Chapter 3
Verbal Communication
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Verbal Communication
• Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak and to speak
well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise speaks.
— Ben Jonson
• The notion that thought can be perfectly or even adequately
expressed in verbal symbols is idiotic.
— Alfred North Whitehead
• The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language
and no single language is capable of expressing all forms and
degrees of human comprehension.
— Ezra Pound
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Learning Objectives
• understand the importance of language
• see how language and culture are closely
linked
• understand cultural influences on meaning of
words
• understand the phenomenon of language
diversity
• understand cultural influences on discourse
patterns and thinking patterns
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Case 1
A Misunderstanding Caused by a Joke
Roger: Personal Executive, American
multinational firm
Rosalita: a Brazilian woman
•
•
Why was Roger confused by Rosalita’s
behavior?
Please give him an explanation.
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
While-Class Learning
A
The Importance of Language
B
Language and Culture
C
Culture and Word Meaning
D
Language Diversity
E
Discourse Patterns and Thought Patterns
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Text A. The Importance of Language
• the archives of history
• human’s one major characteristic: ability to use
language
• through it, make contact with outside world
• employ words to relate to the past, control over the
present, form images of the future
• use words to persuade, to exchange ideas, to express
views, to seek information, to express feelings
Understanding and appreciation of
verbal language
as it functions in intercultural
communication
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Case 2 Slogans and the importance of language
Pepsi
US: Come Alive with the Pepsi Generation.
Chinese: Pepsi brings your ancestors back
from the grave.
Chevy Nova 切维诺瓦 (汽车品牌)
Nova
no va
no go
• What can be reflected
concerning intercultural
communication?
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Text B. Pre-reading Activity
• How to translate these Chinese names
1. 阿吉
2. 阿祥
3. 阿如
4. 阿意
5. 乐洋洋
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Text B. Language and Culture
• 3 categories of relationship between language
and culture
1. Language ＋ Culture ＝ A Living Organization
↓
Flesh
↓
Blood
↓
Communication
2. Language ＋ Culture ＝ Swimming
↓
↓
↓
Swimming skills Water Communication
3. Language ＋ Culture ＝ Transportation
↓
↓
↓
Vehicle Traffic Light Communication
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Text B. Language and Culture
Relationship between language and culture
• Language is part of culture and plays a distinct
role in it.
• Language is influenced and shaped by culture, it
reflects culture.
• Language is both a means of communication
and a channel of culture.
• Language and culture are inseparable.
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Text B. Language and Culture
Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
• a influential, controversial theory
• language helps mould way of thinking, different
languages express unique ways of understanding
• language determine thinking patterns
• the greater structural differentiation is, the more
diverse conceptualization of the world
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Text B. two versions of Hypothesis
Linguistic Determinism (strong version)
• Decisive role of language as shaper of thinking
Linguistic Relativity (weak version)
• correlation between language, culture and
thought
• cross-cultural differences produced in ways of
thinking are relative
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Case 3 Snow
• What can be reflected concerning intercultural
communication?
• How does this relate to the Sapir-Whorf
Hypothesis?
• Can you find some similar examples in your
mother tongue?
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Text C. Culture and Word Meaning
1. Types of Word Meanings
2. Culturally Loaded Words
3. Culture Reflections on Words for Colors,
Animals and Plants
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Concept
•
•
•
•
two legs
two wings
a beak
features
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Label
• bird （英语）
• oiseau (法语）
• 鸟 （汉语）
• 鳥類 (日语)
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Words
• Cultural memories
• markers of cultural attention
• Encoded memories
phenomenon
concept
label
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
indication
• What is significant to society
• Interpretations of the world
• Social realities
Snow:
Chinese (Southern, Northern)
Eskimo
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
C1. Types of Word Meanings
• Denotative Meaning: objects and concepts
外延意义；指示意义
• Connotative Meaning: feelings and
associations
内涵意义
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Denotative meaning
从传统的词汇学角度来讲，词义包括概念意义和内涵
意义。
• 所谓概念意义，也叫外延意义或认知意义（
cognitive meaning），就是词汇的最基本意义，是
语言符号所代表的事物的基本特征的抽象概括，常
视为词语在字典中的定义或释义。
• Woman: [+HUMAN], [-MALE], [+ADULT]
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
connotative meaning
• 所谓内涵意义，是隐含于或附加在概念意义上的意义。
社会、群体或个人都可以使一个词具有内涵意义，有时
还是很不相同的内涵意义。这种差异既可以存在于两种
语言、两种文化之间，也可以存在于一种语言和一种文
化的亚文化之间。
• Woman:
• Dog:
• 英语中的goose（a man who is a stupid incompetent
fool）有“愚蠢、傻瓜”的内涵意义，但汉语中的“鹅”却
没有这种不好的内涵意义。
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
1a. Denotative meaning
Categories
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Real objects
Imaginary things
Qualities of objects
Feelings
States of being
Abstractions
Actions
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
1a. Denotative meaning
Words with one meaning:
• report card
Words with more than one meaning:
• pot
1) a rounded container
2) a sum of money
3) ruin or deterioration
4) slang for marijuana（大麻）
5）a shot in which a billiard （台球的）ball is pocketed
use the correct word in the correct context
to denote the intended meaning
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
1b. Connotative meaning
Culture determines connotations
• different connotations for different
individuals, depending on experiences
e.g. your report card
• carefully choose connotative words
• much easier: with many similar experiences;
more problematic: from distinct cultures
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
C2. Culturally Loaded Words
• Exact equivalent terms in any two languages
are rare.
