Language

1
Language

• Barrier and Bridge

2
Language What is it?!

• A body of words and systems for their use common
  to a people of the same community or nation.
  (Random House Dictionary)
• But can you trust a dictionary?!
• A dictionary is a history of the meaning of
  words it is not a lawbook. (Semantics The
  Study of Meaning)

3
The Complexity of Language

• W. Nelson Francis, in The Nature of Language,
  describes languages complexity
• Language...
• Is arbitrary (symbolic)
• Is conventional (rule governed)
• Is culturally transmitted
• Has a multiple structure

4
Words have impact

• Language shapes attitudes
• Language reflects attitudes
• Language can lead to misunderstanding

5
Language shapes attitudes

• Impacts our perceptions of self and others
• Names
• Roles/functions
• Impacts our credibility
• Communicates level of status

6
Language reflects attitudes

• Perceived power
• Powerless speech mannerisms
• Hedges
• Hesitations
• Tag questions
• Disclaimers
• Rising inflections
• A level of attraction and interest
• Demonstrative pronoun choice
• Sequential placement

7
Language reflects attitudes

• Disruptive language
• Fact/opinion confusion
• Emotive language
• Language of responsibility
• It statements
• But statements
• Questions (used to avoid making a declaration)
• I and You

8
Language can lead to misunderstanding

• Semantic rules
• Syntactic rules
• Pragmatic rules

9
Semantic rules (understanding words)

• Equivocation
• Relative language
• Static evaluation
• Abstraction
• Euphemisms

10
Syntactic Rules (understanding structure)

• Every language makes use of rules
• Grammar
• Spelling
• Punctuation
• What happens when the rules arent followed?

11
Pragmatic Rules (understanding context)

• Colloquialisms
• Cliches
• Slang
• Jargon
• Regionalisms