Chapter 12- Language

Figures of Thought

Description, Stories, Comparisons, Alliteration, Onomatopia, Personaification, Reference

Humans as Symbol Makers

Humans are defined by sharing the ability to communicate through symbols.

Clarity, Rhythm, Vividness

Maxims- A concise statement of a principle, often in the form of a proverb Parallelism- allows audience to follow along Antithesis- Pairing of opposites Rhythm- The sense of movement or pacing within a speech Repetition- repeating a key phrase or word Vividness- if language enables listeners to develop mental pictures Description- details that suggest a mental picture of a person, event, or situation Simile- a statement that is made to show how one thing is like another Metaphor- Discussing one thing as though it were another Alliteration- repetitive consonant sounds Onomatopoeia- use of sounds that resemble what they describe Personification- discussion of abstract or complex ideas in human terms

Figures of Sound

Repetition, Parallel, Antithesis, Inversions of words,

Right level of Style

The grand style is majestic, lofty, and formal. The plain style is simple and colloquial. The middle style falls somewhere in the middle

Magic of naming

Through Identification is brings a psychological feeling of closeness between speaker and the audience.

Variety, Balance, Conciseness

Variety-will keep any particular technique from calling attention to itself and will continue to keep a good impression about the speech. Balance- An overall balance among available resources will enhance the style of the speech. Conciseness- Get straight to your point. Audiences value messages that are brief, stripped of adornment and straight to the point.

Oral Style vs. Written Style

With a written presentation you can refer back to the text to gain more understanding and clarity. However, with Oral presentations the speech is given once and then it's gone. the audience will only get one shot to understand the information. Therefore, you must keep these factors in mind. Simplicity- Using shorter and common words. Sentences shorter and less complex Repetition- Creates emphasis, highlight main ideas, allows audience to follow your idea. Informality-Sometimes in a speech contractions and short sentences are often used. reflexivity- You tend to use yourself more to be more involved in the speech. Shorter Phrases- try to avoid full complex sentence to make it easier for your audience to follow.