LANGUAGE AND
COMMUNICATION
The aim of this tutorial is to help you to
understand the relationships between language,
communication, and critical thinking.
Good communication skills are an
essential part of critical thinking
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Communication skills enable effective critical thinking
and decision-making.
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Effective communication involves several related skills:
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Keeping avenues of communication open
Communicating with others clearly and accurately
Taking care with word use
Developing awareness of your own and others’ language use
People’s communication styles
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Language is the key
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
Language is a system of communication with arbitrary
symbols, whether spoken, written, or non-verbal.
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By creating a shared reality among people, language is
the primary means of transmitting cultural concepts and
traditions, including critical thinking skills.
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Functions of language
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Language has one basic function: the communication of
information about ourselves and the world. This is
informative language.
Other functions of language include:
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Directive language – used to direct or influence actions
Expressive language – communicates feelings, used to
generate emotive impact
Ceremonial language – used in prescribed formal
circumstances
Most languages serve multiple functions.
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Language enables effective critical
thinking
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Using language effectively to convey information,
provide direction, and express feelings is essential for
individual and collaborative critical thinking.
It is important to understand that while language greatly
enriches our communication of ideas and feelings, it
also can contribute to ambiguity and misunderstanding.
Intellectual curiosity and awareness of other
people’s language use are two critical thinking skills
that can make us less susceptible to misunderstanding
and manipulation.
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Nonverbal language
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Nonverbal cues, such as body language and vocal tone,
often help us interpret verbal communication.
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Nonverbal cues are commonly used to reinforce verbal
communication.
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Images, such as artwork or photographs, are also
means of communicating ideas and feelings.
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Language is a cultural construct
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Good critical thinkers realize that word choices and
nonverbal cues significantly influence how verbal
communication is interpreted – or misinterpreted.
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The following approaches greatly assist effective
communication:
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Communicate clearly, and be conscious of language’s complexity
and flexibility
Be willing to ask people for clarification if you are uncertain of
their meaning
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Same word, different meanings
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
Like all languages, the English language is in constant
flux. This dynamic state means that word meanings
change constantly as words move in and out of use.
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In order to communicate accurately and clearly, it is
important to understand the difference between the
denotative and connotative meanings of words.
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Denotative and connotative meanings
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All words have both denotative and connotative
meanings.
The denotative meaning of a word or phrase expresses
the properties of the object, being, or event the word is
symbolizing; its dictionary definition.
The connotative meaning of a word or phrase includes
feelings and personal feelings based on past
experiences and associations. This means a word’s
connotative meaning may be in a dictionary listing, but
also could be shared only among small groups.
Stereotypes are a good example.
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Types of word definitions
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There are four major types of word definitions:
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Stipulative definitions are definitions given to new words
or terms, or are new definitions of existing words.
Lexical definitions are the commonly used dictionary
definitions for words or terms.
Precising definitions are used to reduce vagueness. They
are split into two subsets: (a) theoretical definitions, used
to provide theory, and (b) operational definitions, used to
provide standards in data collection.
Persuasive definitions are used to influence or persuade
others.
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Evaluating definitions
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Five criteria are useful in evaluating word definitions.
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Good definitions are neither too broad nor too narrow.
Good definitions state the essential attributes of the term
being defined.
Good definitions are not circular.
Good definitions avoid obscure and figurative language.
Good definitions avoid emotive language.
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Communication styles
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Good critical thinkers are aware that there are
differences in individual as well as in group
communication styles.
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Understanding our styles and those of others facilitates
good relationship communications and critical thinking
skills.
© 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Communication styles
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There are four basic types of communication style.
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Assertive communicators clearly and respectfully
communicate their own needs and strive for mutually
satisfactory solutions.
Aggressive communicators attempt to get their own way
by controlling other people through manipulation and
control tactics.
Passive communicators avoid confrontation and are
compliant, often putting their needs after those of others.
Passive-aggressive communicators avoid direct
confrontation but use devious means to get their own way.
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Communication styles: other factors
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Other factors may influence communication styles.
These factors include, but are not limited to
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Gender
Ethnicity
Culture
Dress
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Language as manipulation
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Language can be used to deceive as well as to inform.
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Typically, manipulation occurs through the use of three
devices: emotive language, rhetorical devices, and/or
deliberate deception.
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Emotive language
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Emotive language:
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Emotive language is used to elicit a certain emotional
impact, either positive or negative. When a factual issue
arises, emotive language can slant the truth and obscure
our critical thinking abilities.
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It is particularly dangerous when used to cover weak
arguments, for marketing purposes, or when it
masquerades as news in the media.
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Rhetorical devices
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Rhetorical devices, like emotive language, use
psychological persuasion rather than reason to
persuade others.
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Common rhetorical devices include
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Euphemisms
Dysphemisms
Sarcasm
Hyperbole
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Euphemisms and dysphemisms
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Euphemisms replace negative terms with neutral or
positive terms in order to conceal or sugar-coat the truth.
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Dysphemisms, in contrast to euphemisms, use
negative terms to produce negative effects. They are
often used to win over one group, while at the same time
alienating others.
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Sarcasm and hyperbole
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Sarcasm involves the use of ridicule, insults, taunting,
and/or caustic irony. Like other rhetorical devices, it is
used to deflect critical analysis and to encourage
feelings of disapproval toward the subject.
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Hyperbole is a device that uses exaggeration or
overstatement to distort the facts.
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As good critical thinkers, we must be able to recognize
and resist these rhetorical devices.
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Deception and lying
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Although rhetorical devices may involve deception, the
deception is not always deliberate.
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A lie, on the other hand, is a deliberate attempt to
mislead without prior consent.
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Lies can
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Damage trust
Derail honest communication
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Detecting lies
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As good critical thinkers, we must be able to detect,
recognize and challenge lies.
Always cross-verify and check information
Be aware of nonverbal cues of lying, such as less
physical movement and blinking, changes in voice tone
and pitch, errors in storytelling, etc.
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Conclusions
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Language is a form of symbolic communication that allows
us to organize, express and critically analyze our
experiences. It shapes our understanding of reality and of
ourselves. Good communication skills are vital in critical
thinking.
As good critical thinkers, we need to clearly define terms,
be mindful of our communication styles and those of
others, and be aware of the manipulative and deceptive
powers of language.
© 2010, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.