The document discusses several topics related to language and communication. It defines what language is, including that words have denotative and connotative meanings. It also discusses cognitive language and how our thoughts and culture can influence the language we use. Grammar is defined as the system of rules that govern language, but successful communication also requires understanding the cultural and situational context. The functions of language include communication, acquisition of language, and controlling, informing, feeling, imagining, and ritualizing. Problems with language can include abstraction, evasion, equivocation, euphemisms, slang, jargon, semantics, pragmatics, and biased language. Language behaviors are influenced by relationships, contexts like family versus work, and the S

1. LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION
Real Communication by Dan O’Hair and Mary Weimann
Sunday, September 8, 13

2. LANGUAGE
What is language?
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3. LANGUAGE
A word is a symbol or a sign for
something which forms a language.
Words have multiple meanings.
Denotative meaning is a basic and
acceptable definition.
Connotative meaning is the
emotional or response that people
have to it.
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4. LANGUAGE
Cognitive language is the language we use to
describe people, things, or situations in our
mind.
This is related to our thoughts, attitudes, co-
cultures, the society in which we live.
This can influence language and how we form
our message.
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5. GRAMMAR
The system of rules of a language that serves as a way to
create words, phrases and sentences.
Language is bound by relational, situational, and cultural
context.
To communicate well, you must understand the context as
much as the grammar.
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6. WHAT IS FOCACCE?
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7. WHAT IS FOCACCE?
We need the context...
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8. FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE
Communication
Acquisition is learning how
to use the words in a
language, appropriately
and effectively in context.
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9. FUNCTIONS OF LANGUAGE
controlling
informing
feeling
imagining
ritualizing
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10. PROBLEMS WITH LANGUAGE
AND MEANING
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11. PROBLEMS
Hayakawa’s abstraction ladder
language can range from
vague to specific
high is very vague
low is very specific
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12. PROBLEMS
evasion
equivocation
euphemisms
slang
jargon
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13. PROBLEMS
Semantics is the meaning of
words.
Pragmatics is the appropriate
use of words.
Use of labels can erase
individual differences.
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14. PROBLEMS
Biased language is infused
with subtle meanings that
might affect our perceptions.
Being PC-Politically Correct!
facts, opinions, inferences
“Just so you know, we’re on the good
side with y’all. We do not want this war,
this violence, and we’re ashamed that
the President of the United States is
from Texas.” Dixie Chicks
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15. LANGUAGE AND CONTEXT
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16. LANGUAGE BEHAVIORS
Speech repertoires are files of
language possibilities.
church
family
friends
work
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17. LANGUAGE BEHAVIORS
Relationships
High language-formal
Low language-informal
How comfortable are you
in different situations?
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18. LANGUAGE BEHAVIORS
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
says our words influence
our thinking.
If there is no word in that
language for something,
then the culture likely has
few thoughts about that
concept. (example:
dinosaur didn’t exist in
Albanian)
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19. LANGUAGE BEHAVIORS
Linguistic determinism-
language determines how
we see the world around
us.
Linguistic relativity-
speakers of different
languages have different
world views.
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20. LANGUAGE BEHAVIORS
High-context cultures use
the context to
communicate in subtle
ways.
Low-context cultures use
direct methods of
communicating.
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21. LANGUAGE BEHAVIORS
Gender Roles
Geographic Area
Dialects
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22. LANGUAGE BEHAVIORS
Accommodation
Code switching and Style
switching changes your
regular language and slang
to fit into a particular
group.
You can also change your
vocal tone, pitch, rhythm
and inflection.
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23. LANGUAGE BEHAVIORS
In technology our language
must be precise.
English is the language of
the internet.
Chat rooms and texting
also has it’s own language.
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