Exam #1 Ch.1-CH.4 Review

Question 1

What are symbols?

Answer 1

Arbitrary constructions (usually language of behavior) that refer to objects: people, things, and ideas.

Question 2

How do symbols create meaning?

Answer 2

When at least two people agree that some thing/action will have that meaning to them.— In other words, people create the meaning that symbols have.

Question 3

Define the linear model of communication.

Answer 3

When the sender encodes a message (aka channel), and that message is decoded by the receiver. The idea that information is encoded and decoded in one direction at a time.- Define by Harold Laswell- 1948

Question 4

Define the interactive model of communication.

Answer 4

Same idea as the linear model except they added the idea that feedback would be given.- Define by Will Schram-1955

Question 5

Define the transactional model of communication.

Answer 5

This allowed for the idea that communication changes over time, and that communication happens simultaneously.- Julia Wood 2001

Question 6

Message

Answer 6

Words or actions given by sender

Question 7

sender

Answer 7

The origin of the message

Question 8

receiver

Answer 8

The person who gets the message

Question 9

feedback

Answer 9

A response to a message

Question 10

noise

Answer 10

All things that interfere with the message getting from sender to receiver clearly.

Question 11

Define perception

Answer 11

The process of becoming aware of people, events, or objects, and attaching meaning to that awareness.

Question 12

What are the four stages of perception?

Answer 12

Attention- something attracts the notice of one or more of your senses.
Selection- Focusing on one particular stimuli while tuning others out.
Organization- Mentally arranging information to make sense of stimuli.
Interpretation- Attaching information from stimuli.

Question 13

Personal Constructs

Answer 13

Sizing up things along a scale of polar opposites.

Question 14

Scripts

Answer 14

Preprogrammed actions or reactions- i.e. someone says “what’s up?” and we say, “not much”. or when we shake hands.

Question 15

Stereotypes

Answer 15

The act of assuming that individuals, because they belong to certain groups, have a set of attitudes, behaviors, skills, morals, or habits.

Predictive generalizations.

Question 16

Prejudice

Answer 16

A deep seated feeling of unkindness and ill will toward particular groups, often accompanied by feelings of superiority over those groups.

Question 17

High context vs. low context cultures.

Answer 17

High-context cultures (Japan, Korea, China, and lots of Latin American and African countries)- use contextual cues—time, place, relationship, and situation—to interpret meaning and send subtle messages. the communication partner must understand the message solely from clues of disagreement in the context, such as the fact that the person is silent.

Low-context cultures- these cultures use very direct language and rely less on situational factors. (U.S., Canada, Australia, and many northern European countries.)

Question 18

What is a rational dialectic?

Answer 18

Finding a balance between two opposite and opposing tensions.

Question 19

What are Moslow’s Hierarchy of Needs stages from bottom to top? What needs are in each stage?

Answer 19

Physiological needs- breathing, food, water, sleep, sex, homeostasis, excretion
Safety- security of body, employment, resources, or mortality, of the family, of health, of property
Love/Belonging- Friendship, family, sexual intimacy
Esteem- Self esteem, accomplishment, achievement, respect of others, respect by others
Self-Actualization- morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice, accepting of facts

Question 20

What is the Sapir-Worf hypothesis?

Answer 20

Says that the words a culture uses (or doesn’t use) influence the thinking of people from that culture.

Question 21

Define the McGurk Effect

Answer 21

When our eyes see one thing and our ears hear something, and the mind overrides what is heard by what is seen.

Question 22

Define Spandrel Theory in regard to language development.

Answer 22

Define originally by Noam Chomsky- the idea that language developed as a secondary function. The result of having a big brain that was meant for other things.

Question 23

Define Adaptation Theory in regard to language development.

Answer 23

Define by Stephen Pinker- the idea that language evolved as a result of man’s need to gain advantage over other living things and elements.

Question 24

What factors cause language to change?

Answer 24

Cultural influence, technology, new products, and developments.

Question 25

Define the evolution of English since the 8th Century.

Answer 25

5th-12th century English- known as Old English- unrecognizable as compared to Modern English.
Late 11th-15th century- Middle English- More similar letters
Late 20th century to present- Modern English- What we know today

Question 26

Define code switching

Answer 26

When we change the way to talk to fit our environment and the person we are speaking with.