Verbal Communication

K E Y T A K E A W A Y S
• The symbolic nature of language means that misunderstanding can
easily occur when words and their definitions are abstract (far removed
from the object or idea to which the symbol refers). The creation of
whole messages, which contain relevant observations, thoughts,
feelings, and needs, can help reduce misunderstandings.
• Affective language refers to language used to express a person’s feelings
and create similar feelings in another person. Metaphor, simile,
personification, and vivid language can evoke emotions in speaker and
listener.
• Incivility occurs when people deviate from accepted social norms for
communication and behavior and manifests in swearing and polarized
language that casts people and ideas as opposites. People can reduce
incivility by being more accountable for the short- and long-term effects
of their communication.
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
3.3 Using Words Well
164

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E X E R C I S E S
1. Following the example in the ladder of abstraction, take a common word
referring to an object (like
bicycle
or
smartphone
) and write its meaning,
in your own words, at each step from most concrete to most abstract.
Discuss how the meaning changes as the word/idea becomes more
abstract and how the word becomes more difficult to define.
2. Decontaminate the following messages by rewriting them in a
way that makes them whole (separate out each type of relevant
expression). You can fill in details if needed to make your
expressions more meaningful.
◦
“I feel like you can’t ever take me seriously.”
◦
“It looks like you’ve ruined another perfectly good
relationship.”
3. Find a famous speech (for example, at
http://www.americanrhetoric.com) and identify components of
figurative language. How do these elements add to the meaning of the
speech?
4. Getting integrated: Review the section on using words ethically. Identify
a situation in which language could be used unethically in each of the
following contexts: academic, professional, personal, and civic.
Specifically tie your example to civility, polarizing language, swearing,
or accountability.
Chapter 3 Verbal Communication
3.3 Using Words Well
165

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