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Notes on 4.4: Types of Language Learning Outcomes and 4.5: Improving Verbal Communication

4.4 Types of Language Learning Outcomes

  • Differentiation between informal and formal language

    • Language use varies by environment, audience, and purpose of communication.
    • The way we talk in different contexts impacts how others view us (positively or negatively).

  • Formal versus informal language overview

    • Formal language vs. informal language depends on context and audience.
    • Example: text to a best friend vs. email to a professor; different grammatical structures and words.
    • Formal language differences:
    • Used in carefully edited communication; academic or official content.
    • Used when applying for a job (e.g., cover letters, resumes).
    • Occurs in official documents and legal agreements.
    • Informal language differences:
    • Everyday language, casual, potentially contains slang.
    • Uses contractions and abbreviations; often continuous and less structured.
    • Common in texting and informal conversations.

  • Formal language characteristics

    • Official and academic in tone.
    • Aims to appear intelligent and capable.
    • Uses full sentences and is grammatically correct.
    • Tends to be more objective and complex.
    • Example: most legal agreements are written in formal language.

  • Informal language characteristics

    • Common, everyday language with casual tone.
    • Includes slang and informal expressions.
    • More simple and direct.
    • Often uses contractions and abbreviations (e.g., in text messages).

  • Jargon

    • Definition: a specialized or technical language of a specific group or profession.
    • May not be understood by outsiders; understood within a context.
    • Example: business jargon is common in the workplace.
    • Joanna Cutreira’s list of 14 commonly heard business jargon phrases:
    • 14 commonly heard jargon phrases: "Low hanging fruit", "leverage", "open the kimono", "giving a 110%", "out of pocket", "drink the kool aid", "bio break", "blue sky training", "tiger team", "ideal idea shower" or "thought shower", "moving the goalpost", "drill down", "gain traction".
    • Workplace jargon may be specific to an organization.

  • Colloquialisms

    • Definition: informal expressions used in everyday speech, varying by region.
    • Examples: "wanna" instead of "want to", "gonna" instead of "going to".
    • Importance: reflects how a society uses language in daily life.
    • Short list of common colloquialisms:
    • Bamboozle, be blue, be around the bush, buzz off, go away, fell through, go bananas/go nuts, go insane, gobsmacked, gonna, hit a writer's block, hit the hay, pop into my head, stick to itiveness, threw me for a loop, throw someone under the bus, wanna, y’all, you all, yins, you all.

  • Slang

    • Definition: informal words used by specific groups (e.g., young adults/teens).
    • More common in speech than in writing.
    • Examples from everyday usage (illustrative list):
    • Bae, on fleek, Bye, Felicia, the tea, bro, cash, cheesy, ship, frenemy, thirsty, throeshate, woke.
    • Note: Slang evolves over time; what is common today may be outdated tomorrow; US slang is not universal in all English-speaking countries.

  • Idioms

    • Definition: expressions whose meanings cannot be inferred from individual words; figurative language.
    • Functions: amplify messages, provide artistic expression.
    • Example: "knowledge is power".
    • Non-native speakers may find idioms challenging; instructors often spend significant time explaining them.
    • Table 4.2 (examples from idioms):
    • "A basket case" = a wreck
    • "A breath of fresh air" = refreshing, fun; "She’s a breath of fresh air".

  • Clichés

    • Definition: ideas or expressions that are overused and have lost original meaning.
    • Common in advertisements, TV, and literature; still express ideas popular in everyday use.
    • Examples: "light as a feather" or "happily ever after".

  • Improper language

    • Definition: language that is not appropriate in certain situations.
    • Two types: vulgarity and cursing.
    • Vulgarity: offensive, coarse, lewd, or obscene language.
    • Cursing: language that includes words associated with evil, doom, misfortune, or profanity.
    • Perceptions of improper language vary among people.

  • Bias language

    • Definition: language that shows preference or prejudice, or demeaning viewpoints.
    • Examples: using "mankind" instead of "humanity"; avoid gendered or non-inclusive terms (e.g., "black" vs. neutral terms).
    • SPIN: manipulation of language to achieve a positive interpretation or political advantage; can deceive others.
    • Concept: language choices frame self or clients positively.

  • Ambiguous language

    • Definition: language that can have multiple meanings.
    • Examples: advertising language that is abstract or unclear (e.g., a restaurant ad that says "people are our best ingredient").
    • Importance: clarity in communication to avoid misinterpretation.

  • Euphemisms

    • Definition: milder or more polite ways of saying something blunt or harsh.
    • Reason for use: politeness, sensitivity, or softening impact.
    • Example: instead of saying someone died, say they "passed away"; instead of saying someone failed a test, say they "did not pass".

  • Relative language

    • Definition: language whose meaning depends on the speaker's background and perspective.
    • Examples: salary expectations vary by person; perceptions of expensive vary with context.
    • Explanation: our language is shaped by experiences; what is expensive to one person might be different for another.

  • Static evolution

    • Definition: things change over time; not constant.
    • Example: a person who was "bad" at one time may improve or change later; language should reflect change over time.
    • Clarification: static evaluation incorrectly assumes permanence (e.g., Max being "bad" may not reflect future behavior).

  • Key takeaways (from 4.4)

    • Formal language is more careful and mannersed than everyday speech; informal language is appropriate in casual contexts.
    • Informal language includes:
    • 1) jargon or technical language, 2) colloquialism, 3) slang or nonstandard language, 4) idioms or figures of speech, 5) clichés.

