INTERPLAY Ch.5 - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

INTERPLAY Ch.5 Language

Interplay Ch. 5

Language

The Nature of Language

The Impact of Language

Uses and Abuses of Language

Gender and LanguageSlide2

Ch. 5 The Nature of Language

I. Nature of Language

A. It is Symbolic.

1. Words just arbitrary symbols (codes).

2. WE assign meaning & use symbols.

T

he hearing impaired also use a very symbolic language.

(

Tolar

et al, 2008)

Communication across different sign languages which have developed can be as challenging as across different spoken languages.Slide3

I. Nature of Language

B. Language is rule-governed.

1.

Phonological rules

:

govern how sounds form words

2.

Syntactic rules

:

govern how symbols can be arranged

3.

Semantic rules

:

govern the structure

&

meaning of words

4.

Pragmatic rules

:

govern appropriateness of using & interpreting messages

in a given

context.

-

r

elationship plays a role; perception-checking

is useful.Slide4

I. Nature of Language

C.

Language is Subjective.

1. People can attach

different meanings

to the

same message

.

2.

Meanings are in people

, not words.

a. We must negotiate or assign meaning.

b. Perception-checking is useful.Slide5

The Nature of Language, cont.

D.

Language & Worldview

Theory of Linguistic Relativism: a culture’s worldview is

shaped and reflected

by the language its members speak.

It shapes,

but doesn’t completely determine your thinking and cultural identity.

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis= example of language shaping reality.

(Hopi language has the world in process constantly, like a motion picture, b/c most things represented as verbs, but English (distinction between nouns and verbs) is more like a series of snapshots. )Slide6

II. IMPACT of Language (on perceptions & regard for each other)

A. Naming

1. Choosing a name can mean integrating with the

majority culture or identifying with an ethnic culture=

credibility

. (Jr., George Washington Abdul, etc.)

2. Names can identify

status

: socio-economic groups favor names in certain time periods

3. Women’s identities & choosing marriage names:

- No significant diff. in self-esteem, dependency, autonomy, or control in marriages if keeping name

4. Women who kept names had advanced degrees,

longer careers before marriage, & worked in arts

or writing.Slide7

Language Impact: Credibility and Status

How you choose

and

pronounce words/names impacts others’

accepting or rejecting our ideas.

Accents

can influence people believing you or not.

Vocabulary

can also affect your credibility.

You can be judged

believable and important or not.Slide8

II. Impact of Language

B. Affiliation

1.

Convergence

:

The process of building and showing solidarity w/others by adapting vocabulary, rate,

pauses, & politeness.

a. We can choose to adapt for approval or to accommodate

& help another fit in.

b

.

Individuals

remind world of their relationship; close relationships can create “own” terms; at work we usually

copy higher status; in courts done to impress (attorney); & in a new culture, immigrants may adapt to “fit in” and/ or to succeed faster.

c. A

lso

entire groups

can adapt: gangs to military

d.

In cyberspace =shared language & style + more “we” pronouns; larger scale=shortcuts (

lol

); Internet

savy

.

e.

If you feel equally positive, convergence will be mutual.

Slide9

II. Impact of Language, cont.

B. Affiliation, cont.

2

.

Divergence

:

speaking to emphasize differences to set you apart.

▪ Be careful about when to (or not to) converge.

▪ Can cross lines if needed (age, ethnicity)

▪

Set norms about who has right to use certain words/phrases.

Slide10

II. Impact of Language, cont.

C.

Power

1.

Some patterns add to or detract from your power to

influence.

▪

Powerful speech

may make you

appear competent &

employable.

▪

Powerless mannerisms

: Hedges, Hesitations, Tag ?s, Intensifiers, Polite Forms, & Disclaimers

make you seem

less attractive & less authoritative

.

2.

Culture influences

powerful/powerless speech.

▪

“

Collectivistic cultures prefer indirect speech.

Saving

face can be more important than sounding powerful

▪ Individualistic cultures prefer direct speech.

3.

Politeness can mask true intensions and true control

▪

Can be misinterpreted as weakness, so

…

▪Competent communicators

remain flexible &

▪Adapt to the conversational partnerSlide11

D

.

Sexism

1.

Sexist language

=

words, phrases, &

expressions unnecessarily differentiating

between females & males OR

excluding, trivializing or diminishing either sex.

a

.

Usually implies men are superior to women.

b.

Can stereotype and stigmatize

2.

Eliminate 2 ways:

a. Use neutral terms (plural pronoun “they”, “fire fighter”, “letter carrier”, or “sewer lid” for manhole OR b. Mark sex clearly to notify (if chairperson IS a chairman or chairwoman.

II. Language Impact of Sexism & Racism Slide12

II. Impact of Language, cont.

E.

Racist language :

classifies a racial group as

superior or inferior.

1.

Not always deliberate & connotations

words/ images associated with some words

can imply

negativity.

2.

Eliminating:

Free words of offensive labels & slurs. Modifiers can be subtle indicators if not needed.

Note: “Female doctor,” “white merchant,” “Iranian

professor” (Many adjectives are not needed.)Slide13

III. Language Uses & Abuses

A.

Precision or vagueness

depends on the

goal, the context, and the culture.

(Ambiguous= more than one commonly accepted definition)

1. Ambiguity can cause trivial or serious

misunderstandings

2. Responsibility for interpreting accurately is in large part the receiver’s. (Perception checking, paraphrasing & questioning)

3. Ambiguity can be useful in avoiding hurting others & “saving face” for self and others. (euphemisms) “custodial engineer”Slide14

III. Language Uses & Abuses, cont.

B. Abstraction- Generalizing about similarities

Ladder of Abstraction (p. 155)

1. May help

a

void confrontation and/or embarrassment by being deliberately unclear. (vague)

2. HIGHLY abstract language can cause problems: Stereotyping, confusion, sexual assault – Antioch College

3. Reduce high-level abstractions-by

using

behavioral descriptions.

