Logic & Critical Thinking
@ Herman J. Suhendra
Produced by Herman J. Suhendra
A.B. Gadjah Mada University & M.A. University of Santo Tomas, Manila
MEETING 3
Language and Reasoning
Can You Recognize These Logos?
Agree
I do!
No
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10
Top 10 Advertising Slogans?
Slogan
Takes You Far.
Just do it.
Think small.
Diamonds are forever.
Finger lickin' good.
The ultimate driving machine.
Does she ... or doesn't she?
Because I'm worth it.
I’m lovin’ it.
Company
UMN
Nike
Volkswagen
DeBeers
KFC
BMW
Clairo
L'Oréal
McDonalds
M&Ms melt in your mouth, not in your hand. M&M candies
It is estimated
that nearly half a
million Indonesians
will die this year
from diseases
caused by
smoking.
Module 5: Language
1. What is
Language?
2. Language As
A Tool
3. Persuasion &
Propaganda
“He who defines the terms wins the argument”
- Chinese Proverb
What is Language?
Language is a system of symbols
for thinking and communicating.
Language is a tool we have been using to
understand and develop our thinking. We have
been:
 Learning about the thinking of others by reading
 Expressing our own thinking through writing
 Exchanging ideas with others by speaking and listening
Thought and language can contribute to clear, effective
thinking and communication.
“”Sometimes words have two meanings”
- Led Zeppelin
Language As A Tool
Language is a powerful tool:
To Clarify Thinking
For Social Communication
To Influence People
Clarify Thinking
Language is a tool, then, powered by patterns
of thinking. With its power to represent your
thoughts, feelings, and experiences
symbolically, language is the most important
tool your thinking process has.
“I know what I want to say, but
I just can’t find the right words.”
Clarify Thinking
The relationship between thinking and
language is interactive; both processes are
continuously influencing each other in many
ways.
Clear Language
Specific
Distinct
Precise
Accurate
Clear Thinking
Specific
Distinct
Precise
Accurate
Clear and precise language leads to clear and precise thinking.
Clarify Thinking
Vague language - using words that are very imprecise and
general. Vague words are words that lack a clear and
distinct meaning.
Examples:
 I had a nice time yesterday
 That is an interesting book
 She is an old person
 She is a beautiful girl
Ambiguous language - also interfere with the clear
expression of thoughts. An ambiguous word is a word with
more than one (1) meaning that is open to different
interpretations.
Examples:
 He fed her dog biscuits
 The duck is ready to eat
 Flying planes can be dangerous
 The shooting of the hunter disturbed him
The Rock says
you should
avoid vague
and ambiguous
language.
Clarify Thinking
• Here are some rules that can be adopted
to achieve clear communication:
Rules
1. Tell listeners what you believe they want to hear
2. Don't tell listeners what they already know
3. You should vary the style of your communication, depending on the knowledge, age
and status of your listener
4. Tell the truth
5. Use a simple straightforward style
6. Utilize manner and context to clarify meaning
Social Communication
Language is always used in context.
We should use the language style that is
appropriate to the social situation.
Language styles vary from informal to formal.
Example: Describe how you usually greet the
following people when you see them:
 A Good Friend:
 A Teacher:
A Parent:
An Employer:
 A Waiter/Waitress:
Social Communication
Language styles –used in a context. You always speak
with a person in mind, according to the situation. You may
converse differently with friends, colleagues, parents and
relatives.
Examples:
‘Yo dude, wassup… how ya been!’
Good morning Mr. Jones, how are you today?’
Slang - slang is a restrictive style that limits its speakers to a
particular group.
Examples:
 ‘All the guys in my class are busted’
 ‘Man, she’s a real bomb!’
 ‘He’s definitely a crack-head’
 ‘She’s so hip and happening’
Social Communication
Jargon - is made up of words, expressions, and technical
terms that are understood by professional circles, but not to
general public.
Examples
A: ‘Breaker, breaker 1-9, c’mon in, little frog’
B: ‘Roger and back to you, Charley’
A: ‘You gotta back down. You got a smokey ahead’
B: ’10-4 skipper. Over and out’
Dialect - is a form of language that may be so different in terms sound
patterns, vocabulary and sentence structure, that it is generally may not
be understood by people outside the specific regional or ethnic group.
Examples.
‘Ane naon te’
‘mangga’
Social Communication
Remember
• The ability to think critically gives you the
insight and the intellectual ability to:
Distinguish people’s language use from their
individual qualities.
Correct inaccurate beliefs about people.
Avoid stereotypical responses.
Influence People
The intimate relationship between language and
thinking makes it natural that people use language
to influence the thinking of others.
