to be

more satisfied with their relationshipsmore satisfied with their relationships

A thorough behavioral description should answer:1. Who is involved?1. Who is involved?

2. In what circumstances does the behavior 2. In what circumstances does the behavior

occur?occur?

3. What behaviors are involved3. What behaviors are involved

Disruptive language – language that causes conflictThree ways to avoid disruptive languageThree ways to avoid disruptive language::1.1. Avoid confusing facts and opinionsAvoid confusing facts and opinionsopinions opinions – statements based on speakers beliefs– statements based on speakers beliefs2.2. Avoid confusing facts and inferencesAvoid confusing facts and inferencesInferenceInference- conclusions made based on speaker’s - conclusions made based on speaker’s

interpretation interpretation 3.3. Avoid emotive languageAvoid emotive language – language that comes – language that comes

across as descriptive when in reality it is filled across as descriptive when in reality it is filled with the speakers attitude toward somethingwith the speakers attitude toward something

Evasive language

A type of language used that is vague and A type of language used that is vague and unclearunclear

Avoids clear meaningAvoids clear meaning Speaker is aware of using vague language Speaker is aware of using vague language

to mislead others, or avoid conflictto mislead others, or avoid conflict

Two types of evasive language:

1. 1. EuphemismsEuphemisms – a pleasant indirect term – a pleasant indirect term used to replace a not so pleasant direct termused to replace a not so pleasant direct term

2. 2. EquivocationEquivocation – a vague statement that – a vague statement that can be interpreted in more than one way can be interpreted in more than one way

Gender and language

Men and women tend to talk about different Men and women tend to talk about different thingsthings

Men and women have different reasons for Men and women have different reasons for communicatingcommunicating

Yet, the ways men and women Yet, the ways men and women communicate tend to be more similar than communicate tend to be more similar than differentdifferent

Culture and language

Two cultural ways of using languageTwo cultural ways of using language::

Low-context culturesLow-context cultures – use clear, and direct – use clear, and direct language (U.S. and Canada)language (U.S. and Canada)

-- speak to the point-- speak to the point High-context culturesHigh-context cultures – use less clear and more – use less clear and more

abstract language in order to prevent conflict, and abstract language in order to prevent conflict, and hurting the other person (Asian and Middle Eastern hurting the other person (Asian and Middle Eastern countries)countries)

--beat around the bush--beat around the bush

Language and worldview

Linguist determinismLinguist determinism – language is a reflection of – language is a reflection of cultureculture

- the language a culture speaks is determined - the language a culture speaks is determined by what is important to themby what is important to them - each culture’s language emphasizes specific - each culture’s language emphasizes specific

words and meanings that are of importance to that words and meanings that are of importance to that particular culture particular culture

Linguist relativistLinguist relativist – the language a culture speaks – the language a culture speaks affects the way they view and interpret the worldaffects the way they view and interpret the world

Whorf-Sapir hypothesis

– – theory that states that our language shapes theory that states that our language shapes the way we see the worldthe way we see the world