Verbal CommuniationI. Role of Verbal Communication in Communicating Effectively and Strategic Flexibilitya. Communicating Effectivelyi. How you acquired ability to use words depends on three factors1. Native architecturea. Genetic ability to formulate languageb. Inborn language transmissionc. Language acquisition device2. Cognitive developmenta. Involves mental imageryb. Ability to organize and store information3. Environmental Influences a. You growing upb. How things were explained to you and what things meantb. Strategic Flexibilityi. Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis1. Language allows us to better understand the world and articulate what it is we are thinking or feelinga. Think about explaining how you feel using words you know2. The better understanding you have of verbal communication and the more words you have at your disposal the more complete will be your ability to think about and view world around youII. How Words Worka. When you say a word you are representing somethingi. Either a concrete object1. a treeii. Or an idea 1. peaceb. Denotative meaningi. A word that stands for concrete and emotionally neutral thing1. such as mailboxii. Means the dictionary definitionc. Connotative meaningi. Words that stand for abstract concept that evoke strong feelings1. peace and loveii. Has feeling or associations each individual carries with the wordd. Ladder of abstraction i. Continuum categorizing words from completely abstract to concrete ii. Useful for communicating effectively1. removes abstractions and allows you to better reveal abstract languagee. Words influence are way of seeing the worldi. Example of author writing about family member dying in electric chairIII. People Determine Meaningsa. Meaning are determined by people not wordsb. Connotative meanings of words can change with our life and experiencei. Connotation of love as you establish new relationshipsIV. The Language Environmenta. Language must be environmentally appropriate or it will not make senseb. People, Purposes, and Rulesi. Language environment made up of four elements1. People2. Purpose3. Rules of communication4. Actual talk used in situationii. Ritual languages1. takes place in environments where a conventionalized response is expected of you2. Greetings are a rituala. You briefly respond to someone3. rituals determined by culture and societyc. Appropriate Language i. We have knowledge or learned notions about what is inappropriate to use in conversation1. racial slurs2. insulting appearance or behavior3. blasphemous words4. aggressive words (shut up)ii. Euphemism1. an inoffensive word or phrase that is substituted for other words that might be perceived as unpleasanta. When someone dies you say “passed away” b. Politically correct 2. substitutions for unpleasant wordsiii. Double speak1. words deliberately constructed for political purposes2. exact same as euphemism except two thingsa. double speak does not always relate with unpleasantwordsb. double speak always relates to a political agenda3. Example: collateral damage is double speak for casualties of ward. Specializationi. Specialized language1. language particular to field, setting or occupationii. Roles determine are language specialization (How we talk)1. we are constantly shifting rolesa. the way we talk to momb. slang with our friendsV. Style Roles and Group Membershipsa. Neither language or though can be viewed in isolationi. You are what you say, because language is the method of conveying thoughtb. Stylei. Is the result of the way you select and arrange words and sentencesii. Roles can influence are styleiii. We have preferences in the way we talkc. Gender and Languagei. Men respond to more scientific, mathematical, informative straightto the point approaches ii. Women respond to more anecdotes, metaphors and story tellingiii. Rapport talk1. generally used by women2. designed to lead to intimacy with others, match experiences, and establish relationshipsiv. Report Talk1. generally used by men2. speaks goal is to maintain status, demonstrate knowledge, keep center stagev. Different gender styles leads to difficult communication among gendersvi. Example: Woman tells husband a man insulted her1. man would want to find a solution, beating him up2. women want empathy, the man to console hervii. Women use more questions and justifiersviii. Men more likely to interrupt or be demandingd. Powerful talki. Talk that comes directly to the pointii. Does not use hesitation or qualificationiii. Non existence of certain communication behaviors1. Hedges and qualifiersa. I guess, and kind of2. Hesitationa. Uh and you know3. Tag questionsa. Comments that start as statements but end as questionsb. It would be nice to go on a picnic, wouldn’t it?iv. Use active rather than passive language1. The boy hit the ball (Active)2. The ball was hit by the boy (Passive)e. Culture and Languagei. Direct translations are sometimes difficult and can alter meaning of the message1. The Nova cara. Means doesn’t go in Spanish direct translationii. Dialect1. habitual language of a community2. unique grammatical structures, words, and figures of speech3. Imagine Spanish learned in a classroom compared to the normal slang and pronunciations in Colombia4. Dialect is appropriate win a group with a strong ethnic identity5. Dialects portray certain ideas, British dialect could be seen as intelligent.iii. Speaking and Writing1. Speaking and writing are different because communication is always going on and you can adjust what you say according to response of listener2. Paralanguagea. Vocal cues, or the way you say your wordsb. Non verbal component3. Meaning can be influenced by pitch, rate, volume, how often you pause4. Writing is more careful, more complex words can be used, and can be revisedVI. Working on Your Communicationa. What do you want to say?i. Make sure you relate to who you are speaking understand their emotions and understanding of the words to better choose what words you useb. How do you want to say it?i. Clarity1. that aspect or characteristic of style by means of which a thought is presented that is immediately understood depending on the precision and simplicity of the language2. important when little opportunity for feedback3. Jargona. Language so specialized it is inappropriate to use outside field where it origincated4. Slanga. Language that is not clear to everyone5. Use complicated words only when they help make your meaning more clearii. Vividness1. aspect or