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CHAPTER 11USING

LANGUAGE

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MEANING OF WORDSMEANING OF WORDSMEANING OF WORDSMEANING OF WORDS

• Words have two kinds of meanings:1. Denotative meaning

– The literal or dictionary meaning of a word or phrase– Describes the object, person, place, idea, or event to

which the word refers

2. Connotative meaning– The meaning suggested by the associations or emotions

triggered by a word or phrase– More variable, figurative and subjective– Gives words their intensity and emotional power

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USING LANGUAGE ACCURATELY AND USING LANGUAGE ACCURATELY AND USING LANGUAGE ACCURATELY AND USING LANGUAGE ACCURATELY AND CLEARLYCLEARLYCLEARLYCLEARLY

1. Use familiar words2. Choose concrete words

• Concrete words: words that refer to tangible objects• Abstract words: refer to ideas or concepts

3. Eliminate clutter• Discourse that takes many more words than are

necessary to express an idea

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USING LANGUAGE VIVIDLYUSING LANGUAGE VIVIDLYUSING LANGUAGE VIVIDLYUSING LANGUAGE VIVIDLY

1. Imagery• The use of vivid language to create mental images of

objects, actions or ideasa. Concrete wordsb. Simile: an explicit comparison, introduced with the

word “like” or “as”, between things that are essentially different yet have something in common

c. Metaphor: an implicit comparison not introduced with the word “like” or “as” between two things that are essentially different yet have something in common

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2. Rhythm• The pattern of sound in a speech created by the choice

and arrangement of wordsa. Parallelism: the similar arrangement of a pair or series

of related words, phrases or sentencesb. Repetition: reiteration of the same word or set of

words at the beginning or end of successive clauses or sentences

c. Alliteration: repetition of the initial consonant sound of close or adjoining words

d. Antithesis: the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas usually in parallel structure

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USING LANGUAGE APPROPRIATELYUSING LANGUAGE APPROPRIATELYUSING LANGUAGE APPROPRIATELYUSING LANGUAGE APPROPRIATELY

1. Appropriateness to the occasion2. Appropriateness to the audience3. Appropriateness to the topic4. Appropriateness to the speaker

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A NOTE ON INCLUSIVE LANGUAGEA NOTE ON INCLUSIVE LANGUAGEA NOTE ON INCLUSIVE LANGUAGEA NOTE ON INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE

• Inclusive language: language that does not stereotype, demean, or patronize people on the basis of gender, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or other factors 1. Avoid the generic “He”

Ineffective : Each time a surgeon walks into the operating room, hehehehe risks being sued for malpractice

More effective : a. Each time a surgeon walks into the operating room, she or he she or he she or he she or he

risks being sued for malpracticeb. Whenever surgeons walk into the operating room, theytheytheythey risk

being sued for malpractice

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2. Avoid the use of “Man” when referring to both men and womenIneffective : If a large comet struck the Earth, it could

destroy all of mankindMore effective : If a large comet struck the Earth, it could

destroy all human life

3. Avoid stereotyping jobs and social roles by genderIneffective : Being a small businessman in the current

economic climate is not easyMore effective : Being a small businessperson in the current

economic climate is not easy

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4. Use names that groups use to identify themselvesIneffective : Despite progress in recent years, homosexuals homosexuals homosexuals homosexuals

still face many forms of discriminationMore effective : Despite progress in recent years, lesbians and gay lesbians and gay lesbians and gay lesbians and gay

men men men men still face many forms of discrimination

Ineffective : The Paralympics show what handicappedhandicappedhandicappedhandicapped people can accomplish in the athletic arena

More effective : The Paralympics show what people withpeople withpeople withpeople withdisabilitiesdisabilitiesdisabilitiesdisabilities can accomplish in the athletic arena