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Using Appropriate Language

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Presentation on theme: "Using Appropriate Language"— Presentation transcript:

1 Using Appropriate Language
Chapter 37 9/17/2010 English 1301

2 Appropriate language What is appropriate language?
Language that suits your writing situation (subject, purpose, and audience) - Language varies depending on the context in which you are speaking and writing English 1301

3 Appropriate language Example pg. 502
Some patients decide to bag counseling because their shrinks seems strung out. Some patients decide to abandon counseling because their therapists seem disturbed. 11/27/2018 English 1301

4 Standard American English
Dialect of English normally expected and used in school, business, government, the professions, and the communications media. Always consult a dictionary to make sure you are in doubt about a word. 11/27/2018 English 1301

5 Academic Writing - appropriate language
Use standard American English Avoid stereotypes Avoid sexist language Be sensitive when labeling groups See examples on pg. 503 11/27/2018 English 1301

6 texting, tweeting, emailing, IM’ing
Online communication Revise the shortcuts Rapid communication texting, tweeting, ing, IM’ing Not appropriate for academic writing 11/27/2018 English 1301

7 Online communication Sentence fragments
Every sentence must have a subject and a predicate Example: The wind blows. (correct). The wind blowing. (incorrect) 11/27/2018 English 1301

8 Online communication Missing punctuation
Check for missing commas within sentences, use standard punctuation marks. Example: The city needs healthier businesses, new schools, and improved housing. 11/27/2018 English 1301

9 Online communication Missing apostrophes in possessives and contractions Example: Diane’s assignments are too long. The Jones’ dog is missing. We can’t arrive before noon. 11/27/2018 English 1301

10 Online communication Missing capital letters beginning of sentences
proper nouns and adjectives, titles Example: Proper noun - Stephen King Proper adjective – Houstonian Title – President Obama 11/27/2018 English 1301

11 Online communication Nonstandard abbreviations and spellings Examples: 2 too or to b4 before b/c or bc because 11/27/2018 English 1301

12 Use slang only when appropriate
Slang – novel or colorful expressions Slang: Many students start out pretty together but then get weird. Revised: Many students start out with clear goals but then lose their direction. The problem: Too flippant or imprecise for effective communication 11/27/2018 English 1301

13 Colloquial language How you speak in everyday language.
Okay for informal writing Can help with desired emphasis Doesn’t provide exactness needed for formal professional writing Avoid mixed diction – combo of standard and colloquial words See example pg. 505 11/27/2018 English 1301

14 Regionalisms Expressions or pronunciations peculiar to a particular area Use when addressing local readers Example: Southerners “recon” New Yorkers “stand on” a line. 11/27/2018 English 1301

15 Neologisms Words created so recently that they have not come into established use Some become accepted as a part of general vocabulary Ex. Prequel, shockvertising, semi-entertaining, blogging Make sure your readers understand these words 11/27/2018 English 1301

16 Technical Words Communication between specialists
Communicate precisely Meaningless to non-specialists Provide an explanation Use with care 11/27/2018 English 1301

17 Indirect and Pretentious writing
Best writing Use small, plain, direct words are best Avoid euphemisms Avoid double talk Avoid pretentious writing 11/27/2018 English 1301

18 Indirect and Pretentious writing
Euphemism Un-offensive word that a writer or speaker substitutes for a word deemed potentially offensive or too blunt Example: Died vs. passes away Appear when writers want to soften the truth 11/27/2018 English 1301

19 Indirect and Pretentious writing
Doublespeak or weasel words - Language meant to confuse or to be misunderstood categorical inaccuracy : a lie voluntary severance : fired or laid off the job senior citizen or the chronologically advantaged: old 11/27/2018 English 1301

20 Indirect and Pretentious writing
Writing that is excessively showy Any writing that is more elaborate than its subject requires See example pg. 507 11/27/2018 English 1301

21 Sexist and other biased language
Language can reflect and perpetuate hurtful prejudices toward groups of people Racial, ethnic, religious, age, and sexual groups Eliminating sexist language pg. 508 Steer clear of it. 11/27/2018 English 1301

22 Use appropriate labels
Avoid labels that disparage the person or group A person with emotional problems isn’t a mental patient Use names for racial, ethnic, and other groups that reflect the preferences of each group’s members African-American, latino/latina, people with disabilities not handicapped. Identify a person’s group only when it is relevant to the point your making 11/27/2018 English 1301

23 Using Exact Language Chapter 38 9/17/2010 English 1301

24 Avoid mistakes in word choice
Make sure your words have the meanings you intend (see ex. Pg. 512) Make sure that any word suggested by a spelling checker is the one you mean Use idioms correctly – Idioms - expressions whose meanings cannot be determined from the words in them or whose component words cannot be predicted by any rule of grammar English idioms: put up with, plug away at, make off with Pg. 518 11/27/2018 English 1301

25 Using the right word Use the right word for your meaning. Must Understand: Denotation Connotation 11/27/2018 English 1301

26 Using the right word Denotation Thing or idea word refers to
Distinguish b/t similar-sounding words that have different denotations (see ex. pg. 514) Homonyms – words that sound alike but have a different meaning and spelling Examples: principle/principal rain/reign/rein 11/27/2018 English 1301

27 Using the right word Connotation
Related meanings that evoke specific feelings Shape readers’ responses Powerful tools for writers Home/house skinny/thin child/brat fat/plump firm/stubborn cry/weep relatives/family 11/27/2018 English 1301

28 Abstract & concrete ,General & specific
Use words that tell readers what you want them to know Abstract words beauty, inflation, management, culture, liberal Concrete words Things you can know by your 5 senses (see, taste, feel, hear, smell) General words – name classes or groups of things Specific words – limit a general class 11/27/2018 English 1301

29 Abstract & concrete ,General & specific
General/Abstract (pg. 517) Car Flower Teacher Pretty 11/27/2018 English 1301

30 Figurative language Figures of speech
Departs from the literal meanings (denotations) of words Compares very different ideas or objects 11/27/2018 English 1301

31 Figurative language 2 common figures of speech simile metaphor
Both compare 2 things of different classes – often one abstract one concrete 11/27/2018 English 1301

32 Figurative language Simile Metaphor Comparison is explicit
Usually begins with like or as Example: slept like a log Metaphor Implies the comparison without using like or as Example: Life is a jungle. 11/27/2018 English 1301

33 Figurative language Other figures of speech Personification Hyperbole
Treats ideas and objects as if they were human Example: The economy consumes my money. Hyperbole Deliberately exaggerates Example: He yelled so loud that his voice carried to the next country. Avoid mixed metaphors Writer combines 2 or more incompatible figures .see pg. 521 11/27/2018 English 1301

34 Use fresh, not trite expressions
Phrases so old and so often repeated they become stale. See pg. 522 for list Revise by using words of your own or restate the idea in plain language. 11/27/2018 English 1301

35 Writing Concisely Eliminate empty phrases (full list pg. 526)
Examples: at all times = always at the present time = now in order to = to due to the fact that = because for the purpose of = for 11/27/2018 English 1301

36 Cut unnecessary repetition
Saying the same thing twice Planned repetition can emphasize a point Unplanned can make your writing confusing Wordy: Many unskilled workers without training in a particular job are unemployed and do not have any work. Concise: Many unskilled workers are unemployed 11/27/2018 English 1301

37 Cut unnecessary repetition
Many phrases say the same thing twice Examples: Circle around the future to come Continue on repeat again Few in number, return again Surrounding circumstances These are redundant b/c the main word already implies the underlined word. 11/27/2018 English 1301


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