Two types of language are often used to promote
the uncritical acceptance of viewpoints:
Euphemistic language
Emotive Language
By developing insight into these language strategies, you will
strengthen your abilities to function as a critical thinker.
Influence People
Euphemistic language - to speak with good
words and involves substituting a more
pleasant way of saying something instead of
a blunt way.
Examples:
To disguise the unpleasantness of death, we could
say:
Euphemisms can become dangerous when they are used
to create misperception of important issues.





‘She passed away’
‘She departed this life’
“Social Drinker” (Alcoholic)
“Purification of the race” (Slaughter)
“Soft Targets” (people to be killed)
Influence People
Emotive Language - Language that would probably
stimulate certain feelings in you. Language that evokes
feelings in others. - The emotional dimension of language.
Example:
What is your immediate reaction to the following
words:






Bush
Freedom
Terrorist
Peaceful
Democracy
Murderer
Influence People
Emotive language often plays a double role – it not only
symbolizes and expresses our feelings but also arouses or
evokes feelings in others (E.g. “ I Love You!”)
The presence of emotive words is usually a sign that a
personal opinion or evaluation rather than a fact is being
stated.
Emotive language usage can be misleading and even dangerous
when speakers do not identify their opinions as opinions because
they want you to treat their judgments as facts.
Example:
“ JKT is a filthy and dangerous city – only idiots would
want to live there.”
“A dollar spent on brainwashing is more cost-effective
than a dollar spent on product improvement.”
- Scott Adams
Persuasion & Propaganda
Language is used not only to communicate ideas but also
to persuade or convince others to 'see things our way'.
Persuasion or propaganda refers to any material that is
written or spoken by those who want others to believe that
what they are saying is true.
Six (6) common persuasive techniques:






Exposure Effect
Association Effect
Personal Attack
Appeals to Pity
Popularity & Testimonials (Bandwagon)
Card Stacking
Exposure Effect
Exposure Effect - In this technique, constant exposure
of something is used to create familiarity, which in turn,
will enhance your liking.
Example:
Our kids are being bombarded with the various fast food
advertisements. These fast food chains are not only promoting their
menu but other goodies that appeal to children as well. This
constant exposure in the television, newspapers and street
advertisements eventually creates a sense of familiarity to children
these days.
Association Effect
Association Effect - If two events occur close together in
living and/or space, the mind will form an association
between them. This technique is widely used within the
political scene to create guilt by association.
On the other hand, it is also possible to have virtue by
association. This means, you can also associate things
positively.
Example:
Your supervisor appraises your work. At the same time, he
is aware of your close relationship with the Managing
Director. This will then have a positive impact on your
position.
Personal Attack
Personal Attack - Arguments against the person. This form
of persuasion or propaganda attacks the person who
supports a cause, and not the cause itself.
The underlying principle of this technique is that you should
oppose an idea if you do not like the person who supports
that idea. This is because the idea and the person are
closely associated.
Mary suggested that I
give more time during
class for students to ask
questions. What does she
know about teaching?
Idiot! She knows nothing
about teaching!
Appeals to Pity
Appeals to Pity - This technique is commonly used in
legal pleadings. In such pleadings, the defendant's poor
background or turbulent home life will often be brought
up to gain leniency in sentencing, should the defendant
be found guilty.
If I get caught, the
Judge will give me a
mild sentence due to
my turbulent and sad
childhood in the
ghetto. Isn’t life
wonderful!
Popularity & Testimonials (Bandwagon)
Popularity and Testimonials - This
technique also known as
'bandwagon' relies on the need for
conformity due to its persuasive
power. It is persuasive because it
claims that everyone supports a
certain position or buys that certain
product.
A variation of the popularity technique
is testimonials. For instance, certain
products are endorsed by famous
people or idols. Their testimonials are
taken to prove the effectiveness of
the product.
Card Stacking
Card stacking (or suppressed
information) - Operates as a
persuasive technique by omitting
information that supports the
unfavored view.
Example:
This technique is normally used
in most advertisements whereby
companies only advertise the
positive effects and not the
negative or side effects of a
product.
Summary
What is
Language?
Language
As A Tool
Language is a system of symbols for thinking and
communicating.
Language is a powerful tool:
 To Clarify Thinking
 For Social Communication
 To Influence People
Persuasion & Persuasion or propaganda refers to any material
Propaganda that is written or spoken by those who want others
to believe that what they are saying is true.
Six (6) common persuasive techniques:
 Exposure Effect
 Association Effect
 Personal Attack
 Appeals to Pity
 Popularity & Testimonials (Bandwagon)
Any Questions?
A. Meaning Analysis
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Our cabdriver is green.
This is a small men’s village.
Our mother bore us.
