Chapter 2

Question 1

All languages use _____ to represent things and ideas.

Answer 1

symbols

Question 2

Speakers of the same language agree on the ______ in order to understand one another.

Answer 2

meanings of symbols

Question 3

____________________ is the key in the development and use of slang words.

Answer 3

social acceptance

Question 4

Languages all organize symbols into a ___________.

Answer 4

system

Question 5

_______________helps to organize symbols and allows us to put words into categories in which they relate to one another.

Answer 5

grammar

Question 6

The system of language is so ____ that a speaker can create a sentence that was never created before.

Answer 6

flexible

Question 7

Language is always changing. How does it change?

Answer 7

meanings, words and grammar rules

Question 8

Words of phrases that are generally characteristic of spoken language and not written language.

Answer 8

colloquialism

Question 9

_____is less formal language because it contains more contractions, more colloquialisms, and sentence fragments.

Answer 9

oral

Question 10

In oral language, speakers modify through______ .(multiple answers)

Answer 10

tone of voice, volume, facial expressions and gestures

Question 11

Substance is the _______ -the message communicated through the denotations of words.

Answer 11

content

Question 12

Style can be determined by ________.

Answer 12

word choices, connotation, syntax, and organization

Question 13

_______ is defined as how clearly we say something

Answer 13

clarity

Question 14

______ is how briefly we say something.

Answer 14

economy

Question 15

______ is how smoothly we say it.

Answer 15

grace

Question 16

Most listeners share the same _______, but not always the _______.

Answer 16

denotations-connotations

Question 17

It is better to use _____ words over _____ words.

Answer 17

concrete-abstract

Question 18

A word’s explicit, literal meaning, or dictionary definition, is its

Answer 18

denotation

Question 19

A word’s implied or suggested meaning is its

Answer 19

connotation

Question 20

An expression that means something other than the literal meaning of its words is a/an___

Answer 20

idiom

Question 21

A word’s implied or suggested meaning is its

Answer 21

connotation

Question 22

An expression that means something other than the literal meaning of its words is a/an___

Answer 22

idiom

Question 23

Another name for “word order” is ____

Answer 23

syntax

Question 24

A regional language pattern is a ____

Answer 24

dialect

Question 25

The way a message is expressed is its_____

Answer 25

style

Question 26

The relationship of language to a specific situation, purpose, and audience is ____

Answer 26

usage

Question 27

A word that refers to general concepts or ideas is said to be___

Answer 27

abstract

Question 28

A word that refers to specific items or processes is said to be ____.

Answer 28

concrete

Question 29

A technical vocabulary uses____.

Answer 29

jargon

Question 30

What characteristics, or features, are common to all oral languages?

Answer 30

social understanding, flexibility and change, use of symbols, and grammar

Question 31

Both oral and written language must meet expectations regarding what three things?

Answer 31

syntax, grammar, and other conventions of language

Question 32

Written language tends to be ______ and have more colloquialisms than oral language.

Answer 32

looser

Question 33

selecting understandable, precise words and phrases and placing them in the correct order. Uses transitions and avoids unfamiliar or poorly constructed phrases

Answer 33

clarity

Question 34

expressing ideas briefly and pointedly. One should avoid wordiness and unnecessary explanations

Answer 34

economy

Question 35

communicating in an appealing manner. One should use parallel structure and avoid awkward phrases

Answer 35

grace