Module 4 - Verbal Communication

Question 1

What is language?

Answer 1

system of symbols, words, and/or gestures used to communicate meaning

Question 2

What does it mean for language to be symbolic and arbitrary?

Answer 2

Language is comprised of symbols; we associate meanings to words for no particular reason; there’s no meaning behind the words unless we attach the meaning to it

Question 3

What is the Semantic Triangle/Triangle of Meaning/Triangle of Reference?

Answer 3

Triangle relationship between a thought (reference), symbol (word), and referent (actual object)

Question 4

What is denotative meaning?

Answer 4

The actual dictionary definition of a word

Question 5

What is connotative meaning?

Answer 5

Our own definition of a word; the meaning of the word in a certain context; subjective

Question 6

What are the 3 rules that language is governed by?

Answer 6

Syntactic, semantic, and contextual

Question 7

What are syntactic rules?

Answer 7

Rules about the order of words

Question 8

What are semantic rules?

Answer 8

Rules about the meaning behind words

Question 9

What are contextual rules?

Answer 9

Rules about the meaning of words in certain contexts

Question 10

What does it mean when words are ambiguous/abstract vs. concrete?

Answer 10

Ambiguous/abstract = many different meanings; concrete = one specific meaning

Question 11

What is Hayakawa’s Ladder of Abstraction?

Answer 11

ladder that represents words from abstract to concrete

Question 12

What are some barriers to communication?

Answer 12

Cliches, jargon, euphemism, double speak, offensive language, slang

Question 13

What are cliches?

Answer 13

Overused expressions (think outside the box)

Question 14

What is jargon?

Answer 14

Technical terms specific to an occupation

Question 15

What are euphemisms?

Answer 15

Substituting acceptable words for more controversial words (“died” vs. “passing”

Question 16

What is double speak?

Answer 16

unclear communication when trying to purposely put up barriers or get people to misinterpret something (use jargon and euphemisms; usually used by politicians to make you vote for a bill you don’t understand)

Question 17

What is offensive language?

Answer 17

Language that offends (curse words, insults, etc.)

Question 18

What is slang?

Answer 18

Modern, informal, often shortened words

Question 19

What are examples of powerless language?

Answer 19

Disclaimers & qualifiers; hedges; tag questions; hesitations; intensifiers; apologies; undermining structures

Question 20

What are disclaimers/qualifiers?

Answer 20

Prefacing what you’re going to say that undermine your competency by making you seem like you doubt yourself (“I’m not sure, but I think”)

Question 21

What are hedges?

Answer 21

Minimizing your needs (“I just wanted to ask”)

Question 22

What are tag questions?

Answer 22

Tagging questions at the end of a statement that make it less powerful “Okay?; Right?”; Does this make sense?)

Question 23

What are hesitations?

Answer 23

verbal filler (“um” and “uh”)

Question 24

What are intensifiers?

Answer 24

Unnecessary words that try to intensify (“very” and “really”)

Question 25

What are apologies?

Answer 25

Saying “sorry” too much

Question 26

What are undermining structures?

Answer 26

Up-talk (raising tone like a question) and rushing/piling on words