• Five categories of words are based on the
degree of equivalence.
1) equivalents (or near equivalents)
2) no counterparts
3) the same objects or concepts on the surface
4) only partly equivalent
5) one or two terms in one, but many more in the other
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
2.1) equivalents (or near
equivalents)
• Terms in one language that have equivalents (or
near equivalents) in the other language.
• Comparatively there are fewer such words.
e.g. 1) fox
2) natural substances: scientific, technological terms
Clone sheep
Dolly is dead.
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
2.2) no counterparts
• 节气：a day marking one of the 24 divisions of the solar year in the
traditional Chinese calendar; solar terms
• 中医的经络：the meridian theories of Chinese medicine
• democracy： 1）the political orientation of those who favor government
by the people or by their elected representatives；2）a political system
in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect
people to represent them
• privacy
• brunch：combination breakfast and lunch; usually served in late
morning 早午餐
• car pool：a small group of car drivers who arrange to take turns driving
while the others are passengers
• commuter：someone who travels regularly from home in a suburb to
work in a city
• splashdown：a landing of a spacecraft in the sea at the end of a space
flight
在海中溅落，在海中降落
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
2.3) same objects/concepts on the surface,
different things/connotations
English
a person’s spouse：husband,
wife, fiancé, or fiancée
Chinese
爱人
Lover：a man in love with or
having a sexual relationship
with a woman outside of
marriage
a place where one works：a
单位：in China takes care
school, a company, a factory or of almost everything we
any other institution
are to encounter in our life
and work
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
2.4) only partly equivalent
• family：
1）a social unit living together
e.g. He moved his ~ to Virginia.
2）primary social group; parents and children
e.g. He wanted to have a good job before starting a ~.
• 家庭: 以婚姻和血缘为纽带的基本社会单位,包括父母、子女及生活
在一起的其他亲属
。
• play：
1）participate in games or sport
2）~ about/around (with sb/sth): (informal) have a sexual
relationship with sb, usually with sb who is not usual partner 鬼混
；私混
e.g. Her husband is always ~ing around. 总是在外沾花惹草。
• 玩：玩耍；玩弄
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
2.5) one or two in one, many more in the other
• 祖母，奶奶；外祖母，外婆
1）a social unit living together
e.g. He moved his ~ to Virginia.
2）primary social group; parents and children
e.g. He wanted to have a good job before starting a
~.
• grandmother 以婚姻和血缘为纽带的基本社会单位,包括
父母、子女及生活在一起的其他亲属。
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
2.5) one or two in one, many more in the other
English
Chinese
grandmother 祖母，奶奶；外祖母，外婆
teacher
教师, 老师, 教员, 导师, 师长, 先生
Translate:
Linda’s brother married Michael’s sister.
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
C3. Cultural Reflections on Words
• a. Words for Colors
• b. Words for Animals
• c. Words for Plants
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
3a. Words for Colors
• Colors have both similar and different meanings in
different languages. e.g. mourning: black? white?
Color
Meaning
English
Chinese
similar:
celebrations,
joyful occasions
red-letter days, paint the town red
开门红, 红榜, 红火, 又
红又专
different
red-handed: in the act of
committing a crime or other
reprehensible act 正在作案的；手
染血的
see red: become angry 突然发怒
，大怒
red-light district （美）红灯区（
城镇中的妓院区）
The Red Lantern
Story 红灯记
white lies: trivial, harmless, wellintentioned untruths
红白喜事：weddings
and funerals
RED
similar: purity,
WHITE innocence
different
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
3b. Words for Animals
• usually have same denotations in different languages, but
very often distinct connotations
Animal
dog
English
positive
Chinese
derogative 贬义的
lucky dog ，work 狗急跳墙, 狗仗人势, 狼心狗肺,
like a dog (拼命工作) 狗腿子
龙
dragon: firespitting monster
龙：symbol of emperor in
ancient
cruel and fierce
almighty（having unlimited
power 全能的；有无限权力的 ）
must be destroyed 望子成龙
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
3b. Words for Plants
• usually have same denotations in different languages, but
very often distinct connotations
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Case 4 终身大事
• Choose the correct meaning of “终身大事”.
a. 工作
b. 事业
c. 婚姻
d. 生死
• Why did the American guest have difficulty
figuring out the implied meaning?