-These are much clearer and more effectiv

e.Slide15

III. Language Uses & Abuses

B. Euphemisms-

A nice or innocuous way to say or soften an unkind or unpleasant message.

(

ie

. Custodial engineer-janitor)

▪

Not

the same as lying

▪

Saves face for both parties

▪

Tend to use them with persons of higher statusSlide16

III. Language Use & Abuses, cont.

C. Relative Language=

Compares w/o explaining relative terms, leading to problems.

▪

small, large, short, long, rich, cheap = vague

▪

Use clearly measurable terms or link it to

those.

▪

Potential for

lots

of misunderstanding

ie. “I just bought my daughter a small house for Xmas.” “Wow! That’s very generous of you!” “ Why? It’s only a toy one.” Slide17

III. Language Uses & Abuses, cont.

D. Static Evaluation-no possible change

This language abuse assumes people or things can’t

change by using the verb

to be.

“She’s a liar.” 8(

▪

Fix by a

voiding

the verb “

to be”

(is, are, was, were)

& clarifying a time frame.

“In 1

st

grade she lied to me.”

▪

Be sure to imply people (or you) can change.Slide18

III. Language Uses & Abuses, cont.

E. Language of Responsibility

1. Avoid:

- “it” language-

replace with “I” lang. Take

responsibility for your words!

- “BUT” language-

tends to cancel the preceding thought. “You’re a good student,

but you’re flunking.” Doesn’t it cancel the 1

st

part? …or feel like that? (YES!)

▪

Can be face-saving

strategy at times.

▪

When clarity is the most important thing,

use NO “but” statements.Slide19

III. Language Uses & Abuses, cont.

E. 2. Use YOU, I, and WE correctly.

▪

Positive YOU language is supportive (

“Your yard looks good!”), but

much YOU language is judgmental

& creates defensiveness. (

“You’re rude.”)

▪

Use 3-part “I” statements

(not necessarily in order)

1) Describe

other’s behavior

2) Describe

your feelings

3) State

consequences

of the behavior for you “When you washed the sweater my mom made for me in hot water, it shrank, and I’m upset because I can’t wear it when she comes this weekend.”Slide20

III. Language Uses & Abuses, cont.

E. 2. cont.

“Use I” statements in moderation. Too many can sound

egotistical. (They d

o not always

get

nondefensive

responses.)

Consider “WE” language. “We’re in this together.”

Implies both of you are concerned & responsible.

Be careful:

Include others without speaking

for

them

. NOT”

We will all

avoid ordering onions.” or “

No one will

order onions.”

You can combine “I” and “WE” statements.Slide21

III. Lang. Uses & Abuses

F. Disruptive Language-

understood but

disruptive, so eliminate it!

1. Fact-Opinion Confusion (truth vs. opinion)

“His grade was higher.” vs. “He’s smarter.”

2. Fact-Inference Confusion (truth vs. an

interpretation of evidence

)”Why is he upset with me?” “He isn’t. He said his dad just died.”

3. Emotive language (seems to describe, but

really

announces an attitude

)

“thrifty vs. cheap”Slide22

IV. Gender and Language

A. Extent of Differences in Men’s & Women’s Language

Use

1.

Basic Differen

ces

= Not

from 2 planets, but

2 cultures

- raised to talk differently (

Tannen

, 2001)

a. women

use talk

to seek close relationships & non- confrontational talk

b. men use talk for competition & conversational dominance. 2. Important Differences: reasons, topics, style, settings a. Reasons (Burleson et al, 1996) 1) Females=NEED empathy; 2) Men LIKE

talking for fun.

(Sherman & Haas,’84)

b

. T

opics: what they discuss

1) females= relationships; feelings, personal problems; also other women & men

2) Men= sports, hobbies, activities

3) Both= work, movies, & televisionSlide23

IV. Gender & Language, cont.

2 c.

Style differs per gender role.

1) Sentences= Female’s longer; Male’s= more fragments

(

Mulac

, 2006)

2) Language

= Female

more elaborate, tentative, & emotional (more feelings & intensive adverbs: (“

really

good…”);

Male

Language=more directive,

more “I” references & more judgments).

3) Power=

Female

lang. often less assertive, more statements of uncertainty, hedges, & tag ?s, making sound less powerful;

Male

lang.= more assertive & may sound more powerful. d. Setting matters: same sex=woman talk longer, more confidently; mixed sex= men talk longer; in small groups, Females talk more; in large ones Men talk more.Slide24

IV. Language Gender Differences

3.

Minor differences

: “

Men are from North Dakota and

Women are from South Dakota”, rather than another

from different planets.

(

Dindia

, 2006)

a. Women

slightly

more emotionally expressive and men

slightly

more humorous

b. Differences relatively minor in light of similarities

c. We don’t speak 2 languages, so

don’t polarize

.

d. Use this information to choose appropriate language for each interpersonal exchange.Slide25

IV. Gender & Language, cont.

B. Accounting for Gender Differences

Real:

1. Social philosophy

plays a role. Parents allow children to believe they must speak differently.

2. Occupation

influences style.

3. Gender roles

influence more than biological sex.

4. Power differences

influence- “feminine speech” has more to do w/ historically women had less power

Perceived:

5.

Media

influences us to perceive

speech differences are based on gender.

Equal opportunities & more similar social experiences will result in fewer differences.