LANGUAGE

LANGUAGEintroduction to

LANGUAGE

Hughes: “system of arbitrary symbols by which thought is conveyed

from one human being to another”

LANGUAGE

DeVito: “language is the code, the system of symbols,

utilized in the construction of verbal message”

LANGUAGE VERSUS SPEECH

WHAT IS SPEECH?

Knower: “the ongoing multi-symbolic behaviour in social

situations carried on to achieve communication”

LANGUAGE VERSUS SPEECH

LANGUAGE

WRITTENORAL(language of conversation

and speechmaking

LANGUAGEnature of

Words areonly symbols

Meanings are

in people,not in words

Language isdynamic

Words havemany types of

meanings

LANGUAGEnature of

only symbols

words are

Words represent and substitute for things.

TRIANGLE OF MEANING (Ogden and Richards, 1923)

people, not in wordsmeanings are in

You are the communicator

Use words to create desired meanings in your receiver

Words can be interpreted differently by different people.

Meanings do not inhabit words, they are set by the individual who perceives the word

Task as communicators:

Diversity of Meanings in words

Did you know that “set” is word with the most

number of meanings?Noun: 58Verb: 126

Adjective: 10

Dr. Lllia Antonio says that “labas” has 74 different

meanings

Because of this, you must not only consider your interpretation of the

word, but also the meaning the communicator is trying to get through

• Meanings are created in the minds of the people• Must be shared to facilitate understanding

Meanings

is dynamic

language

Change is a fact

Some reasons for the growth and decline of language:

• Changing societal needs• Erosion of old customs• Call for elegance

DynamicStaticWords: Meanings:

Some meanings of old words are different from their meanings today

Language is a function of time

To be or not to be; That is the question

Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing end them?William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Well, frankly, the problem as I see itAt this moment in times whether I

Should just lie down under all this hassleAnd let them walk all over me.

Or whether I should just say OKI get the message and do myself in.

Prince Charles’ modern version

New situations create new meanings• Biased, Sexist, or narrow-minded terms are

removed• Place can affect how the listener processes the

words• Communicators should be aware on how these

difference affect the word’s meaning

Language is a function of culture

types of meanings

words have many

Words are understood how they were defined

1.denotation - literal, precise, dictionary meaning

2. connotation -subjective, figurative, and variable meaning

3.structural - dependent on the total arrangement and sequence of words

4.contextual - linguistic and nonlinguistic factors surrounding the words

5. sound - derived from the way the words are spoken

Types of meanings

LANGUAGE

attributes ofEFFECTIVE ORAL

LANGUAGEEFFECTIVE ORAL

clarity

directness

approriate-ness

vividness

attributes of

LANGUAGEEFFECTIVE ORAL i

sCLEAR

Attributes of clarity:1. Correctness2. Accuracy3. Simplicity4. Understandability

• Correctness Grammar

Syntax

• Accuracy• Precise word choice

Know the meaning that is being conveyed

Use a dictionary or thesaurus

Avoid/limit using “all-purpose words”, abstract words, and exaggerations

• Simplicity Avoid verbosity or wordiness

Short and simple sentence construction

Avoid tautology and redundancy

• Understandability Define terms

Avoid using technical jargons

Avoid using slang

Carefully use foreign words

LANGUAGEEFFECTIVE ORAL i

sDIRECT

& CONVERSATIONAL

Speaking orally or delivering a speech involves a live audience.

A speaker in such circumstances should have a speech that is instantly intelligible.

Simple words should be used to enable your audience to comprehend quickly, and easily.

Blankenship suggest that the language used

must be oral in style

Suggestions to achieve oral style:

1. Use shorter words, replacing polysyllabic words.

2. Use personal pronouns

3. Use contradictions that are abbreviated

4. Use shorter sentence length.

5. Use simple but graphic words.

6. Use direct and rhetorical questions.

7. Employ idiomatic expressions.

8. Use the active voice rather than the passive

voice.

9. More repetitions and restatements must be used.

10.Confront your audience, and refer to them more directly.

Suggestions to achieve oral style:

LANGUAGEEFFECTIVE ORAL i

sAPPROPRIATE

to the listeners (audience),the occasion,the speech purpose,& speaker’s personality

1.EOL is appropriate to your audience.

ADAPT TO YOUR AUDIENCE.

a.Consider their needs, attitudes, interests, knowledgeb.Use words that they’ll understandc.Audience analysis helps determine whether your

speech is informal or formal.d.What comprises the age of your audience may

affect your language.e.Be considerate of both your audience and the

people you talk aboutf. Never use obscene language.

au

die

nce

2. EOL is appropriate to the occasion. Measure the degree of formality of the speech occasion because situation and circumstances affect your language style.

3. EOL must be appropriate to the speech purpose. Shifting to a more appropriate language style according to your purpose is the key.

occ

asi

on

Sp

eech

pu

rpose

4. EOL is appropriate to the speaker.

BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR CHOICE OF WORDS

The words you choose reflect your character and attitude, as well as the background you had. But use words you’re comfortable with

speake

r

LANGUAGEEFFECTIVE ORAL i

sVIVID

Colorful language that appeals to the senses enlivens the speech.

Vividness may be achieved through the use of imagery.

These word pictures or images produce powerful feelings in the listeners’ mind.

SEVEN TYPES OF IMAGERY:“Seven Doorways to the Mind”

VISUALIMAGERY

sight

AUDITORYIMAGERY

hearing

GUSTATORYIMAGERY

taste

OLFACTORYIMAGERY

smell

TACTUALIMAGERY

touch

KINESTHETICIMAGERY

musclestrain

ORGANICIMAGERY

internalsensations

CONCLUSION

LANGUAGE

Language is an integral part of culture and society.

It is the system of symbols human beings utilize in the construction of verbal messages

LANGUAGEisUSEDMIS

andABUSED

WHY STUDY LANGUAGE?

Language makes up the foundation of the audience's

understanding of your speech.

The words you choose (and not

choose) and how you deliver these words

is key in speechmaking.

Strong language skills are an asset that will promote

a lifetime of effective

communication.

Cabredo, Figueroa, Lioanag, Samson,Sare, Yu

GROUP 2

Source:Practical Speech Fundamentals book

QUIZ

1

Fill in the Blank.

Effective Oral Language isappropriate to the ______,the listeners, the speechpurpose, and speaker’s

personality

2True or False.

Contextual meaning ismeaning derived from theway the words are spoken.

3Identification.

It is an attribute of clarityachieved by avoiding

wordiness and using shortcommon words instead of a long and unfamiliar one

4Give one

suggestionto achieve oral

style.

4Give one

characteristic (nature) of language

5

6

Multiple Choice.

Which among the statements is false

a. Both words and language are dynamic

b. Language is a function of culture

c. Meanings are created in the minds of the people

d. None of the above

7

Supply the missing part.

8Describe in one sentence

any object using imagery. Indicate the type

of imagery you used.

4910

Give a denotativeand connotative

meaning of the word“LANGUAGE”