Chapter 4: Verbal communication

Question 1

Triangle of meaning

Answer 1

• Thought
• Symbol
• Referent

Question 2

Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

Answer 2

• thoughts we construct are based on language
• lang –> thought

2 versions:

• Ling determinism
  - Lang determines the way we interpret the world.
• Ling relativity
  - Lang affects thought, so speakers of diff lang will perceive the world differently.

Question 3

Language and cultural identity

Answer 3

• Fundamental way for groups to distinguish themselves from other groups
• maintains group identity.
• Culture dies if lang dies?

Question 4

Coordinated management of meaning

Answer 4

• Constitutive rules
  - Defines what a particular communication stands for.
  - Helps us to interpret the meaning of different kinds of communication.
  - Being professional: punctuality, quality of work.
  - e.g: Nodding your head means you agree with what your colleague is saying.
• Regulative rules
  - Speech acts that are appropriate or inappropriate for the context.
  - specifies the 5W 1H of communication.
  - sets the boundaries of communication, and what boundaries we should not cross.
  - How and when do you interrupt?
  - Is it APPROPRIATE?

Question 5

Verbal communication styles

Answer 5

• Direct vs Indirect
• Elaborate vs Succinct
• Personal vs Contextual
• Instrumental vs Affective

Question 6

Elaborate vs Succinct

Answer 6

Elaborate
-Frequent use of metaphors, proverbs, figurative lang

Succinct
-People give precisely the amount of info necessary.

Question 7

Personal vs Contextual

Answer 7

Personal:

• more informal
• more indie ideal-centered lang

Contextual:

• Very formal
• Accentuates status differences
• Emphasis on social roles between participants (e.g: chinese culture)

Question 8

Instrumental vs Affective

Answer 8

Instrumental:

• Sender and goal-oriented
• depends on explicit verbal msgs; more step-by-steps.
• e.g: low-context cultures like Western cultures.

Affective:

• Receiver and process-oriented
• Underlying meanings is impt; vague expressions.

Question 9

Linguistic Prejudice

Answer 9

• Language others use and lang that is used to describe them can affect our perception of them.
• e.g: towards women (Spender, ‘85)

Question 10

Dijk (1984) clustered prejudiced talk into 4 categories

Answer 10

1. “They are different” (in culture, mentality)
2. “They do not adapt themselves”
3. “They threaten our (social, eco) interests”
4. “They are involved in negative acts” (crime)