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
While-Class Learning: Text D
• Language Diversity
1. Dialect
2. Pidgin
3. Lingua Franca
4. Taboo and Euphemism
5. Jargon
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
D1. Dialect
• a variant form of a language
• peculiar to a group of people
• dialects of English
British English
American English
Black English
ESL English
international English
regional and ethnic group variants of the language
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
D2. Pidgin
洋泾浜语
• a special language variety mixing/blending
languages
a. for restricted purposes such as trading
b. as a result of colonialization in military-occupied areas
• two characteristics
a. no native speakers
b. simple linguistic and grammatical structure
久违了!
Long time no see!
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
D3. Lingua Franca
通用语
• highly valued，compared with pidgin
• for communication purposes between different
groups of people
• an international means of communication
Latin
French
English
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
D4. Taboo and Euphemism
委婉语
• Taboo：prohibition of a set of avoided behaviors
for offensive and impoliteness
• Euphemism: linguistic counterpart substituting the
offensive and disturbing vocabulary
• taboo vary from culture to culture, customs and
perceptions of the society play an important role
• euphemism: substitution of a mild, indirect, or
vague expression for one thought to be offensive,
harsh, or blunt
e.g. “To pass away” is a euphemism for “to die.”
more examples?
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
D5. Jargon
行话
• special or technical vocabularies developed
to meet the special needs of particular
professions
• language of a professional, occupational, or
other group, often meaningless to outsiders
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Text E. Discourse Patterns and Thought Patterns
• Sources of miscommunication lie in differences in patterns
of discourse, depending on thought patterns.
• Thought patterns vary greatly.
Chinese
synthesis, imagination, unity, subjectivity, and
inductive reasoning
Westerners analysis, logic, dichotomy, objectivity, and
deductive reasoning
• Two contrasting thought patterns have stronger impact on
discourse patterns.
1. Linear and Nonlinear Language
2. Deductive and Inductive Patterns
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
E.1 Linear and Nonlinear Language
a. Linear language 线性语言
1. a beginning, an end
2. logical, object oriented
3. example: English (time as a continuum of past,
present, and future)
4. business practices: short-range planning
b. Nonlinear language 非线性语言
1. circular, tradition oriented and subjective
2. business practices: long-range planning
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
E.1 Linear and Nonlinear Language
• 5 cultural patterns related to 5 major
language groups
1) English
2) Semitic (闪语，是古代美索不达米亚语言的一个
支系。闪族人，是起源于阿拉伯半岛的游牧人民。阿拉
伯人、犹太人都是闪族人。今天生活在中东北非的大部
份居民，不过就是阿拉伯化的古代闪族人的后裔。)
3) Oriental
4) Romance（罗曼语,拉丁系语言(包括意大利语
、西班牙语、葡萄牙语、法语和罗马尼亚语等)[亦作
Romanic，Romance languages]）
5) Russian
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
1. 1 English Language Group
• a vertical straight line suggesting of “direction”
• linear logical development of paragraph
a topic statement
related supporting ideas
a conclusion
• linearity, directness, clarity, and logic
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
1. 3 Oriental Language Group
• a circular, spiral line suggesting of “indirection”
• organization is “off the point”, “out of focus”,
“indirect”, and even “awkward” for English natives
• incapable of grasping the main idea or not so honest
and straightforward as Westerners
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
E.2 Deductive and Inductive Patterns
Induction
particular/minor points
general/major topic
Deduction general/major topic
particular/minor points
Inductive
argument
specific/minor arguments placed
first, general statement as a
conclusion reached
Deductive general statement/major topic
argument presented first, supporting specific
statements followed
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
E.2 Deductive and Inductive Patterns
Chinese
Westerners
inductive reasoning
deductive reasoning
delay the topic
advance the topic directly
inductive discourse
patterns
deductive discourse
patterns
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Findings:
• Both English and Chinese have recourses to
the deductive and the inductive.
• Chinese have a preference for the inductive
because of reluctance to impose.
• Westerners tend to think Chinese like to
communicate in an indirect way.
• Which one to use depends on a number of
factors including power difference, social
distance and weight of imposition of a request.
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
Thank You
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication