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Chapter 4 (Vocabulary (Language: A collection of symbols, governed by…
Chapter 4
Vocabulary
Language: A collection of symbols, governed by rules and used to convey messages between individuals.
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Denotative Meanings: Formally recognized definitions for words, as in those found in a dictionary.
Connotative Meanings: Informal, implied interpretations for words and phrases that reflect the people, culture, emotions, and situations involved.
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Syntactic Rules: Rules that govern the ways in which symbols can be arranged as opposed to the meanings of those symbols.
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Convergence: Accommodating one's speaking style to another person, usually a person who is desirable or has higher status.
Divergence: A linguistic strategy in which speakers emphasize differences between their communicative style and that of others to create distance.
Linguistic Intergroup Bias: The tendency to label people and behaviors in terms that reflect their in-group or out-group status.
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Slang: Language used by a group of people whose members belong to a similar coculture or other group.
Jargon: Specialized vocabulary used as a kind of shorthand by people with common backgrounds and experience.
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Abstract Language: Language that lacks specificity or does not refer to observable behavior or other sensory data.
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Emotive Language: Language that conveys an attitude rather than simply offering an objective description.
Euphemism: A mild or indirect term or expression used in place of a more direct but less pleasant one.
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Key Ideas
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Meanings are in people, not words.
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Misunderstandings can occur when words are equivocal, meaning that they have multiple different definitions.
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Personal Connections
I use a different dialect when communicating with others via text (lol, omg, hmu, etc.)
I notice that I speak more "professionally" at work or when I'm around older adults, but when I'm with my friends I tend to speak more casually.
In my favorite reality show, Love Island UK, I've noticed that the contestants who are predominantly from the UK use much different jargon than people from the US do.
I often find myself using abstract language when I'm asked about my opinion on something I don't really like. I do this to avoid hurting people's feelings even when sometimes it's better to be brutally honest.
Often people get confused when I use terms like "dude" and "bro" when talking to my friends (female or male), since those are more commonly seen as "masculine" terms.
Examples from the Text
Myron L. Fox gave a completely false speech about "Mathematical Game Theory as Applied to Physical Education" but delivered the speech in a way that sounded professional. The audience was convinced that everything he said was true based on how credible he sounded.
The argument of whether or not Twitter is dumbing down the English language has initiated much controversy. Some people think that it is changing the English language in a negative way while others argue that it enhances creativity.
The notion of equivocal misunderstandings explains why men sometimes continue to make sexual advances even when women express that they are unwilling to participate in that behavior.
The "n-word" is an example of how a term has been reappropriated by many, but not all, members of the black community.
In South Korea, the term "son of a dog" is an insult whereas in North America, calling someone "dog" or "dawg" is a symbol of friendship.