Question | Answer |
Language | The system of symbols (words) that we use to think about and communicate experiences and feelings. |
Denotative Meaning | the basic definition of a word (accepted definition) |
Connotative Meaning | the emotional or attitudinal response people have to it. |
Cognitive Language | specific system of symbols that you use to describe people, things, and situations in your mind.
*Richard's idea of a good restaurant, and Norah's ideas of a good restaurant. |
Grammar | system of rules of a language that serves as a mechanism for the creation of words, phrases, and sentences (ABSOLUTELY IMPORTANT). |
Communication Acquisition | we learn how to use the language appropriately and effectively in the context of the situation. |
Informing | using language to give and receive information.
*telling where it hurts.
*Questioning
*Describing
*Reinforcing
*Withholding |
Feeling | Emotions we express; love, respect, hostility, pride, etc. |
Imagining | MOST COMPLEX functional competency.
*ability to think, play, and be creative in communication.
*child imagining being a superhero |
Ritualizing | learning the rules for managing conversations and relationships.
*saying "hi" or "bye" |
Abstraction Ladder | Higher Level: most general and vague.
Lower Level: more specific and can help you understand more precisely what people mean.
*High= "You're useless"
Low= "I noticed you didn't take out the trash in the kitchen...Every Monday & Thursday evening..." |
Evasion | Highly-Abstract language --- avoid being specific.
*teenage says: "I'm going out with friends" |
Equivocation | High-level abstraction -- using words that have unclear or misleading definitions.
*it's ... colorful" (when you don't like it) |
Euphemisms | Highly-abstract -- offensive words or phrases that substitute for terms that might be perceived as upsetting.
*using "passed away" instead of "died" |
Slang | informal, nonstandard language. |
Jargon | technical language that is specific to members of a certain profession/interest. |
Semantics | meaning that words have. |
Pragmatics | ability to use words appropriately. |
Biased Language | influence our perceptions about the subject.
*calling woman a "girl", but saying "you go girl" |
Politically Correct Language | saying firefighter, police officer, chair-person instead of fireman, policeman, chairman. |
Fact | true and verifiable. |
Opinions | personal evaluations. |
Inferences | deductions or conclusions that we make about the facts we observe. |
Speech Repertoires | most effective/appropriate language to meet the demands of a given environment. |
High Language | more formal, polite; business! |
Low Language | often involving slang; watching a football game! |
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis | claim that the words a culture uses/doesn't use influence thinking. |
Linguistic Determinism | idea that language influences how we see the world around us. |
Linguistic Relativity | speakers of different language have different view of the world. |
High-Context Cultures | uses contextual clues; we have to "guess"
*actions |
Low-Context Cultures | direct language. |
Accommodation | changing our communication behavior to adapt to the other person.
*changing our tone, vocabulary, etc. |
Code Switching & Style Switching | communicators change their regular language and slang, as well as their vocabulary and tone to fit into a particular group. |
Non-Verbal Communication | intentionally or unintentionally signaling meaning through behavior other than words. |
Channel Discrepancy | one set of behaviors says one thing and another set says something different.
*saying "My life is great. No problem here!" while being depressed. |
Repeating | offering a clear non-verbal cue that repeats the verbal message.
*waving your finger while saying "no" to a toddler.
*holding 3 fingers up while saying "three" |
Complementing | non-verbal behavior that matches the verbal message.
*patting your friend on the back while saying "great job!" |
Accenting | clarifying or emphasizing specific information in a verbal message.
*writing: "Wash the dishes TODAY!!" |
Substituting | replacing words.
*traffic officer stretching out his palm to signal STOP! |
Contradicting | conveys the opposite meaning.
*people looking for sympathy might answer that nothing is wrong when you ask. |
Regulating | coordinating verbal interactions.
*answering the phone and saying "hello" then pausing for the other person to speak. |
Immediacy | feeling of closeness, involvement, and warmth between people.
*how close to others you sit or stand and how often you look at them, smile, etc. |
Deception | attempt to convince others of something that is false.
*telling your sick friend that he look great, although he is pale and lying on the couch. |
Kinesics | reading someones body language. |
Kinesics -- Emblems | substitute for verbal messages.
*signaling "okay" with the fingers (okay sign) to imply that you're well. |
Kinesics -- Illustrators | *holding your hands apart to describe "how large the fish was" |
Kinesics -- Regulators | *raising your head and lifting your head up to indicate that you want to speak. |
Kinesics -- Adaptors | *rubbing your eyes to indicate that you're tired.
*twisting your hair when you're nervous or bored. |
Kinesics -- Affect displays | *slumping in a chair may indicate fatigue or boredom.
*a sad face may reflect a recent argument with someone. |
Masking | *smile while congratulating your friend in her engagement, although you detest the person she's marrying. |
Oculesics | using eyes to communicate.
*making eye contact with the manager during an interview. |
Paralanguage | powerful non-verbal vocal messages.
*degree of hoarseness, smoothness, or deepness of your voice.
*angry, demanding voice = annoying |
Vocalizations | cues that give information about the speaker's emotional/physical state.
*laughing, yawning, sighing, gasping, etc. |
Artifacts | accessories carried/used on the body for decoration or identification.
*briefcases, tattoos, expensive Rolex watch, engagement ring, wedding ring, etc. |
Proxemics | the way we use and communicate with space.
*feeling uncomfortable when someone talks to you extremely close all the time (you try to avoid the occurrence. |
Territoriality | claiming of an area (not literally)
*favorite living room chair, seat in class, a parking space, usual table at a restaurant, etc. |
Haptics | touch as a form of communication.
*hugging when we're happy.
*caressing your spouse to show love.
*holding someones hand in times of worry. |
Chronemics | people perceive the use of time and how they structure time in their relationships. |
Time Orientation | determines the importance that people ascribe to conversations.
*cutting your mom off often shows that you're uninterested in what she has to say. |
Contact Cultures | depend on touch as an important part of communication.
*Arabians kiss when they greet. |
Non-Contact Cultures | less touch-sensitive or even tend to avoid touch.
*American only give each other handshakes when greeting. |
Public-Private Dimension | *touching/caressing your spouse's hand at your kitchen (home), but not at a town hall meeting. |
Informal-Formal Dimension | formal/informal behaviors.
*arriving promptly at 2 for a wedding, and arriving sometime after 6 for a BBQ. |
Non-Verbal Codes | *raising your eyebrow and gasping to show a surprised or shocked look. |