This document discusses key concepts about language and meaning. It defines language as a system of symbols and rules used for communication. It notes that language has semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. Semantics is the study of meaning, syntax is the arrangement of words, and pragmatics is language in social contexts. Additional concepts covered include denotative and connotative meanings of words, operational definitions, descriptive language, and avoiding inferences versus observations.

1. Language and meaning (Ch3)
MARIA SUBERT

2. What is language?
Language is a collection of symbols, letters, words with
arbitrary meanings, governed by rules and used to
communicate.

3. Language has rules:
osemantics
osyntax
opragmatics

4. Semantics:
The study of the way humans use language to evoke
meaning in others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcBvGToIxgA

5. Syntax:
the way we arrange
words
to form phrases
and sentences

6. Pragmatics:
Language as it is used in social context
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aeCxWyNAQQ

7. Phatic communication:
When we Do NOT to communicate information or
ideas, rather to establish a mood of sociability.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v80J9E11tlk

8. The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis:
“Language shapes reality.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df25r8pcuI8

9. Words are arbitrary:
They have NO inherent meaning
They have only the meanings people give them…

10. Denotative meaning:
the dictionary meaning of a world

11. Connotative meaning:
individualized or personalized meaning

12. avoid these when you speak:
grammatical errors
Slang
Clichés
Euphemism
Profanity
Jargon
Regionalism
 sexist/racist/heterosexist/ageist languages

13. Slang, Cliché
Slang: informal, casual
street language
Cliché: overused expression
that lost originality

14. Profanity: language that is disrespectful of sacred things
http://www.worldmag.com/2011/11/profanity_and_art

15. Euphemism:
avoiding language that would be offensive in a social
setting (not necessary to be avoided)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNk_kzQCclo

16. Jargon, Regionalism
Jargon: language particular to a specific profession
Regionalism: words and phrases specific to a region
Technical Jargon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aW2LvQUcwqc
Regionalism, and why it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8TWfuOiNzE

17. Descriptiveness and Paraphrasing
Descriptiveness: instead of judging it, we describe the observed
behavior or phenomena
Paraphrasing is restating the content of the message by rephrasing

18. Operational definition
identifying something by describing
◦how it works
◦how it is made
◦what it consist

19. Confusion can arise…
If you suspect someone might misunderstand your terminology, you
must define the term.
Define potentially confusing words when you speak.
It is recommended to use concrete language rather
than vague or abstract when you speak.

20. Dating & Frozen evaluation
Dating: specify when you made the observation since everything
changes over time.
Frozen evaluation: in which you don’t allow your assessment to
change over time.
Dating is the opposite of frozen evaluation.

21. Observation & Inferences
Observation: descriptions of what is sensed
Inferences: conclusions drawn from observations