Chapter 4 How We Use Language
Reference
Connotation
Phonological
Correct pronunciation of a word
Pragmatic
Deal with implications or interpretations of statements
Abuse of language is...
Defamation, hate speech and profanity
Referent
Denotation
Humor...
Diffuse stress, Bring us closes to people, Make social interactions more pleasant, Reinforce people's feeling of initmacy
Equivocation language does what to speaker's intentions?
Disguises through strategic ambiguity
Syntactic
Govern the order of words within phrases and clauses
Semiotics
Icon, Index, and Symbol
Index
If signifier is there, signified is too
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
Language shapes reality
Defamation
Language that harms s person's reputation or gives a negative image
Semantic
Meaning of individual words
Clichés
Novel at one time and have lost effect from overuse
Gossip is...
Often negative and serves to strengthen social bonds
Symbol
Only connection between signifier and signified consensus
Rules of langauge
Phonological, Syntactic, Semantic, and Pragmatic
Abstract word
Refers to broad category or organizing concept of objects
What is important for speaker to do?
Separate opinions from facts
Function of language...
Separates us from others, motivates action, expresses who we are, connects us to others. Express affection, provide comfort/support, and share social information.
Icon
Signifier looks like signified
Language is...
Sometimes unclear, governed by rules and bound by context, Layered in meaning, Structured system of symbols used for communicating meaning, Arbitrary and can mean whatever we chose it to mean, Can enhance or diminish our credibility, the extent to which others perceive us to be competent/trustworthy, Identifies us and names us, Values of society are reflected in use of it, Bound by culture, Varies by culture, Words represent objects
Semantic Triangle
Symbol, referent, and reference
Loaded language
Words with strong positive or negative connotation