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Language

³a collection of symbols governed by³a collection of symbols governed by

rules and used to convey messagesrules and used to convey messages between individuals´ between individuals´



Language is symbolic SymbolsSymbols-- represent a communicator¶srepresent a communicator¶s

thoughtsthoughts

We experience the world through symbolsWe experience the world through symbols

Examples of symbols:Examples of symbols:

------Words, gestures, and signsWords, 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 whenA common communication error takes place whenwe assume that everyone attaches the samewe assume that everyone attaches the same

meanings to words that we do.meanings to words that we do.

We need to clarify meaning when communicatingWe 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 certainThe way we speak gives others certain

impressions of usimpressions of us

Credibility and status are often decidedCredibility 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 effectothers

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 hisA 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 wasaccident, the father died and the son wasrushed to the hospital for critical surgery.rushed to the hospital for critical surgery.

The boy was in the surgery room when theThe boy was in the surgery room when thedoctor walked up, looked at him, and said ³Idoctor walked up, looked at him, and said ³Ican not operate on this boy, he is my son!´can not operate on this boy, he is my son!´

How is this possible?How is this possible?



Sexist language Language that favors one sex over another Language that favors one sex over another



What is wrong with the following

statements? ³I now pronounce you man and wife.´³I now pronounce you man and wife.´

³I can¶t believe Ann kept her name when³I can¶t believe Ann kept her name when

she got married.´she got married.´ ³John stayed home with his son while his³John stayed home with his son while his

wife went grocery shopping.´wife went grocery shopping.´

³He is a male nurse´³He is a male nurse´ ³She is a female lawyer.´³She is a female lawyer.´

³She is an actress.´³She is an actress.´



R acist language

The use of derogatory terms used to labelThe use of derogatory terms used to label

people outside of ³the group´ people outside of ³the group´



Language based on stereotypesStereotypesStereotypes ± ± mistaken generalizations wemistaken generalizations we

make about othersmake about others



What is wrong with these

statements? ³My friend Hachividi is from India, but he³My friend Hachividi is from India, but he

acts like a regular guy.´acts like a regular guy.´

³Asian people are smart´³Asian people are smart´

³Everyone from France is rude´³Everyone from France is rude´

³All Italian men cheat on their wives´³All Italian men cheat on their wives´



The language of

misunderstandings Equivocal languageEquivocal language ± ± words that have twowords that have two

meaningsmeanings

Examples:Examples:

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

ProduceProduce-- to create somethingto create something

Tear Tear--a drop of clear salty liquid that lubricates thea drop of clear salty liquid that lubricates thesurface between the eyelid and eyeballsurface between the eyelid and eyeball

Tear Tear-- to pull apart into two or more piecesto pull apart into two or more pieces



R elative words

Gain their meaning by comparisonGain their meaning by comparison

The meaning we attach to relative words dependsThe meaning we attach to relative words depends

on what they are compared toon what they 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***Using relative words without explaining what wemean ma lead to misinter retationsmean ma lead to misinter retations



Slang

Language that is used within a particular Language that is used within a particular

group of people who tend to identify withgroup of people who tend to identify with

one another one another

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

³ I¶ve got the³ I¶ve got the bling bling bling bling´́

³That car is³That car is dopedope´́

³He lives in a³He lives in a phat phat pad pad´́



Jargon

Specialized vocabulary that is used bySpecialized vocabulary that is used by

people with common backgrounds or people with common backgrounds or

experienceexperience

A simplification of words or conceptsA simplification of words or concepts

Often only known and understood in aOften only known and understood in a

particular group particular group



What are some examples of

Jargon?Computer JargonComputer 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 areSpeaker is usually not aware that they are

being abstract being 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 moreItems lower on the ladder are more

descriptivedescriptive² ²detaileddetailed

Items higher on the ladder are moreItems higher on the ladder are more

generalizedgeneralized----vaguevague



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

--PorschePorsche

-- 2003 Porsche, midnight blue, convertible, 9112003 Porsche, midnight blue, convertible, 911Twin turbo with bucket leather seatsTwin turbo with bucket leather seats

-- Bott

om of ladder

(least

abstr

act)B

ott

om of ladder

(least

abstr

act)



Behavioral description Helps us to clarify messageHelps 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 generalMove down the abstraction from more generaldescriptions to more detailed descriptionsdescriptions to more detailed descriptions

***In studies couples that use behavioral***In studies couples that use behavioraldescription rather than blame tend to bedescription 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 opinions

opinionsopinions ± ± statements based on speakers beliefsstatements based on speakers beliefs2.2. Avoid confusing facts and inferencesAvoid confusing facts and inferences

InferenceInference-- conclusions made based on speaker¶sconclusions made based on speaker¶sinterpretationinterpretation

3.3. Avoid emotive languageAvoid emotive language ± ± language that comeslanguage that comesacross as descriptive when in reality it is filledacross as descriptive when in reality it is filledwith the speakers attitude toward somethingwith the speakers attitude toward something



Evasive language A type of language used that is vague andA type of language used that is vague and

unclear unclear

Avoids clear meaningAvoids clear meaning

Speaker is aware of using vague language toSpeaker is aware of using vague language to

mislead others, or avoid conflictmislead others, or avoid conflict



Two types of evasive language:

1.1. EuphemismsEuphemisms ± ± a pleasant indirect terma 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 thata vague statement that

can be interpreted in more than one waycan be interpreted in more than one way



Gender and language Men and women tend to talk about differentMen 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 womenYet, the ways men and women

communicate tend to be more similar thancommunicate tend to be more similar thandifferentdifferent



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

LowLow--context culturescontext cultures ± ± use clear, and directuse clear, and directlanguage (U.S. and Canada)language (U.S. and Canada)

---- speak to the pointspeak to the point

HighHigh--context culturescontext cultures ± ± use less clear and moreuse less clear and more

abstract language in order to prevent conflict, andabstract language in order to prevent conflict, andhurting the other person (Asian and Middlehurting the other person (Asian and MiddleEastern countries)Eastern 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 determinedthe language a culture speaks is determined by what is important to them by what is important to them

-- each culture¶s language emphasizes specificeach culture¶s language emphasizes specificwords and meanings that are of importance to thatwords and meanings that are of importance to that

particular culture particular culture Linguist relativistLinguist relativist ± ± the language a culture speaksthe 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 shapestheory that states that our language shapes

the way we see the worldthe way we see the world

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