COMM 112 Test 2

The claim that words are arbitrary and have no meaning in themselves refers to the \__________ quality of language.

symbolic

"Man bites dog" and "Dog bites man" are statements that consist of the same words but have different meanings due to which rules of language?

Syntactic

We agree that we eat food and drink beverages due to which rules of language?

Semantic

When your professor hands back your term paper and says, "Meet me in my office after class. We need to talk," you begin to worry, a reaction influenced by which rule of language?

Pragmatic

Sans has the same meaning in French and English but is pronounced differently due to \__________ rules.

phonological

Which rules govern the meaning of language, as opposed to its structure?

Semantic

Which rules make ethnic or racial teasing acceptable among members of in-groups?

Pragmatic

Often more important than the dictionary meanings, or denotations, of a word are the feelings it evokes, which are called \__________.

connotations

Problems occur because people attach different meanings to the same message. This is due to the \__________ nature of language.

subjective

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is associated with which concept?

Linguistic relativity

When Gabrielle describes her vacation in French, her language is more romantic and emotional than when she uses English to describe the same images and events. Which theory or hypothesis best explains this difference?

Sapir-Whorf

Speakers of a language that includes the notion of \________ would probably be more inclined to treat older people respectfully.

lao

Which of the following statements about naming and identity is TRUE?

The claims of those with names that are more difficult to pronounce are less likely to be believed. correct

Unusual names can be a symbol of \__________ with the African American community, whereas less distinctive names can be a form of assimilation with the majority culture.

solidarity

While out at a club, you use certain words and phrases whose meanings are understood only by other members of your fraternity who are there. This is an example of which linguistic strategy?

Divergence

Which is a strategy of linguistic affiliation and accommodation?

Convergence

Which statement is an example of "powerless" language?

I guess I won't be able to meet you tomorrow, but we can reschedule. Okay?"

You begin a critical message with "I don't mean to sound critical, but ..." This is an example of which type of linguistic strategy?

Disclaimer

Communicating in ways that save face for both senders and receivers is defined as \__________.

politeness

Which of the following is an example of language that is neither sexist nor racist?

Waiter

When you disapprove of a friend's remark, you call her "insensitive." When you approve, you call her "insightful." What do researchers call language like this, which appears to describe something but actually reveals the speaker's attitude toward it?

Evaluative

Being asked on a survey to rate your response from 1 to 5, with 1 being "strongly like" and 5 being "strongly dislike," is an effort to combat problems stemming from which kind of language?

Relative

Asking for feedback helps address \__________ language, which consists of words and phrases that have more than one commonly accepted definition.

ambiguous

Which of the following statements is the lowest level of abstraction for the description of "a considerate neighbor"?

My neighbor calls me every Friday before she goes shopping to see if I need anything.

Which statements avoid ownership of a message?

"It" statements

Which statements have the effect of canceling the thought that precedes it?

"But" statements

Which statements reflect the highest degree of speaker accountability?

"I" statements

"But" statements can be useful at times as a \__________ strategy.

face-saving

Which statements express judgment of another person?

"You" statements

Which combination of pronouns is recommended for confrontational conversations in romantic relationships?

"I/we" statements

Which statements signal inclusion of others but also run the risk of speaking improperly for them?

"We" statements

"I was disappointed when I learned that you had asked someone else to join us for dinner." Which "I" statement is missing from this assertive message?

A statement that describes the consequences of the other person's actions

You are unhappy with your domestic partner's lack of pitching in with household chores. Your partner doesn't perceive a problem, however. What type of language should you use when broaching this topic with him?

"I" language

Which statement uses the language of "empowered refusal"?

I don't tolerate racist comments.

Because you didn't pay me back the loan as you promised, I was late with my rent that month. Which "I" statement is missing from this assertive message?

A statement that describes your feelings

To motivate others, it's best to use the language of \__________ rather than \__________.

choice; obligation

The statement "men are from North Dakota, women are from South Dakota" reflects which approach to gender?

Minor differences

According to research that examines differences in "genderlects," which statement is more characteristic of the feminine style?

The CEO really likes our sales pitch, but I'm concerned that she's not ready to commit yet.

Communication scholar Deborah Tannen views men's communication style as \_________ talk, which is \__________ oriented.

report; task

What has research revealed about gender differences in communication on Facebook?

Women refer more to people in their lives.

According to research, which is a characteristic of feminine speech?

Conversing to maintain relationships

Rather than discussing distinct \__________, communication scholar Julia Wood describes masculine and feminine \__________ whose members have been socialized to share communication goals, strategies, and methods of interpretation.

cultures; speech communities

Which statement is an example of the masculine communication style?

Here's what you should do to solve that problem.

Which statement is TRUE about childhood play that affects gendered socialization?

Childhood games are segregated by sex and structured by different rules about how to speak and act.

Research participants reading transcripts were largely unable to identify gender on the basis of word choice. This finding supports which approach to language and gender?

Minor differences

Many of the language differences that first appear to be sex-related may actually be due to other factors such as occupation and \__________.

power

Research indicates that communication styles of male and female nurses, as well as male and female athletes, are similar. This demonstrates the importance of which influence on language?

Occupation

Which topic is a man more likely to speak tentatively about?

Shopping

Which is the best definition of nonverbal communication?

Messages expressed by nonlinguistic means

"Charming," you remark sarcastically to a friend after she offends the waiter. Which statement describes your communication?

Your tone of voice is nonverbal, and your words are verbal.

One early study claimed that \__________ percent of the emotional impact of a message comes from a nonverbal source.

