ch 5 words Flashcards
language
code or system of arbitrary symbols that permits a group of people to communicate and share meaning; used to negotiate meaning
semantic code
agreed-upon use of the same symbols when communicating; establishes that words have denotative and connotative meaning
syntactic code
grammer
establishes the conventions that guide our words use (order of words and structure of statements); violation of code makes it harder to understand
pragmatic code
appropriate based on context; requires us to consider the goal of our exchange and relationship.
Triangle of Meaning
(Ogden & Richards) model for understanding connections between words, thoughts, and the actual thing/idea itself
-meanings exist in thoughts, not words or things.
word mask
ambiguous language meant to confuse
word wall
using language to impede understanding; speakers use word walls to assert themselves and impede other people; they have no interest in negotiating
denotative meaning
dictionary meaning
connotative meaning
personal meaning
euphemisms
substituting direct or inoffensive language for harsh, blunt language; helpful for salving peoples’ feelings
linguistic ambiguity
purposely saying something that can be taken in at least two different ways; used to avoid confrontation
emotive langauge
makes our attitude/opinion toward a subject clear
polarizing language
viewing the world in terms of extremes (either/or)
politically correct language
using words that convey our respect for and sensitivity to the needs and interests of specific groups; feeling pressured by society to avoid some words for fear of being perceived as offensive
bypassing
we think we understand, but we miss meaning because of our interpretation
equivocal langauge
words that may be interpreted in more than one way
intensional orientation
when we respond to a label rather than to what the label actually represents.
- fail to inspect what the labels represent.
- confuse label with reality
extensional orientation
adopting a reality-based approach
-inspect what label refers to instead of letting the label blind us.
snarl words
words that register social disapproval
purr words
words that register social approval
Communication Accommodation Theory
we adjust our language patters to reflect how we feel about another person.
communication convergence
- May adapt our speech style to match theirs.
* when done effectively matching your speech patterns to speak with those you like
communication divergence
-stress our differences, adopting a style of speaking that contracts with the style of the person we are talking to. Distance ourselves.
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (culture)
proposes that language influences perception by revealing and reflecting one’s worldview, social reality;
split into relativist, determinist, nonbeliever
linguistic determinism -Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
language SHAPES THINKING and conditions us to process experience
linguistic relativity -Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
language influences thought and feeling, languages contain unique embedded elements
nonbeliever -Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
language doesn’t influence thought
Hopi people
rely on preparation, which shows a concept of continuous time in contrast to the segmented time of Western societies
Wendell Johnson
observed that very few Indians in one tribe stuttered, perhaps because their language contained no word for stuttering, so the possibility of stuttering never occurred to them
co-cultures
groups living within a dominant/mainstream culture; languages differ, reflecting a different reality
argot
language of co-culture
spotlighting
highlighting of a person’s sex for emphasis; language can diminish/stereotype men and women
genderlects
language differences attributed to gender; language practices of men and women reflect goals and feelings about power
muted group theory
in a social hierarchy, the dominant group uses language to shape perceptions, silencing/muting those with less power
