.png){kind=icon}
Communication and Language
The Nature of Language
- Language is powerful and indispensable, but also imprecise and evolving.
- Language is symbolic.
- Meanings are in people, not in words.
- Language is governed by rules.
- Phonological rules govern how words are processed.
- Syntactic rules govern the way symbols are arranged.
- Semantic rules suggest the meaning of words.
- Pragmatic rules apply to how people use language in everyday interactions.
The Power of Language
- Names shape and reinforce a sense of personal identity.
- Listeners often associate accents with particular abilities and traits.
- ''Powerful'' language is clear, assertive, and direct.
- ''Powerless'' language suggests that a speaker is uncertain and nonassertive, but ''powerless'' is sometimes a misnomer.
- Affiliative language demonstrates solidarity with others.
Misunderstandings
- Some words are equivocal in that they have more than one definition.
- Equivocation involves a deliberate attempt to be vague.
- Relative words gain their meaning by comparison.
- Slang and jargon differ by community.
- Euphemisms are pleasant alternatives to bolder talk, but they can cause confusion.
6 Ways to Avoid Misunderstandings
- Use idioms, slang, jargon, and abbreviations with caution.
- Explain your terms.
- Be specific.
- Clarify whom you represent.
- Focus on specific behaviors.
- Be careful with euphemisms and equivocations.
Tips for Avoiding Disruptive Language
- Don't confuse fact and opinion.
- Don't confuse facts with inferences (interpretations).
- Don't present emotions as facts.
- Don't resort to insults.
Gender and Language
- The sexes aren't actually ''opposite.''
- Hormones' influence is less intense than most people think.
- Men and women speak roughly the same number of words per day, but in different situations.
- Among themselves, women tend to talk more about family, friends, and emotions.
- Male friends are more likely to discuss sports and technology.
- Although ideas are changing, traditional gender roles continue to influence dating customs.
- In the United States, women typically use more affective language and men more instrumental language.