The World of Words CH: 3

The Symbolic Nature of Language Words are symbols  Symbols are arbitrary  Symbols are ambiguous  Symbols are abstract

Principles of Verbal Communication Language and culture reflect each other The meanings of language are subjective Language use is rule-guided  Communication rules –Regulative rules –Constitutive rules Punctuation shapes meaning The Demand-Withdrawal Pattern

Symbolic Abilities Language defines phenomena  Language shapes perceptions  Language can totalize  Language shapes and reflects relationships

Symbolic Abilities Language evaluates  Language reflects and shapes perceptions  Language can be loaded  Language can degrade others Language organizes perceptions  Language allows abstract thought  Language can stereotype

Symbolic Abilities Language allows hypothetical thought  We can think beyond immediate, concrete situations  We live in three dimensions of time  We can foster personal growth

Symbolic Abilities Language allows self-reflection  Self-reflection allows us to monitor communication  Self-reflection allows us to manage our image

Speech Communities A speech community exists when people share norms about how to use talk and what purposes it serves.  Defined by shared understandings of how to communicate rather than countries or geographic locations

Gender Speech Communities Gender speech communities  Socialization into gender speech communities  Gendered communication in practice  Misunderstandings between gender speech communities

Guidelines for Improving Verbal Communication Engage in dual perspective Own your feelings and thoughts  Rely on I language rather than you languageI language rather than you language

Guidelines for Improving Verbal Communication Respect what others say about their feelings and thoughts Strive for accuracy and clarity  Be aware of levels of abstraction  Qualify language –Static evaluations –Mental indexing