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Language and Communication

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38 views

Language and Communication

Uploaded by

je je
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Language and

Communication
Chapter Outline

 What is language?
 How is language related to culture?
 How did language begin?
What Is Language?

 A system for the communication, in


symbols, of any kind of information.
 Through language, people share their
experiences, concerns, and beliefs and
communicate these to the next
generation.
The Nature of Language

 There are approximately 6,000


languages.
 All languages are organized in the same
basic way.
 Spoken languages use sounds and rules
for putting the sounds together.
 Sign languages use gestures rather
than sounds.
Linguistics

 Linguistics is the study of all aspects of


language:
– Phonetics
– Phonology
– Morphology
– Syntax
– Grammar
Studying a Language

1. Isolate the phonemes, or the smallest


classes of sound that make a
difference in meaning.
2. Determine all groups or combinations
of sounds that seem to have meaning.
3. See how morphemes are put together
to form phrases or sentences.
The Biology of Human
Speech
Hidden Aspects of
Communication
What do you think this couple
is communicating non-verbally?
Look at them carefully.
Test your knowledge of North American/European
body language. Look at the couple walking
together. What does it mean to be so close
with their arms around each other this way?

Could they be strangers?


Proxemics
____________________
DISTANCE BETWEEN TONE OF VOICE TYPE OF MESSAGE
FACES

very close (3-6") soft whisper top secret or sensual

close (8-12") audible whisper very confidential

neutral (20-36") soft voice, low volume personal subject


matter

neutral (4.5-5') full voice non-personal


information

across the room (8-20') loud voice talking to a group

stretching the limits


(20-24' indoors and
up to 100' outdoors) loud hailing voice departures and arrivals

Derived from The Silent Language by Edward Hall (1959)


Japanese avoiding eye contact in a crowd
What do the clothing, hair style, makeup,
and body language of the young woman
in the photo communicate to you?

Now think of a middle-aged businessman


with the same clothing, hair style, makeup,
and body language.
Would she fit in the office environment?
Communicating with Clothes
Papua New Guinean man

wearing a penis sheath

English "punkers"
in their "uniforms"

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