Inter-Act,
th
13
Edition
Chapter 4
Verbal Messages
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Chapter 4 Learning Objectives
The verbal parts of a message
 The characteristics of language
 How the meaning of a verbal message in
conveyed and understood
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Verbal Fundamentals
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Utterance
◦ A complete unit of talk that is bounded by the
speaker’s silence
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Verbal messages
◦ The parts of an utterance that use language to
convey meaning
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Language
◦ A symbolic system used by people to communicate
verbal or written messages, including:
 Lexicon (words)
 Phonology (sounds)
 Grammar & Syntax (rules)
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Language Community
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Language community: group of people who
share a common language or collections of
dialects.
Dialect: form of the language spoken by a
specific culture or co-culture, understood
by the larger language community
Speech community: speak a common
dialect, particular style, observe common
linguistic norms or scripts
Idiolect: our personal vocabularies,
pronunciations and grammar and syntax
when talking or writing
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Characteristics of Language
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Arbitrary
Ambiguous
Abstract
Self-reflective
Changeable
Revealing
Hierarchical
*Thus, language is by nature an imprecise vehicle for
transferring meaning
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Meaning in the Language
Semantic meaning – the meaning derived from
the language itself
•Words – symbols used by a speech
community to identify things and make
statements about them
• Denotation: direct, explicit meaning of a word
• Connotation: feelings or evaluations we
personally associate with a word
*The size and accuracy of our vocabulary limit our ability to
express what we are thinking and feeling as well as our ability to
understand*
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Improving Message Semantics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Use specific, concrete, & precise language.
Date information to specify when true.
Index to qualify generalizations.
Adapt language to your listeners.
Demonstrate linguistic sensitivity.
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Examples:
The senator brought several things to the
meeting….The senator brought recent letters from
her constituency to the meeting. (Precise)
 Cancun is really popular with the college
crowd…When we were in Cancun two years ago, it
was really popular with the college crowd. (Dated)
 Men are stronger than women…Most men are
stronger than most women. (Indexed)
 Now your turn…. Think of some more examples…
Turn to your classmate and share your example!
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Abstract to Concrete
Art
abstract
Painting
Oil Painting
Impressionist Oil Painting
Renoir’s La Promenade
concrete
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Rephrase each statement so that it is
less abstract and more concrete:
Edward always finds something critical to say.
 Most people have lost any sense of personal
responsibility.
 Let’s keep our trip from getting too expensive.
 Politicians are dishonest.
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Dating Information
Specify a time that indicates when a given
fact was true or known to be true:
Palm Springs is really popular with the college
crowd.
When we were in Palm Springs two years ago, it
was really popular with the college crowd.
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Indexing Generalizations
Mentally or verbally account for individual
differences:
Because men are stronger than
women, Max is stronger than Barbara.
In general, men are stronger than women,
so Max is probably stronger than Barbara.
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Adapt Language to Listener
Use vocabulary the listener understands.
 Use jargon sparingly.
 Use slang appropriately .
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Linguistic Sensitivity
Monitor your language to avoid:
◦ Language that offends or alienates
◦ Pointing out a person’s race, sex, etc.
(nonparallel language)
◦ Prejudicial language
 Use inclusive language.
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Avoid
“Generic” Man
Inclusive language
Policeman
Police officer
Man-made
Synthetic
All of mankind
All the people in the
world
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How would you change the following terms to avoid sexism?
Fireman
 Waitress
 Repairman
 Stewardess
 Mailman
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Chairman
 Cleaning lady
 Congressman
 Anchorman
 Freshman
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Verbal Meaning within Conversations
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Pragmatic meaning: meaning that arises from
understanding the practical consequences of the
utterance
Speech act: verbal message that implies how the
listener should respond
Cooperative principle: conversational partners
are able to understand meaning because they
assume their partners are collaborating
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Conversation Guidelines to Improve Pragmatic
Understanding
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Quality maxim: Tell the truth, the whole truth, and only the
truth. (Ex: How do I look?)
Quantity maxim: Provide the “right” amount of information.
(Ex: What kind of bread to you want?)
Relevancy maxim: Relate what you say to the topic being
discussed. (Did you study?)
Manner maxim: Be orderly in what you say.
Acknowledge a violation. (I don’t know if this is true..)
Rely on cooperation when interpreting violations. (That will
happen…)
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Meaning within the Social/Cultural Context
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Sociolinguistic meaning: varies in meaning
according to norms and expectations of a
particular co-culture
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Idioms: expressions used by members of a
language or speech community whose
meaning differs from the usual meanings in
that combination of words:
“The gas I bought today cost an arm and a leg!”
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Direct Verbal Style
Indirect Verbal Style
• Openly states the
speaker’s intention
• Straightforward,
unambiguous
• Low-context
cultures
• Masks the speaker’s
true intention
• Roundabout, vague
message
• High-context
cultures
Verbal Styles
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Improving Sociolinguistic Understanding
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Develop intercultural competence.
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Practice mindfulness, the process of drawing
novel distinctions.
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Recognize, respect, and adapt to the
sociolinguistic practices of others.
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Homework:
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How can you improve your ability to use
language in producing or interpreting the
meaning of verbal messages? Identify a
problem you have forming or understanding
verbal messages. Review the guidelines for
improving the semantic, pragmatic, and
sociolinguistic meaning of verbal messages.
Select at least one of these as a goal.Then
using the interpersonal communication skills
you have studied in the course, write an
improvement plan, including specific
procedures and a way of assessing whether
you’ve reached your goal. Don’t forget to
review your assignment rubric!!!
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