4.5 Improving Verbal Communication

  • Learning outcomes

    • 1) Examine ways to improve your vocabulary.
    • 2) Increase your language awareness and adaptation.
    • 3) Recognize and practice checking for understanding (the importance of confirming comprehension).

  • Importance of vocabulary and its social significance

    • From early development, words used become part of effective expression.
    • Language expresses feelings, intentions, and comprehension of others.
    • An extensive vocabulary is a predictor of social status, education, and profession.
    • As we age, vocab growth continues; vocabulary size influences school, work, and society.

  • Vocabulary growth and age-related benchmarks (illustrative figures)

    • Infants start distinguishing sounds early on; rapid acquisition occurs.
    • By age two: 200 words.
    • By age three: 2{,}000 words.
    • By age five: 4{,}000 words.
    • Average infant to toddler learns 3–4 new words per day.
    • Adults: most native English speakers have vocabularies around 20{,}000 to 35{,}000 words.
    • Eight-year-olds typically know about 10{,}000 words.
    • Four-year-olds typically know about 5{,}000 words.
    • Vocabulary growth in adults essentially slows by middle age; language learning should be ongoing.

  • Essential tips for building vocabulary

    • 1) Use repetition: encounter and use a word repeatedly to memorize it.
    • 2) Group similar words together: avoid learning isolated words; think of them as parts of a bigger picture or theme (e.g., music-related words or adjectives like "beautiful").
    • 3) Build a personal vocabulary: create a set of words that have personal meaning and relevance.
    • 4) Keep a journal of words you don’t know.
    • 5) Look up unfamiliar words in a dictionary whenever encountered.
    • 6) Learn to recognize Latin and Greek roots of words.
    • 7) Play vocabulary games: anagrams, crosswords, Scrabble, etc.
    • 8) Create synonym and antonym lists.
    • 9) Take a writing or editing course.
    • 10) Read regularly: exposure to diverse material expands vocabulary.

  • Reading and exposure guidance

    • Read material beyond simple novels (avoid only junior-high-level content like some popular series) to encounter more advanced vocabulary.
    • When encountering unfamiliar words, look up definitions to ensure comprehension.
    • Reading stretch materials (articles, books) helps broaden language use and comprehension.

  • Language awareness and adaptation

    • Language awareness: ability to be mindful and sensitive to all functions and forms of language.
    • Language adaptation: ability to alter linguistic choices in a communicatively competent manner to maximize interpersonal effectiveness.
    • Both awareness and adaptation contribute to more effective communication.

  • Ways to increase language awareness and adaptation

    • 1) Engage in meaningful interpersonal communication with someone different from you (different country or region).
    • 2) Watch foreign films (preferably with English subtitles or dubbed) to observe varied communication styles.
    • 3) Spend time with a young child (preferably under five) to observe how language is used with someone still acquiring language; this helps you adapt language to simpler vocabularies when needed.

  • Check for understanding (verbal communication using TAP)

    • Important to verify that the receiver understood the message.
    • TAP acronym stands for:
    • T = Talk first: present all content clearly while ensuring the other person is listening.
    • A = Ask questions: use specific, open-ended questions to confirm understanding (avoid yes/no questions like “Did you hear me?”).
    • P = Prepare to listen: listen carefully to the other person’s response, observe emotions, and check that the message was received correctly.
    • Representation: TAP can be viewed as an actionable protocol for ensuring understanding in any conversation.
    • Mathematical representation (conceptual): ext{TAP} = igl( ext{Talk first}, ext{Ask questions}, ext{Prepare to listen} igr)

  • Key takeaways (from 4.5)

    • Improved vocabulary requires deliberate practice: repetition, grouping related words, personal relevance, regular reading, and active usage.
    • Language awareness and adaptation involve mindful use of language and the ability to tailor linguistic choices to different audiences and contexts.
    • Checking for understanding is essential; apply the TAP method to ensure effective communication:
    • T = \text{Talk first}, \ A = \text{Ask questions}, \ P = \text{Prepare to listen}
    • Real-world applications: better interpersonal communication, smoother workplace interactions, and more inclusive language use across contexts.

  • Ethical, philosophical, and practical implications

    • Ethical: mindful use of language helps prevent harm, misrepresentation, and bias; avoiding SPIN and deceptive phrasing promotes honesty and transparency.
    • Philosophical: language reflects perception and reality; recognizing relative and evolving language encourages humility and adaptability.
    • Practical: improving vocabulary and communication skills enhances academic and professional success, social interactions, and cross-cultural collaboration.

  • Connections to foundational principles

    • Grammar and vocabulary influence clarity and credibility in communication.
    • Awareness of audience and context underpins effective language choice (formal vs. informal, jargon use, etc.).
    • Check-for-understanding procedures align with communicative competence and collaborative problem-solving in real-world settings.

  • Summary of key ideas to remember

    • Formal vs. informal language affects perception and outcomes in professional and daily interactions. Table\ 4.1 contrasts these modes; Table 4.2 provides idiom examples.
    • Jargon, colloquialisms, slang, idioms, and clichés each serve distinct communicative purposes and can affect clarity.
    • Improper and biased language have ethical and social implications; be mindful of inclusive and precise wording.
    • Vocabulary growth is a lifelong process with measurable milestones across the lifespan; deliberate practice accelerates expansion.
    • Language awareness and adaptation improve communication across diverse audiences.
    • Checking for understanding (TAP) is a simple, effective framework to ensure message reception and alignment.