Verbal Communication 1

Focus Questions What is the relationship between language

and thought? How do labels affect meaning? What are the implications of recognizing

that language is a process? How do rules guide communication? How does punctuation influence the

meaning of communication?

Verbal Communication 2

Language and Meaning Language (words) in the human world Features of Language (Symbols)

Arbitrary Not intrinsically connected to what is represented; no natural

relationship Commonly shared & used in a society; meaning changes over time

Ambiguous No precise, clear-cut meanings; within a range of meaning but

with degrees of uncertainty Specific to contexts, individual experience; relationships

Abstract Not concrete or tangible Various abstractness (degrees away from external, objective

phenomenon) e.g, “reading matter” 讀物

Verbal Communication 3

Symbols and Meaning Ladder of Abstraction (Korzybski & Hayakawa)

Steps away from observed phenomenon See Figure 4.1 (page 103)

Overgeneralization General language to describe groups of people Perceptions (recall) consistent with labels used Labels predispose selective perception

Verbal Communication 4

“Cow” 抽象化階梯

Cow: not the word, but the object experience

“ Bessie”: the name we give to the object (cow)

Cow: common characteristics; not peculiar to specific ones

Cow: consists of atoms, electronics…etc; scientific reference

Livestock: referring to characteristics in common with chicken, goats..

Farm assets: in common with other salable items on the farm

Asset: all valuable things

Wealth: characteristics of “Bessie” are left out.

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Verbal Communication 5

Principles of Communication Interpretation creates meaning

Active, creative process of making sense Process of constructing meaning Brute facts vs. Institutional facts

Brute fact: objective, concrete phenomena (e.g., huddling in football)

Institutional fact: interpreted meaning of brute fact (players planning the next step)

Communication is guided by rules (p. 106: task-to-do) Rule learning through socialization Regulative rules: specify when, how, where… Constitutive rules: define meaning

Verbal Communication 6

Principles of Communication (continued)

Punctuation affects meaning Marks a flow of activity into meaning units Determines initiation, interaction, invitation,

participation… In personal relationships: demand-withdraw

pattern (Figure 4.2, p. 108)

Verbal Communication 7

Symbolic Abilities Language defines phenomena

Totalizing: one label represents a person totally; ignoring other aspects

Totalizing: spotlighting an aspect; stereotyping: describing with group characteristics

Language evaluates phenomena (not neutral) Symbols are loaded with ‘value’ Loaded language

Language organizes experiences Categories that we place people

Verbal Communication 8

Symbolic Abilities (2)

Language allows hypothetical thinking Visions of the future

Language allows self-reflection I : spontaneous, creative self Me: socially conscious self 佛洛依德︰

id 本我 – unconscious & instinctive ego 自我 – between id and superego superego 超我 – of moral and social rules

Verbal Communication 9

Symbolic Abilities (3)

Language defines relationships & interaction Three dimensions of relationship-level

meaning Responsiveness: question & statements

(responses, feedback) Liking: When we say “I care about you.” Power: Establishing control

Verbal Communication 10

Guidelines for Verbal Comm. Engage in person-centered communication Be conscious of levels of abstraction Qualify language

Avoid overgeneralization Avoid static evaluation: She ‘is’ selfish Indexing technique: evaluation only applies to

specific times, circumstances Own your feelings and thoughts: Claim feelings

but not blame others for that You vs. I language (p. 120) (Note: Chinese cultural &

syntax differences)