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Language and worldview The nature of | the language Language is symbolic The famous linguist Ferdinand de Saussure observed the axbitrary symbols and found out that the representation is not necessary ot inherent between the spoken word (iyni/e:) and concept ( Example the word 5 isa code that represents the number of fingers we have on each hand because we agtee it does San language topes “staan Aboriginal Hanbeds of different forms of ASL Have evolved independent axourd the wold @ joverned age is Phonological sules tules governing the way in which sounds ate pronounced in the language Exaunple: champagne, double, and occasion have the same meanings in French and English but, have different punctuations Syntactic vules tes that ate govern the way symbols can be arranged as opposed to the meanings of those symbols Linguist emphasize that is crucial to view such dialect as diferent rather than deficient forms of English Example; whiskey makes you sick when you've well. or whiskey, when you ve sick, makes you well Somatic vules Rules that govern the meaning of language as opposed to a structure helps us understand the meaning of individual words but they ofter do not explain how language operates in every day life ‘Without the rule of communication it wil be impossible; Each of us would use symbols in unique ways and no one would understand Pragmatic wiles rules that govern interpretation of language in terms of its social context ‘When everyone understands the rules and uses them smooth communication is possible Some individuals create theit own tules: The teasing and jokes exchanged with gusto might be considered tasteless ot offensive in another relationship The wiles work as long as the communicators understand the othets intentions Language use is not objective and universal its subjective and personal Eoanples eI gut a speeding ticket last eight when SI homowed yor ete The fe $500 b: Oh, Im sorry! 4 eonfsed) ‘Why ate you sins? JU pay the fi. 1 lennayed): Iwasn’t epologiing bese you dane to fst. Imeant Jn soy to hae you go the tke pet “Im sorry” = empathy and could mean “J'm sad it happened to you” ot “9 apologize” (Connotations) the ideas or feelings it invokes are more important than its (denotations) dictionary meaning Linguistic relativity the notion that language individuals use (oxert)a strong influence on theit perception 150 yeas theorists have planned and worked out the understanding Bilingual pecker sem to thnk diffaent when changing languages In one study: French Americans were asked to interpret a series of pictures when they spoke in French theix descriptions were tomantic and emotional then speaking in English “neutral tongue” Sapir-whorf hypothesis the best known declaration of linguistic relativism based on the work of Benjamin whorf and Edward Sapie ‘Whorfs « amataxs linguists foun that the language spoken by Hopi native Amesicans represented a view of vealty thats chamaticallycifent fom how seater of other languages view the wold Some languages contain terns that have no English equivalents: examples Schaaenfeue (German): the happiness fl wie thinking of another's misostane Menesvashi (Japanese): the proces of informally fing ot the opinions of ll the people imohed with an isu bfore making «cision Lagom (Swedsh) just the sight amount, 0 a baleeed ie Lao (Mandern): respetfel em wsedfor older people, showing thes importance in the fy andi society Rechlito (Rasa): sentiment flings fon someone you no longs love Gigil (Tagalog): the ivresistible urge to hug something unbearably cute The potential impact of linguistic relativity on interpersonal communication is significant Examples: “you make me angry” = your anget is the other person's fault , “Iget angry with you" ~"I" message that takes vesponsibilty for your emotions Changing your language can reduce defensiveness in the other person and refame how you see the situation Sexism and racism Sexist languaye words phases an expression that unnecessarily diferentiate between females and mates or exclude, trivialized, or diminished on the basis of one’s sex ‘Well intentioned assextions can perpetuate by flaming one sexas a given standard for the other Example “gel ve es good as hoy at math” suggest that ths lls more common ot nasal for boys than gi Linguistic terms can subtly stereotype men and women Evamples: A woman mothering her caehen focuses on her rusting behavior. A man fathead cid highlights only his biologie vl Sexist language can stigmatize women Examples th term unmavtied mothers common but vey file mention of anmuaied fathers de to no stigona for men “Attitude again woman” is significant regarding non sexist language Over 200 words signify promiscuous woman and 20 words against men Negative etttudes toward tranagende indviduas ave ao correlated with eater ful using gende-indasve language Eliminating sex-specific terms ot substituting neutral terms is one way to address the problem of sexist language Examples: fiest year student “freshman” and waiter/waitress “sewer” Revst language language that classes members of one racial gcup as sapvor anothers as infon Some people claim that the racist statements for a. “slip of the tongue” and others pass off offensive language as “just a joke” People axqu tht racam involed deberate,demecning, insuing, and hte speech Tisst step is avoiding unintentionally racist language is eliminating potentially offensive labels Precision and vagueness Clasity isthe goal: we need language skills to make ideas understandable to others sometimes, we want to be less than perfetly cleat higuos longue language consisting of words and phrases that have more than one commonly acgpted defirton Can be humorous misunderstandings, serious and amusing Examples Palie Begin Campaign to Ren Down Jayualhes Teacher Sikes idle Kids 20-Mear Friendship Ends atthe Alar It’s difcul to catch and clarify every instance of ambiguous language Abstraction Ake convenient ways of generalizing about similarities between several objects, people, ideas, ot events. A way to ask for feedback station luliks a vange of more-abstract to less- abstract terms describing an event or object ‘Vague language to help communicators save face and exhibit politeness Exanple: “don't worry it wasn’t the end of the World” a tue statement but less pacific than saying “to tell you the truth J was mad at the time but I have cooled off now” Although the vagueness does have its uses highly abstract language can cause several types of problems ‘Makes it harder to understand the message Example: telling the hairstylist “shorter” or “more casual” without any specife details Overly abstract language ean lead to stereotypes Someone's one bad experience blames on entive group Exaunples: “men are no good”, “Vew Vorkers ate all tude” Criticism is tated mote favorable than delivered in concrete rathe than abstract terms Veagueness isn't appreciated unless it's positive behavior: if you ate going to praise someone make it cleat and concrete as possible ‘Make your language and thinking less abstract and mote cleat by learning to form behavioral desetiption of your problems, goals, appreciations, complaints, and request Euphemism Euphemisms a pleasant term substituted for a blunt one to sofen the impact of unpleasant information Froma Gueck word meaning “to wse words of good omen” Avoids a divect, literal veferences an event, substituting texms describing its consequences, related events, and metaphors Typically used to save face, softening the impact of information that might be unpleasant for oneself and for the other person ‘May be ineffective Example: people described as having special needs tend to be viewed more negatively than those described as having a disability ov a specific disability People use it when diseussing taboo topies ot talking with people with higher status as a way to avoid offending him Relative language Relative language Words that gain theie meaning by comparison Examples: fast/slow, near/far, short/long Using relative terms without explain can lead to communication problems One way to make words more measurable is turning them into numbers. Examplesrate 1-10 for your pain Evaluative language (emotive language) Eooluative language language tht conveys the senders attitude rather than simply offing an objetivedesepton If You If You Approve, Say | Disapprove, Say thrifty cheap traditional old-fashioned extrovert loudmouth cautious coward progressive radical information propaganda eccentric crazy Language reflects the speaker's uillingness to take responsibilty fox his/her beliefs, feelings, actions Says a lot about the person and shape the tone of a relationship Avcountable language “IE” statements A statement in which “it” replaces the petsonal pronoun “9” making the statement ess ditect and mote evasive “T lnguage language that uses fast person singular pronoun can identify the source of the message and take responsibilty Communicators who uses “it” statements avoid ownership of a message Exanples “Ws wong when you've lt.” pe ate. “S mwoxted when you “W's aba ide.” “Sedon't think that's «god dea.” “Ws aproblon.” “Sseeit as problem.” But” statements “But” statements A statement in which the second half cancels the meaning of the first Can be face, saving strategy worth using at times The goal can be clear and sometimes the most responsible approach will deliver the central idea without the distraction Let's you acknowledge both parts of the statement without contradicting yourself Evanples “You've wally a get person, but thinkswe ought stop seeing each othe.” "Uru 've dove good wok for us, but we ve going to have tot you go.” “This paper has some good ies, but 9m ving ia grade of D bacse it's late.” ni ji and lan, Tyo qe “Vou” language A statement that expresses ot implies a judgment of the other person Positive judgements rarely causes problems and shows concein and support for others without judgment Can imply that the subject of the complaint is doing something wrong Likely to crouse defensiveness Evans “Moa ef thi place a mes!” “Vou dil’ theep you promis “You's wally ede sometines!” “ID” language provides a mote accurate and less proactive way to express a complaint. Reflects position without being overly self-absorbed Vou can desetibe yout reaction to someone's behavior, taking responsibilty fox yout statement without expressing judgement Even the best constructed and best delivered “i” essage won't always receive a non-defensive tesponse Fol baarpanpeflxcreanildty Learly and dectly eyresing one's thoughts, flings, and wants to anather peson Composed of diferent “9” statements ling et nbassascel wher Dheat you fone I'm afi they I hink I'm “Because I was witiny fox you to pick me up this moening, was late for class and wound up geting chewed out by the profesor. That's why I got song.” “Bhaventbeon wry ah c with me isthe past faves, Sm oofised about how you fel about me.” ionate because J ve noticed that you Silfabsosed people “eonsssatonal nascisits” can be identi by thes constant use of fst person singular pronouns “LL language The use of first person plural pronouns to include othets either appropriately ot in appropriately Thing “we” pronouns can be presumptuous and een demanding xy) t better than those who tely mote heavily on “i” and “you “pronouns Can build a constructive climate and suggest a “we are in this together” orientation (verbal immedi Couple to use “we” language are more satigfied and manage cony Includes others without speaking to them and your mix of pronouns will be close to ideal Pron | Pros Cons Recommendations oun 
