IIC Chapter 7 Verbal Communication and Culture

Language and ethnic identity

-language is. a vital aspect of any ethnic group's identity -the language or dialect we speak also influences the way we are perceived by others

Two-cultures theory

-men usually use verbal communication to report about the world. -women use verbal communication for rapport, in order to establish a human connection.

Language reinforces social stereotypes

-women are often defined by appearance or relationships -men are commonly defined by activities, accomplishments, or positions.

Lustig and Koester identified five interrelated components of language

phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.

Nativists (language)

rationalist, language must be innate

affective communication style

receiver-focused and process-oriented.

Succinct communication style

simple assertions and even silence are valued.

Morphology

the combination of basic units that carry meaning (morphemes) to create words (the word happy contains one morpheme meaning to feel cheerful)

direct/indirect communication style

the extent of explicity expressed in a message.

personal/contextual communication style

the extent to which the speaker emphasizes the self as opposed to his or her role.

syntax

the grammatical and structural rules of language

pragmatics

the impact of language on human perception and behavior (focuses on how language is used in a social context).

translation

the process of converting a source text, either spoken or written, into a different language.

Interpretation

the process of verbally expressing what is said in another language.

Elaborate/succinct communication style

the quantity of talk a culture values, and reflects a culture's attitudes towards talk and silence.

direct communication style

the speaker's needs, wants, desires, and intentions are explicitly communicated

indirect communication style

the speaker's true intentions or needs are only implies or hinted at during the conversation.

semantics

the study of the meanings of words, and the relationships between words and the things they refer to.

elaborate style

the use of rich, expressive, and embellished language in everyday conversation.

Structural linguistics

views language as a coherent system whereby every item acquires meaning in relation to the other items in the system.

contextual communication style

oriented by status and role

neuliep identified five common characteristics of verbal codes

1. all languages have some way of naming objects, places, or things. 2, all language have a way of naming action 3. all languages have a way of stating the negative, constructing interrogatives and differentiating between singular and plural. 4. all languages have a systematic set of sounds, combined with a set of rules for the sole purpose of creating meaning and communicating, with no natural or inherent relationship between the sounds and their accompanying alphabet. 5. all language have a set of formal grammatical rules for combining sounds and sequencing words to create meaning.

Pidgins and Creoles

Pidgin: system of communication developed among people that do not speak the same language, that need to communicate (often for trade reasons) Creole: full-fledged language that is developed out of a pidgin when the pidgin becomes the first language of a new generation

ethnolinguistic vitality

The degree of prestige, acceptability, and importance attached to a group's language.

Gender-neutral language

a verbal communication style that discourages common usages that are thought of as sexist, such as the use of masculine pronouns in referring to persons of either sex.

personal communication style

amplifies the individual identity of the speaker

Nominalists

argue that our perception of external reality is shaped not by language but by material reality.

Relativists

believe that our language determines our ideas, though patterns, and perceptions of reality.

Language and national identity

concerned with the integrity of the national language, territory, and religion.

Gudykunst and Ting-Toomey identified four communication styles:

direct/indirect, elaborate/succinct, personal/contextual, and instrumental/affective

phonolgy

explores how sounds are organized in a language ("k" and "au" form cow)

instrumental communication style

goal-oriented and sender-focused

Communication style

how language is used to convey meaning to others.

Translation involves finding

lexical, conceptual, idiomatic and experiential equivalence.

discoruse

not only refers to the speech and writing of people, but also reflects the social systems of the society in which it occurs.

Constructivists (language)

oppose the idea of universal grammar. involves unveiling the patterns of language, and thus requires interaction with a structured environment.

instrumental/affective communication styles

whether communication is sender-focused and goal-oriented or receiver-focused and process-oriented.