The American people are willing to utilize nuclear weapons.
Indonesia President SBY has cancelled a trip to Singapore to play
golf.
6. The Government will announce that the electricity supply is to be
cut off tomorrow.
7. We should not tolerate those homeless people living on our street.
8. Museum visitor attacked by mummy.
9. The last time I saw them they were sitting beside the bank.
10. This morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas.
11. Sign in front of a vacant lot: “Fine for littering.”
B. Meaning Analysis
1. You may terminate the contract after 12
months by giving 2 months notice.
2. After 12 months, you can give 2 months
notice and terminate the contract.
C. The Clinton Affair
•
When Bill Clinton was US President, he was accused of lying under oath
about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. In particular he was accused of lying
about the fact that he had sexual relations with Monica when he received
oral sex in the White House office. According to Clinton, when he denied
that he has engaged in sexual relations, this is the definition of "sexual
relations" that he uses.
•
The definition is actually taken from a particular court case :
A person engages in 'sexual relations' when the
person knowingly engages in or causes contact
with the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner
thigh, or buttocks of any person with an intent to
arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any
person.
The Clinton Affair
• Here is Clinton's explanation why he did not
engage in sexual relations : .
If the deponent [the person who is testifying] is
the person who has oral sex performed on him,
then the contact is with -- not with anything on
that list, but with the lips of another person. It
seems to be self-evident that that's what it is. . . .
Let me remind you, sir, I read this carefully. ...
any person, reasonable person would recognize
that oral sex performed on the deponent falls
outside the definition.
The Clinton Affair
• Suppose we accept the above definition of
sexual relations. Should we then accept
Clinton's argument that he did not engage in
sexual relations when he received oral sex?
Or should we say that receiving oral sex also
counts as engaging in sexual relations? If
you are a lawyer trying to argue for the second
position, how would you go about defending
your position?
Answer:
B. The second statement says that notice to terminate the
contract can be given only after 12 months. So in effect
the minimum duration of the contract is 14 months. This
is different with the first statement, which says that the
contract can be terminated after 12 months, provided
that 2 months notice has been given. There is no
requirement that the notice has to be given only after 12
months, so the minimum duration of the contract is 12
months, provided that notice is given after 10 months (or
earlier in common practice). This is something to watch
out for when you sign a rental contract in the future!
A. Clinton Affair: What if Clinton caused Monica to contact
his sexual organ instead?
Penalaran Kata
1. “Ibu dan anaknya berangkat bersama dan sampai di
pertigaan itu ibunya ke pasar dan anaknya ke sekolah.”
2. “Ibu dan anaknya berangkat bersama, tetapi sampai di
pertigaan itu ibunya ke pasar dan anaknya ke sekolah.”
3. “Ibu dan anaknya berangkat bersama dan sampai di
pertigaan itu ibunya ke pasar tetapi anaknya ke
sekolah.”
4. “Walaupun ibu dan anaknya berangkat bersama, tetapi
sampai di pertigaan itu ibunya ke pasar dan anaknya ke
sekolah.”
5. “Saya terlambat ke kantor karena lalu lintas macet.”
Ambiguitas dalam Pernyataan
• Mahasiswa perguruan • Yang diperbolehkan
tinggi yang terkenal
ikut dalam proyek
penelitian itu adalah
• Anak ibu yang nakal
mahasiswa fakultas
itu.
Komunikasi dan
• Orang itu kaya tetapi
mahasiswa fakultas
kikir.
manajemen angkatan
• Istri Perwira yang
2012
lincah itu sedang
• Pacar saya, yang
baca koran.
tinggal di Bandung
sangat romantis
The End
References
• Book
• Chapter 6 – Thought & Language: John Chaffee,
Thinking Critically, 6th Edition, Houghton Mifflin, Boston,
2000
• Online Resources
Marlboro Man: http://adage.com/century/graphics/campaign_marlboro.jpg
Here is what’s left of the Marlboro Man: http://imagesource.art.com/images/-/Whats-Left-of-theMarlboro-Man-Poster-C10317558.jpeg
Don’t be a Butthead: Source: http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Don-t-Be-a-ButtheadPosters_i838546_.htm
George Bush: http://postas.blogs.sapo.pt/arquivo/BushCartoon.jpg
Burger: http://www.junkfoodblog.com/uploaded_images/carls-jr-jalapeno-burger-794176.jpg
Fast food facts:
http://www.photoshopdiva.com/images/new_gallerys/politcal%20words/images/6%20fast%20food%20&
%20education.jpg
Pizza: http://www.tiffanyspizza.com/images/big_pizza.jpg
Beckham (Pepsi): http://infostore.org/info/761455?refer=761401&rs=3