ch 4

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to verbal communication as discussed in Chapter 4.

Language

A system of symbols (words) used to think about and communicate experiences and feelings.

Cognitive language

The system of symbols in your mind to describe people, things, and situations, which influences spoken language.

Semantics

The study of meanings that words have for people, depending on their definitions or placements in sentences.

Pragmatics

The ability to use a culture's symbol systems appropriately in different contexts.

Evasion

A type of language that avoids specific details, often used to deceive others without telling a direct lie.

Equivocation

Using imprecise words deliberately that can be interpreted in multiple ways, often to avoid discomfort.

Euphemism

A word or phrase with a neutral or positive connotation used as a substitute for terms perceived as upsetting.

Microaggressions

Brief, subtle, unintentional, and oftentimes dismissive interactions or behaviors that target marginalized groups.

Hate speech

Language that offends or insults individuals based on their characteristics like race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation.

Communication accommodation theory (CAT)

A theory explaining how language and identity shape communication in various contexts; communicators adjust their language based on their audience.

Jargon

Technical language specific to members of a given profession or activity, often unclear to those outside the group.

High language

A more formal, polite language often used in business contexts or formal social gatherings.

Low language

An informal, easygoing language often used in casual settings among friends.

Group identity

The sense of belonging to a group that is often reinforced through the use of specific language or slang.

Denotative meaning

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Connotative meaning

The emotional or attitudinal response that a word evokes in people, beyond its literal definition.

Abstraction ladder

A visual representation used to describe different levels of abstraction in language from vague to specific definitions.

Ritualizing

The enacting of rules for what we are supposed to say in routine conversations and situations.

Functional communication competencies

Five identified language behaviors that help individuals communicate effectively: controlling, informing, feeling, imagining, and ritualizing.

Self-presentation

Communicating in ways that facilitate how we want others to perceive us and our intentions.

Social norms

The expected behaviors and language use accepted within specific social contexts or cultures.

Context-bound language

Language behavior influenced by situational factors, relationships, group identities, and cultural contexts.

Grammar

The rules of a language, helps ensure clarity

Communication acquisition

Acquiring language and learning to use it effectively

Civility

Social norms for appropriate behavior in communication.

Profanity

Swearing and using taboo language.

Labeling

Assigning negative words/phrases can perpetuate feelings of inferiority, such as the term feminist being misconstrued as negative

Hayakawa's Ladder of Abstraction

Describes how abstract language can range from specific to general.

Phonological

Rules governing correct pronunciation.

Syntactic

Rules governing the order of words within phrases and clauses