Understanding Verbal Messages
LANGUAGE
Lesson Objectives
1. Slanguage when to use & when to avoid
2. Basics of language
3. Language bias
4. Language effects on relationships
SLANGuage
 Text, email, chat SHORTHAND
 Often follows classic shorthand (elimination
of vowels)
 Sometimes replaces letters with numbers
 Gd new m8 = good new mate OR use of 2=to, too,
two OR use of 4=for
 Often eliminates official words
 b = be r=are
u=you
ur=your & you’re
 Sometimes uses now accepted phrase initials:
 Lol= lots of laughs or laugh out loud; a/s/l =
age/sex/location; ttyl=talk to you later
SLANGuage guidelines
 Do NOT use this type of short hand on:
 Professional documents
 Legal documents
 Educational documents (from grade school on up
through College, University, &/or graduate school)
 It is all right to use with peers & friends
 Still be careful of generational/regional
differences in use
 ha ha vs. ja ja
Language basics terminology:
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Sign
Symbol
Denotative
Connotative
Bypassing
Concrete meaning
Abstract meaning
Neologism
Trigger Words
Code Switching
Sign verses Symbol
 SIGN = something that is NAUTRALLY
associated with something else
 Smoke
Fire
 SYMBOL = human made representations of
things
 Letters forming words that have been agreed
upon to represent something
 C A T = cat = furry, tailed, meowing mammal
Denotative & Connotative
Meanings
 Denotative Meaning = the formal definition
that can be found in any dictionary or a word;
the literal definition of a word
 Connotative Meaning = the subjective
definition of a word; the personal meaning of
a word
Denotative v. Connotative
Cool
Cool
Stoned
Stoned
Sick
Sick
Connotative Meaning:
a closer look
 Handsome adjective for attractive
synonymous with beautiful
 Not denotatively gender specific
 Often used exclusively for describing the male gender
in U.S.A.
 People often have personal examples of words
that they have singular associations with
 Subjective responses to words that associate
memories and emotion into the meaning of the word
Bypassing
 When communicators have different
perceptions of the meaning of a word used
causing misunderstanding/miscommunication
Concrete & Abstract Meaning
Sight
Sound
Taste
Scent
Touch
 CONCRETE Meaning = brings to mind the the
word being used in terms of one of the five
senses
 ABSTRAC T Meaning = describing that which
cannot be perceived with the five senses
 Love, freedom, peace, anger, happiness, sadness
Neologism
 When words are invented and catch on above
the slang level, but not within dictionaries
 Reaganomics– coined for Ronald Reagan’s
economic approach
 Normalcy—coined in politics as the state of being
normal
 Obamu—coined for Obama to describe others
breaking the glass ceiling
 Metrosexual—coined for men that dress and
groom well but are heterosexual
avoiding deliberate neologism invention can help
side-step confusion
Trigger Word
 A form of language that arouses an
emotional response
 Words
 Sounds
 Nonverbals
 Curse words
 Slang
 Dismissive words
 “Whatever” “sure” “if you say so” “uh huh” “okay
then” et cetera
Code Switching
 Ability to seamlessly change back and forth
to different languages/dialects/accents as
necessary based on those within a
conversation
 In front of parents, professors, religious
institutions, and children  formal, polite
language
 In front of peers and alone  slang,
expletives, in-group language
 Native language with fellow people and
English elsewhere
Bias
 Polarization=
 when language in used to describe things in
extremes suggesting there is nothing in between
 Allness=
 often false generalizations that uses language in a
way that does not allow for variations
 Prejudicially Exclusive language
 Sexism
 Racism
 Homophobia
Language & relationships
 Language can help begin, develop, escalate,
and/or end relationships
 Use Empathy = anticipate others reactions
and feel as another does to best of one’s
ability
Language & Relationships
1. Description v Evaluation
1.
Describe own feelings instead of judging others’
behaviors/statements/feelings
2. Help v Control
1.
Aid with problem solving instead of controlling
them
3. Genuine v selfish
1.
Communicate sincerely instead of only to serve
one’s own needs/wants
4. Equality v Superiority
5. Leave the past in the past
Lesson Review
1. Slanguage for friends not profession or
education
2. Basics of language & the implications of
differing subjective definitions
3. Language bias avoid bias because of the
strong power of words
4. Language effects on relationships how to
form, maintain, escalate, or terminate links
to others