Language

1. Language Language is like plumbing, we only pay attention when something goes wrong

2. The Crazy English Language! • Why isn’t phonetic spelled the way it sounds? • Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways? • When we transport something by car it is called a “shipment,” but when we transport something by ship is called “cargo?”

3. The Crazy English Language! • Quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square and guinea pigs are neither from Guinea nor are a pig. • Plural of tooth is teeth, plural of booth? • One goose, two geese, is cheese the plural of choose? • If teachers taught, why don’t preachers praught?

4. Language has Power

5. Language is Symbolic • There is only an arbitrary connection between words and what they mean.

6. Language is Rule Governed • Syntactic Rules- Arrangement • Semantic Rules- Governs Meaning • Pragmatic Rules- Appropriateness

7. Language is Subjective • I. A. Richards Notion: “Words do not have meaning, people have meaning”

8. Language and Worldview • Linguistic Relativism: Culture is shaped and reflected by the language its members speak. • Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: An example of Linguistic Relativism created by linguist Benjamin Whorf and anthropologist Edward Sapir. • The English Language has three verb tenses: past, present and future. This shapes our world view.

9. The Impact of Language • Names are more than a means of identification, they shape the way we see ourselves. • Example: Star vs. Estrella 

10. The Impact of Language • Affiliation: We use this term to describe how we use language to “affiliate” with other people (includes vocabulary, rate of speech, pauses etc.) • Convergence: Adapting one’s style of communication to match those around him/her. • Divergence: Setting yourself apart from others which emphasize differences.

11. Example: Convergence vs. Divergence • Holiday Inn Express Commercial – YouTube • AT&T Commercial - YouTube

12. The Impact of Language • Powerless Language:includes: Hedges, Hesitations, Polite Forms, Tag Questions, Disclaimers. • These make a person appear less authoritative and even less confident.

13. Powerless Language Examples Hedges Hesitations Polite Forms • I’m kinda disappointed… • I think we should… • I guess I’d like to… • Uh, can I have a minute.. • I wish you---er---would… • Excuse me, would you please?...

14. Powerless Language Examples Tag Questions Disclaimers • Don’t you think?... • Does this make sense?... • I shouldn’t say this… • You should know…

15. Sexism & Racism • Sexist Language: includes words or phrases that emphasize differences between men/women in language. Examples: • Mothered vs. Fathered • Working Mother vs. Working Father • Unmarried Mothers vs. Unmarried Fathers

16. Example Sexist Language • male nurse mocking - YouTube

17. Uses and Abuses of Language • Ambiguous Language: words and phrases that have more than one commonly accepted definition. Example: • 20 Year Friendship ends at the Altar

18. Funny Language Errors! Actual Church Bulletins • Don’t let worry kill you—let the church help. • Tuesday at 4 p.m. there will be an ice cream social. All ladies giving milk will please come early.

19. Uses and Abuses of Language • Abstract Language: Convenient ways of generalizing. “Out Late with friends” • Euphemism: Terms substituted for other words. “She kicked the bucket” Static Evaluation Generalizations that tend to stick even if they are incorrect. “New Yorkers are rude!”

20. Uses and Abuses of Language Equivocal Language: More than one commonly accepted definition. (Thesaurus) Example: PERIOD Relative Words: All about the person using it. BIG vs. SMALL

21. The Language of Responsibility • It Statements Replaces the I with It “It bothers me when you are late” vs. “I am worried when you are late”

22. The Language of Responsibility • But Statements Cancels preceding statement “You are a great person, but I think we should see other people.”

23. The Language of Responsibility • Questions Hidden Agenda “What are you doing on Friday night?

24. The Language of Responsibility • You Language Expresses the judgment of the other person. “You are such a slob!”

25. The Language of Responsibility • We Language Speaks for the other person. “We aren’t keeping this place clean are we?!” “We need a solution to this problem.”

26. QUESTION… What are the major differences between men and women in conversation?

27. Gender: CONTENT MEN WOMEN • Music, current events, sports, business • Gossip about sports, media personalities • Personal/Domestic subjects, relationships, family, health • Gossip about family, friends

28. Gender: REASONS MEN WOMEN • Make conversation fun, joking and good natured teasing • “Like” same sex conversation • Feelings, relationships, personal problems • Talk IS the essence of relationships • “Need” same sex conversation

29. Gender: CONVERSATIONAL STYLE MEN WOMEN • Interrupt • Use judgmental adjectives “Reading can be a drag” • Direct, succinct, task oriented • Ask more questions • Use more intensive verbs “he’s REALLY cute” • Indirect, elaborate

30. Example: Language Men vs. Women • The woman language translator - YouTube

31. Your new Skill: “I” Language • Describe how that behavior makes you feel. • Describe the other person’s behavior (proof) • Talk about some consequences as a result of that behavior for you.

32. I Language Example I get embarrassed [feeling] when you talk bad about my bad grades in front of our friends [other person’s behavior]. I’m afraid that they will think I’m stupid [consequence].