What is language?
A structured system of symbols (words) used for communicating meaning
What are the characteristics of language?
Symbolic
Arbitrary
Governed by rules
Layers of meanings
loaded language
bound by context and culture
Symbolic Language:
each word represents an object, yet it does not directly constitute it. Ex: "barn" can mean something else but society has made it that word as a symbol.
-meanings can change. ex: "mouse
Arbitrary Language:
Words literally mean whatever we�as users of a language�choose for them to mean
-EXCEPTIONS: onomatopoeia ( sounds with meanings) "buzz
Language is Governed by rules:
Phonological rules: pronunciation of a word. "content to content"
Syntactic rules: Order;rules "what is your name"
Semantic rules: Words to meanings;connects idea with picture "car to automobile"
Pragmatic rules: Implications/interpretations "deciding on
Language has layers of meaning:
Denotative meanings: literal "home" where you live.
Connotative meanings: implied, by popular agreement. secondary "home" as a special place where you feel safe.
Loaded Language:
Loaded language comprises words with strongly positive or negative connotative meanings(cancer, bailout)
-The denotative meanings of loaded language may be emotionally neutral
ambiguous language
language having more than one possible meaning. (right when turning right)
Language is bound by context and culture
social and cultural context by the
Sapir -Whorf hypothesis: language influences perception.
- linguistic determinism: structure of language determines how we think.
- linguistic relativity: since language determines our perceptions, people who speak diffe
3 ways we can use words to persuade?
ethos: speaker's respectability, trustworthiness/ character.
Pathos: listener's emotions
Logos: listener's ability to reason (make judgements)
How is language related to credibility?
credibility: the extent to which others find someone's words/actions trustworthy.
ex: trusting in a doctor rather then barista
- our ability to get what we want out of an interpersonal real is affected by the credibility we our language portrays.
- dimini
What is interpersonal perception?
the process of making meaning from the people in our environment and our relationships with them.
What are the three stages of the perception process?
1. selection
2. organization
3. interpretation
What goes on in the selection process of perception?
Selection - select sensory information for attention
Unusual/Unexpected: paying attention to the beggar at school rather then the rest of the students.
Repetition: frequency stands out ( song always on the radio)
Intensity: amount of it ( good smell of br
What goes on in the organizational process of perception?
categorize each piece of information by comparing to other pieces of information
Physical constructs - objective( hair and age;outside stuff) vs. subjective (based on what we think is true like if they are healthy or attractive)
Role constructs - based on
What goes on in the interpretation process of perception?
assigning meaning to each piece of information by paying attention to your personal experience, your knowledge of them, and the closeness of your relationship with them.
assigns meaning to behavior
what factors influence our perception and leads to errors?
physiology: physiological states (temporary such as feeling hungry) physiological traits (on going like how perceptions are affected by senses such as how I may think indian food is good while others think it is spicy) biological rhythm (cycle of daily ch
What are the 6 fundamental forces in interpersonal perception?
1. Stereotyping: identify, recall and applying generalizations to that person or group.
2. Primacy Effect:First impressions govern all future interactions. They are most powerful but can be changed. Ex: prime as in first
3. Recency Effect: Most recent imp
Attributions
the explanations we give for our own and other people's behaviors, usually by asking why.
what are some kinds of attributions?
Locus: Is the cause of the behavior & where is is located. internal (trait/characteristic) or external (situational)?
Ex: roommate is being really rude we say bc...
rude (internal)
boyfriend dumped her for no reason (external)
Stability:Can the cause of t
What are some Attribution errors?
self-serving bias: tendency to attribute one's successes to internal ( traits) causes and one's failures to external(situational) causes. Ex: say if I were applying to a job and I got the job, I would think it was because I was the right fit, or a hard wo
How can you improve your perceptual abilities?
Mindefullness: knowing yourself, focusing on characteristics of others, and considering the context.
separate interpretations from facts: the ability to seperate what we heard/saw from the interpretation we assigned to it. ex: if I saw one of my friends b
What is self-concept?
An idea of who we are that is relatively stable; our identity yet we may alter it if we want.
What are the three characteristics of self -concept?
Multifaceted: Includes physical & social categories, skills, aspects of our relationships, and evaluations of ourselves
Partly subjective: Based on our impressions of ourselves (rather than objective facts)
Enduring, but changeable: Self-concepts develops
How do self-concepts develop?
Personality and biology: patterned behaviors that characterize a person. ex: i am organized.
Culture and gender roles
Socially constructed ideas of how we are "supposed" to act based on the groups to which we belong. ex: woman "should" be polite and kind
How does our self-concept shape communicative behavior?
...
What is gender?
the big umbrella term that involves the influences of:
Gender roles: norms for how men/woman should act. masculine (emphasizes strength,dominance,competition), feminine( emphasizes expressive and nurturing behavior), androgyny (identitifies strongly with
gender cultures
each sex being a distinctive culture with its own rules and values. (woman: communicate intimately and with emotional support while men: communicate by valuing sharing activities and interests)
What are some ways that gender affects communication?
Expressive vs. Instrumental talk
Expressive: communication is to express emotions and build relationships- mostly by woman
Instrumental: communication is to solve problems and accomplish tasks.-mostly by men
Language and power:
men tend to use more powerf