Ch. 3

Question 1

____________ is the system of symbols (words) we use to think about and communicate experiences and feelings.

Answer 1

Language

Question 2

Grammatical rules that dictate how words should be pronounced are referred to as

Answer 2

Phonological rules

Question 3

Andy compliments his mother’s new hairstyle just before he asks her if she can loan him some money for the weekend, hoping that this will put her in a good mood and improve his chances of getting the loan. His compliment is serving which functional communication competency?

Answer 3

Control

Question 4

The relationship between symbols, objects, people, and concepts and the meaning that words have for people, either because of their definitions or their placement in a sentence, defines which of the following terms?

Answer 4

Semantics

Question 5

The consistently accepted definition of a word is referred to as its

Answer 5

Denotative meaning

Question 6

When Joe’s roommate asks if Joe would bring his cat home after the winter holidays, Joe remembers how his aunt’s house smelled like a soiled litter box and that there was cat hair all over the furniture. Joe feels a great sense of reluctance. His response is related to what kind of meaning for cat?

Answer 6

Connotative meaning

Question 7

Using abstract words that have unclear or misleading definitions to get out of an uncomfortable situation is referred to as…

Answer 7

Equivocation

Question 8

Jane says her cousin is “big boned,” instead of saying she’s overweight, obese, or fat, because she understands those other terms might have insulting connotations. What type of language abstraction is Jane using?

Answer 8

Euphemism

Question 9

Over dinner Ashleigh tells her family a hilarious story about how she and her bestie photobombed a couple trying to take a selfie in the food court at the mall. Her sister laughs and shouts “you’re cray!” While the girls laugh, their parents stare blankly. The parents are most likely confused by the girls’ use of which language form?

Answer 9

Slang

Question 10

Technical language that is specific to members of a particular profession, interest group, or hobby
is referred to as…

Answer 10

Jargon

Question 11

In which of the following contexts would you be most likely to use high language?

Answer 11

Your interview for an internship at an advertising agency

Question 12

What term refers to a form of accommodation in which a communicator changes his or her
regular language and slang to fit into a particular group?

Answer 12

Code switching

Question 13

The theory that holds that the words a culture uses (or doesn’t use) influence the thinking of people from that culture is

Answer 13

Sapir-Whof hypothesis

Question 14

Vocal elements like pauses and changes in volume or pitch are all part of verbal communication.

Answer 14

False

Question 15

Unlike with other codes, there is a natural and universal connection between language symbols
and the things they represent.

Answer 15

False

Question 16

The cognitive language you use about someone or something else affects your experiences with them.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Although grammar is important in written communication, the transactional nature of oral communication means that using correct grammar is not required to communicate effectively.

Answer 17

False

Question 18

Asking questions is a way of using language to accomplish the functional competency of informing.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Competent communicators adjust their language to each person, group, or context they encounter.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

When someone says a disagreement is related to semantics, they are suggesting that the root of the problem is disagreement about the meaning the words have to the people involved.

Answer 20

True