Ch. 4 (Language) Flashcards
Meaning of “Language is arbitrary”
The connection between a word’s form and its meaning is not natural or necessary (ex: the name of a child doesn’t influence what they’ll become). Words literally mean whatever we as users of a language choose for them to mean.
The rules that language is governed by:
Phonological, Syntactic, Semantic, and Pragmatic rules
Denotative meaning
the literal or dictionary definition of a word
Connotative meaning
a word’s implications
The Semantic Triangle
a diagram in the form of a triangle used to illustrate the relationship between a word (symbol), the concept it represents (reference), and the actual object or idea in the real world (referent)
Loaded language
Comprises words with strongly positive or negative connotative meanings (cancer, family, bailout, freedom). The denotative meanings of loaded language may be emotionally neutral.
Ambiguous language
some language can be more abstract than concrete, allows for multiple interpretations of a sentence or written text
Hayakawa’s Ladder of Abstraction
a concept that describes how language and thought move from concrete to abstract
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
states that language shapes a person’s views of reality. The merit of this hypothesis has been widely questioned by researchers (more flexible than determinism).
Two components of the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Linguistic determinism and Linguistic relativity
Determinism: language entirely determines the way people think, Relativity: language influences thought but doesn’t completely control it
Credibility
how much others perceive us as competent and trustworthy
Criticism
the act of passing judgment on someone or something
Threats
declarations of the intent to harm someone
Persuasion
the process of convincing people to think or act in a certain way (persuasive communicative strategies: Anchor-and-contrast approach, Norm of reciprocity, and Social validation principle)
Euphemisms
vague, mild expressions that symbolize something blunter or harsher (ex: passed away instead of died)
Slang
the use of words often understood only by others in a particular group
Defamation
language that harms a person’s reputation
Libel
type of defamation that involves communicating a false statement in WRITING or PHYSICAL form to harm someone’s reputation
Slander
form of defamation that involves communicating a false statement about someone ORALLY or SPOKEN
Hate speech
form of profanity meant to degrade groups of people
Ways to Practice Civil Dialogue:
Be honest with yourself and others; choose your words mindfully so you say precisely what you wish to say; be multipresent, or simultaneously aware of the past, present, and future; be open to the possibility of changing your mind; and listen with the goal of truly understanding others.
I-statements
claim ownership of what a communicator is thinking or feeling (Ex: I am mad right now)
You-statements
shift that responsibility of what the communicator is thinking or feeling to the other person (ex: you are making me mad)
