Cmst 2010 Chapter 4

Front 1

a system is comprised of vocabulary and rules of grammar that allows us to engage in verbal communication

Back 1

language

Front 2

words, or the vocabulary that make up a language

Back 2

verbal symbols

Front 3

the rules that dictate the structure of language

Back 3

grammar

Front 4

the process of putting thoughts and feelings into verbal symbols, nonverbal messages, or both

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encoding

Front 5

the process of developing a though based on hearing verbal symbols, observing nonverbal symbols, or both

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decoding

Front 6

the literal, conventional meaning of a verbal symbol that most people in a culture have agreed is the meaning of that symbol

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denotative meaning

Front 7

the meaning of a verbal symbol that is derived from our personal and subjective experience with that symbol

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connotative meaning

Front 8

able to be seen, smelled, tasted, touched, or heard

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concrete

Front 9

the thing a verbal symbol represents

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referent

Front 10

not able to be seen, smelled, tasted, touched, or heard

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abstract

Front 11

a theory that argues that when we compare two unlike things in a figure of speech we are unconsciously influenced by this decision

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framing theory

Front 12

the ability to move up and down the ladder of abstraction from specific to general and vice versa

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process of abstraction

Front 13

leaving out cues in a message on prupose to encourage multiple interpretations by others

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strategic ambiguity

Front 14

a type of ambiguity that involves choosing our words carefully to give a listener a false impression without actually lying

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equivocation

Front 15

a milder or less direct word substituted for another word that is more blunt or negative

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euphemism

Front 16

a word or a phrase that has an understood meaning within a culture but whose meaning is not derived by exact translation

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idiom

Front 17

communication consisting of words and phrases that are used for interpersonal contact only and are not meant to be translated verbatim

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phatic communication

Front 18

shifting back and forth between languages in the same conversation

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code switching

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a group of people who share norms about how to speak, what words to use and when where and why to speak

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speech community

Front 20

the theory that our understanding of ourselves and of the world is shaped by our interactions with those around us

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symbolic interactionism theory

Front 21

a theory that argues that our language determines our ability to perceive and think about things. if we dont have a word for something in our language this theory predicts we wont think about it or notice it

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linguistic determinism

Front 22

a theory that states that language influences our thinking but doesnt determine it. thus if we dont have a word for something in our language this theory predicts it will be difficult but not impossible to think about it or notice it

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linguistic relativity

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a theory that points to connections among culture, language, and thought. in strong form this theory is known as linguistic determinism and in its weak form is known as linguistic relativity

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sapir-whorf hypothesis

Front 24

the ease with which a language can express a thought

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codability

Front 25

a theory that asserts that sex operates in the same way as culture in establishing different rules, norms, and language patterns for men and women.

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two culture theory

Front 26

the tendency to speak and respond to someone today the same way we did in the past not recognizing that people and relationships change over time

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static evaluation

Front 27

the tendency to use "either-or" language and speak of the world in extremes

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polarization

Front 28

the tendency to respond to words or labels for things as though they were the things themselves

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reification

Front 29

experiences that are not named

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lexical gaps

Front 30

theory that explains what happens to people whose experiences are not well represented in verbal symbols and who have trouble articulating their thoughts and feelings verbally bc their language doesnt give them an adequate vocabulary

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muted group theory

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language that is demeaning to one sex

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sexist language

Front 32

the use of the masculine pronoun he to function generically when the subject of the sentence is of unknown gender or includes both men and women

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generic he

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words that include the word man but that are supposed to operate generically to include women as well, such as mankind

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man-linked words

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a response that acknowledges and supports another

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confirmation

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a response that fails to acknowledge and support another leaving the person feeling ignored or disregarded

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disconfimation

Front 36

acknowledging the viewpoints of those with whom we interact

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perspective taking

Front 37

avoiding generalizations by acknowledgin the time frame in which we judge others and ourselves

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indexing