This document discusses key aspects of language that are important for critical thinking: word choice, ambiguity, definition, and intensity. It explains that word choice is important to match the audience, time, and context. Ambiguity can generate multiple unrelated meanings and cause confusion. Definition clarifies intended meanings both denotatively and connotatively. Intensity of language, through negative words, emotive words, or abusive language, can negatively impact communication. Proper language use is important for credibility and effective discussion.

1. Language
Speech 104 - Extra Credit
By: Romina Vardanyan

2. Language
Language is a marvelous
communication tool, and it is
also the source of many
communication problems.
Language is fundamental to
critical thinking. A good
critical thinker uses language
that meets the needs and
expectations of the audience,
and is appropriate to the time,
place, person and occasion.
Four areas of language use are
important to critical thinking:
word choice, ambiguity,
definition, and intensity.

3. Word Choice
The meaning of words does not simply rest in words
themselves but in the minds of the people who use an
receive them.

4. Word Choice
Meaning is in the mind and not in
the symbols (words). The
language goal of the critical
thinker is to select the appropriate
words to match the time, place,
occasion and person. THis is no
more than saying “the right thing
at the right time”.

5. Ambiguity
“In order to qualify as an
ambiguity, an expression
must generate not only ‘ t
a
least t wo different
meanings’, but also t wo
incompatible and unrelated
meanings. It is only then
that an expression is truly
ambiguous.” -Drazen Pehar
“Use of Ambiguities in Peace
Agreements”

6. Euphemism
A euphemism is a less direct term, used in the place of a
more specific term which may be considered offensive.
When used in this way, euphemisms tend to “sanitize” or
cleanup one’s language.
A euphemism can basically be any word. The only
requirement is that a listener associates it with the offensive
or taboo term which it replaces, or understands the
connection between the word or the taboo.

7. Exampl
Domestic Engineer >> Housewife
Eliminate with Prejudice >> Kill
Correctional Facility >>
Prison
Sanitation Worker >>
Janitor
Strict >> Cruel

8. Definition
The primary function of
definition is to get the sender
and receiver on the same
semantic wavelength in order to
avoid unnecessary semantic
hurdles that prevent a
discussion of more important
issues.
Definition is also used to
indicate the sense in which you
use a familiar term especially
when your use of the term might
differ from conventional usage.
Words convey two different
meanings to the audience: a
denotative and a connotative
meaning.

9. Denotative &
Connotative Meaning
Denotative meaning boyfriend |ˈboiˌfrend|
noun
a regular male companion
refers to the way a with whom one has a
romantic or sexual
relationship.
word is generally
used, or the meaning
that people most
frequently attach to
a word. Boyfriend
Happiness Love
Trust
Connotative meaning
refers to the way a
person emotionally
responds to a word.

10. Types Of
Dictionary Definition: formal definition, and is
probably the most common form for clarifying what a
word means.
Operational Definition: most useful to define a word
by its function or operation.
Definition by Example: defining a word or phrase by
citing specific instances of that word or phrase.
Definition by Negation: this form of definition tells us
what a word or phrase is not.
Definition by Etymology: defining a word or phrase by
citing its historical roots or point of origination.

11. Intensity of Language
The intensity level of
one’s language refers
to the use of words and
phrases that often
negatively raise the
emotional level of any
communication
encounter.

12. Intensity Language can be found
in one of the following three
areas:
Negative Evaluative Words: words
that can only be understood through
a comparison with their opposite
(ugly, fat, weird, stupid, strange).
Strong Emotive Words: words which
are used to describe something, but
really presents the person’s attitude
toward what is being described.
Abusive Language: use of obscenity,
name calling, insults, swear words
and off-color remarks which are
usually of a racial or sexual nature.

13. Always Remember:
Correct language can enhance credibility
and claim adherence, but using incorrect
language can damage credibility and lead
to the rejection of the position being
advanced.