93

Compared to verbal communication, nonverbal messages are often \__________.

rooted in biology

In one study, when communicators were told not to express nonverbal clues, others viewed them as dull, withdrawn, uneasy, aloof, and deceptive. This illustrates which quality of nonverbal communication?

It is always occurring. correct

Which metaphor suggests one of the most significant characteristics of nonverbal communication?

A transmitter that is always on

Which statement would be easier to express nonverbally?

I'm exhausted.

Hugging friends and family is one of the things you miss most about the pre-pandemic era. What quality of nonverbal communication does this gesture illustrate?

It is primarily relational.

Nonverbal communication is better suited to expressing \__________ than it is ideas.

attitudes

You notice that your friend avoids eye contact when you ask her about her plans for the weekend. You're not sure how to interpret this silence due to which characteristic of nonverbal communication?

Ambiguity

Which strategy is recommended to avoid jumping to conclusions about nonverbal cues?

Perception check

Which form of punctuation has research found to become an emoticon of sorts that makes messages seem less sincere in texts but not in handwritten communication?

Period

You have made your point in a text message. Now it's the other person's turn to respond. Which form of punctuation performs a function similar to a pause in face-to-face conversation by signaling turn-taking?

Ellipsis ( . . . )

Nodding the head up and down, an accepted way to indicate agreement in most cultures, is an example of what communication concept?

Emblem

Which statement is TRUE about women's nonverbal communication compared to that of men?

Women are more vocally expressive.

When you are introduced to a new coworker, you observe her facial expression, eye contact, posture, gesture, and tone of voice. This helps you accomplish which goal when first meeting someone?

Reducing uncertainty

Which statement is TRUE about creating and maintaining relationships?

Nonverbal displays of affection—such as sitting close, holding hands, winking, and gazing—are strongly connected to satisfaction and commitment in romantic relationships.

Which nonverbal signals indicate a speaker has finished talking?

Rising or falling pitch at the end of a clause

Which nonverbal cues help control verbal interaction?

Regulators

Which of the following is a display of nonverbal immediacy in a typical job interview situation?

Shaking hands firmly

Nonverbal immediacy is associated with communication \__________.

competence

Briefly adopting expansive poses such as hands on hips or spreading out your arms can increase your sense of power and \__________.

tolerance for pain

Which nonverbal behavior can improve your memory?

sitting up straight

Discretely adopting a power pose for a couple of minutes before an interview performs which function of nonverbal communication?

influencing ourselves

A liar sometimes displays true feelings in brief, unconscious displays called \____________.

microexpressions

Framed diplomas and awards adorn the walls of your biology professor's office. Which category of impression management do these displays involve?

setting

Which item of clothing or accessory increases your chances of being perceived as more intelligent, trustworthy, and of higher status?

glasses

Gestures and facial expressions are subsets of which larger category of nonverbal communication?

Kinesics

When your statistics professor continues speaking but glares at you for having interrupted her lecture, which type of nonverbal communication is she drawing on?

Oculesics

"Kangaroo care" for premature babies demonstrates the importance of which type of nonverbal communication?

Haptics

According to researchers, which nonverbal behavior can reduce pain by providing "interpersonal synchronization"?

Holding Hands

The tone, pitch, rate, and volume of speech are all aspects of \____________.

Paralanguage

When your mother asks if you like your birthday gift, you hesitate, searching for an answer that won't hurt her feelings. This is an example of which type of paralanguage?

Unintentional Pause

The study of how communication is affected by the use, organization, and perception of space and distance is known as \__________.

proxemics

Which of Hall's zone is in use when your dog sits on your lap?

Intimate

All semester you have sat in the second seat in the second row in your economics class. When you discover Mateo in your place on final exam day, you scowl at him. What type of nonverbal communication are you displaying?

Territoriality

Etsuko, who is Japanese, found her Caribbean vacation frustrating because of the locals' laid-back "island time." These cultural differences involve which aspect of nonverbal communication?

Chronemics

Which prejudice involves people getting preferential treatment based on their physical appearance?

Lookism

Dressing more formally—whether in a business suit, lab coat, or uniform—tends to enhance perceptions of \__________ and expertise.

credibility

Why is "close your mouths and open your ears" an insufficient guideline for listening?

It is overly simplistic

When working adults were asked to name the most common communication behavior they observed in their place of business, what topped the list?

Listening

Which feature should you look for in a company if you want to experience less stress and higher satisfaction not only in your job, but also your home life?

Supervisors who are active, empathic listeners

According to research on call center managers, for a customer to feel the most satisfied, what kind of needs must be met?"

Functional and Emotional

Interpersonal listening is defined as the process of receiving and \__________ others' messages.

responding to

Which statement is TRUE about listening versus hearing?

Listening occurs when the brain reconstructs electrochemical impulses into a representation of the original sound and then gives them meaning.

Which adjective describes mindful listening?

Careful

Which terms does Ellen Langer use to describe the ways we listen?

mindful; mindless

Which type of listener is more likely to draw out responses from the message-sender?

Relational

When coworkers digress, you remind them to get to the point and concisely explain how a problem will affect a project deadline. You are what kind of listener?

Task-oriented

After a long day on campus where you listened attentively to four long lectures on different subjects, you lose focus as your friend describes his plans for the weekend. This is due to which barrier to listening?

Information overload

A headache is an example of which barrier to listening?

Noise

Although we're capable of understanding speech at rates up to \__________ words per minute, the average person speaks much more slowly.

600