General Semantics Flashcards
I.A. Richards
argued that communication studies should also include the listener.
Rhetoric scope, goal and emphasis
Scope: Public rhetoric
Goal: How to persuade
Emphasis: Speaker/source
Semantics scope, goal and emphasis
Scope: Everyday communication between people
Goal: How to avoid misunderstandings
Emphasis: Listeners/receivers
What does the semantic triangle demonstrate?
That there is no natural, absolute connection between the symbol and the referent. (dotted line)
What does the ladder of abstraction do?
Proves the abstractness of symbols.
Symbols are ambiguous because
their meanings change and are unclear.
Context refers to what?
1) history between the communicators
2) setting of the communication
3) thoughts and feelings of the communicators.
What are 4 ways to be clearer when communicating according to I.A. Richards?
1) Intensional v.s. extensional orientation –> words v.s. reality –> words are misleading so check your facts.
2) Etc. –> a reminder of all the variable meanings our words have.
3) Indexing –> reminder that meanings change over time and circumstance
4) Feedforwarding –> plan our communication
Intensional Orientation
What’s inside of us, our own definitions.
Extensional Orientation
Based on observation
Indexing
Meanings vary and change over time and circumstance
Etc.
A reminder of all the variable meanings our words have
Feedforwarding
The process of anticipating the effects of communication and adapting to these anticipated effect before actually communicating with others.