3: Verbal Communication

A set of Q&A flashcards covering key concepts from 3: Verbal Communication, including the Triangle of Meaning, denotation/connotation, language acquisition, linguistic functions, discourse features, and sociocultural aspects of language.

What are the three components of the Triangle of Meaning, and what does the triangle illustrate about language?

Thought (the concept in a speaker’s mind), Symbol (the word or sign used to represent the thought), Referent (the object or idea the symbol refers to); the triangle shows that the symbol–referent relationship is indirect and can lead to misunderstandings.

What is denotation?

The dictionary-defined or agreed-upon meaning of a word (the official meaning).

What is connotation?

The emotion- or experience-based associations people have with a word, which can be positive, negative, or neutral and vary by person.

What does the term displacement refer to in language?

The ability to talk about things removed in space or time from a speaker, enabling talk about abstract or distant referents.

Approximately how many language codes exist worldwide, and what portion are unwritten?

About 6,000 language codes exist; roughly 40 percent (about 2,400) are spoken but have no written version.

What is a symbol in language?

Something that stands in for or represents something else; symbols can be verbal, written, or nonverbal and do not directly correspond to the referent.

What does it mean that language is symbolic?

Languages use symbols to stand for objects or ideas, allowing abstraction; symbols need not look like what they refer to (displacement).

Why might two people have a misunderstanding when both use the word 'dog'?

They may share the same symbol ('dog') but have different referents (e.g., one thinks of a dachshund, the other of an Australian shepherd).

What is the difference between monosemic and polysemic words?

Monosemic words have a single denotation; polysemic words have multiple denotations and often multiple connotations.

What is language acquisition?

The process by which we learn to understand, produce, and use words within a language group, including grammar; it progresses rapidly in early life and varies with individual development.

List key milestones in early language development (birth to around 2 years).

2–4 months: respond to different tones of voice; 6 months: babbling and linking words to behaviors; 8–10 months: following attention and pointing; 1 year: recognizing some individual words and basic conversational rituals; melodic/intonational variation begins; later years: continued pronunciation and vocabulary growth.

What are the Rules of Language in this chapter?

Grammar governs how words form phrases and sentences; knowing rules helps you write and speak clearly, but creativity and context also shape language use.

What is the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis in brief?

Language influences thought and perception (shapes reality) but does not strictly determine it.

What is the Ladder of Abstraction?

A model that ranges from concrete (direct experience) to abstract (general concepts); as you move up, details are lost, making definitions less concrete and potentially more ambiguous.

Why is it important to use language lower on the ladder of abstraction when shared referents matter?

Using concrete language helps ensure clearer understanding when the referents are shared.

Give an example of denotation and connotation with the word 'cowboy'.

Denotation: a man who takes care of cattle; Connotation: related to frontier myths and cultural symbols (e.g., the cowboy as a symbol in media).

What are the five functions of language as described in this chapter?

Expressive, Powerful, Fun, Dynamic, Relational.

What are the four types of verbal expressions listed in Table 3.1?

Observation (sensory reports), Thought (conclusions/interpretations), Feeling (emotions), Need (wants/requests for help or support).

What is affective language?

Language used to express feelings and to evoke similar feelings in others.

Name three figures of speech discussed in figurative language.

Simile (like/as), Metaphor (implicit comparison), Personification (giving human qualities to nonhuman things).

What is evocative language?

Vivid language that captures attention and imagination, often conveying emotion or action to induce mental pictures.

What is a euphemism?

A milder or indirect term used to replace a harsher or more direct term, which can reduce offense but sometimes obscure meaning.

What are neologisms and how are they formed?

New or newly used words created through borrowing, affixation, clipping, or blending; English borrows extensively and constantly evolves.

What is textese (text-message language)?

A form of written language that uses abbreviations, numerical substitutions, and shortened forms; debated for its impact on overall language skills.

What is the ladder of abstraction used for in communication?

To illustrate how language can be concrete or abstract; using concrete terms improves clarity when shared referents exist.

What is jargon, and why should it be limited when speaking to non-specialists?

Specialized vocabulary used by a group or profession; it can hinder understanding unless defined for outsiders.

What is a 'whole message' in communication?

A message that includes observations, thoughts, feelings, and needs to convey a complete, unambiguous meaning.

What are 'partial messages' and why can they cause conflict?

Messages missing a relevant type of expression, leading to misunderstandings and potential conflict.

What are 'contaminated messages'?

Messages with mixed or unclear expressions (e.g., mixed observations, thoughts, feelings, and needs) that confuse the receiver.

What is 'polarizing language' and why is it problematic?

Language that presents issues as black-and-white absolutes, which narrows thinking and hinders dialogue.

What is incivility in verbal communication?

Deviating from social norms (insults, sarcasm, bullying, etc.) that can erode democratic discourse and interpersonal trust.

What is 'communication accommodation theory'?

A theory explaining why people modify their communication style to converge with or diverge from others based on context, identity, and power.

What is 'convergence' in communication accommodation?

Making your language and speech more like another person’s to increase understanding and rapport.

What is 'divergence' in communication accommodation?

Emphasizing differences in language to highlight identity or power and potentially create distance.

What is 'code-switching' in bilingual or multilingual contexts?

Changing between accents, dialects, or languages within or across conversations to fit context or audience.

What are five cultural identities discussed with regard to bias in language?

Race, Gender, Age, Sexual orientation, Ability.

What is the difference between an accent and a dialect?

An accent is a way of pronunciation; a dialect includes distinctive vocabulary and grammar in addition to accent.

What is hate speech and how does the First Amendment relate to it?

Speech that expresses intense negative beliefs toward a protected group; in the U.S., some hate speech is protected by the First Amendment, though it is a contested area with legal debates (e.g., Snyder v. Phelps).

What is 'hate crime' and how is it treated in law?

Crimes motivated by bias against a protected characteristic; often subject to enhanced penalties and increased enforcement.

What is 'incivility online' and why is it significant?

Negative online behavior (name-calling, harassment, flaming) that can threaten democratic participation and civil discourse.