Head of chair of the department: PhD. Panjiyeva n n. Date: Sign: subject: The main foreign language being studied lesson plan 70 theme: Manner and Mannerism Lesson type: Practical Auditory: 3

Hand out 3. 10 minutes

What's the difference among the words ‘conduct’, ‘demeanor’, and ‘behavior’?

“Conduct,” “behavior” and “demeanor” can all be synonyms. So technically yes, they can be used interchangeably, and this is correct. To my ear, though, there is always a better of two words and a best of three, for any given context. The choice of which to use comes down more to connotation than definition. “Shades of meaning,” as it were.

I’d use “conduct” where the judgment of the person’s actions is informed by some kind of standard. Could be atrocious, could be above reproach, but something about “conduct” smacks of an evaluation being made.

“Behavior,” feels more observational. It’s not a case of standards or codes, so much as just taking in the subject’s unselfconscious and natural (or selfconscious and suspicious!) way of acting, and with a greater emphasis on actual actions being performed.

“Demeanor,” to me, speaks of attitude and manner in their way of acting. More mood and expressiveness can be conveyed. A person might have a fierce demeanor, it’s just about the way they’re doing whatever they do. But “fierce behavior” seems a bit vague. What is it they’re actually they doing? What is this behavior that’s so fierce? To refer to someone’s “fierce conduct” is also a bit perplexing. Sounds a bit odd, doesn’t it? Maybe a trifle formal, for something so fierce?

There are certainly contexts where you could choose any one of these words, and not suffer. Yet the word you do chose will bring in its own shading and coloration.

And here’s the rather fantastic part. Somethings by shifting in the unexpected or less-expected word, deliberately to carry some of those other connotations over for effect, you can add a wonderful color to a passage. Really, “fierce conduct” could be used quite forcefully, couldn’t it? In the right setting, a Napoleonic cavalry officer perhaps, in battle-stressed uniform, standing rigid and glaring interruption while he waits to be acknowledged by the distracted General, all too attendant upon the revelers at the banquet.

However, it’s important that such shifts be knowing. If you substitute synonyms interchangeably, willy-nilly without regard for their lived-in, soaked-in connotations and shades, you will simply sound tone deaf.