LANGUAGE + IDENTITY THEORIES

Question 1

Giles accommodation theory

Answer 1

People adjust their style of speech to one another in order to seek approval from the recipient, increase efficiency in communication and helps the sender maintain a positive social identity

Question 2

Convergence (Giles accommodation theory)

Answer 2

Adapting communication behaviour to become more similar to another in order to fall into social groups or to be perceived in a certain way

Question 3

Divergence (Giles accommodation theory)

Answer 3

Accentuating the deliberate differences between yourself and another to over accommodate or patronise someone

Question 4

Thornborrows Personal identity theory

Answer 4

The language we use is fundamental in establishing our identity

Question 5

Master identity (Thornborrow)

Answer 5

Someones strongest core defining characteristics which are relatively unchanging. EG gender, race, nationality

Question 6

Interactional identity (Thornborrow)

Answer 6

Roles that people take on in a communicate context. Eg an authoritative figure leading a conversation

Question 7

Personal identity (Thornborrow)

Answer 7

The ways people behave and talk to each other, this can be from someones own perception or from other peoples. Eg someone may be perceived as open and honest

Question 8

Relational identity (Thornborrow)

Answer 8

The kind of relationship a person enacts which can be changed moment to moment. Eg a sales person working a room and addressing groups in different ways.

Question 9

Linguistic anthropology (Kroskrity)

Answer 9

Identities are not even but actively produced - can be deliberate or through strategic manipulation.

Question 10

Tajfels social identity theory

Answer 10

The groups people belong to give an important source of pride, self-esteem and belonging.
We divide the world around us as “them” and “us” through social categorisation.
We tend to exaggerate the differences between groups and similarities of things in the same group.

Question 11

Grices maxims

Answer 11

People intuitively follow certain principles in order to communicate effectively and guide their conversations.

Question 12

Maxim of quantity (Grice)

Answer 12

INFORMATION
- making contributions as informative as required
- do not give too much information than required

Question 13

Maxim of relation (Grice)

Answer 13

RELEVANCE
- be relevant

Question 14

Maxim of quality (Grice)

Answer 14

TRUTH
- do not say what you believe to be false
- avoid saying something which you cannot support with evidence

Question 15

Maxim of manner (Grice)

Answer 15

CLARITY
- use understandable language
- avoid ambiguity
- be brief
- be orderly

Question 16

Flouting a maxim (Grice)

Answer 16

A speaker purposefully avoiding a maxim

Question 17

Violating a maxim (Grice)

Answer 17

Speakers unintentionally avoiding a maxim

Question 18

Politeness theory (Goffman)

Answer 18

We present an image of ourselves to others, called “face”. Generally we accept others “faces” but face threatening acts can be done

Question 19

Whorfanism

Answer 19

The language we use can determine the way we think about things