Deck 6: Verbal Communication Skills

Question 1

When general semanticists use the expression, "The map is not the territory," to which language barrier are they referring?

A)lack of precision
B)polarization
C)static evaluation
D)biased language

Answer 1

C

Question 2

During the late sixties and early seventies, you would see bumper stickers that said, "America: Love It or Leave It!" This sentiment expresses the language barrier of

A)polarization.
B)bypassing.
C)static evaluation.
D)fact-inference confusion.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Glenda ordered her steak cooked medium-well at her favorite restaurant.When the server returned with her steak, Glenda cut into it, saw that it was red in the center, and said to the server, "OK, what part of 'medium-well' didn't you understand? I want you to take this back and cook it so it's edible.This is ridiculous!" Glenda's behavior was

A)assertive.
B)other-oriented.
C)results-oriented.
D)aggressive.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Tommy went to Taiwan for a vacation.Since he couldn't read the restaurant menu, he asked the waiter to bring him a traditional Taiwanese meal.It was delicious.When he was done, he asked the waiter what the meat was, because he hadn't tasted anything like it before.The waiter told him it was dog meat.Tommy became sick to his stomach and rushed to the bathroom.Tommy's reaction reflects the power of words to

A)create.
B)affect the quality of our interpersonal relationships.
C)affect thoughts and actions.
D)build barriers.

Question 5

A confusion of one word or phrase for another that sounds similar to it is known as a(n)

A)bafflegab.
B)allness.
C)lack of precision.
D)malapropism.

Question 6

What is the theory that seeks to explain how societies are bound or linked together through their use of symbols?

A)semantics
B)semiotics
C)symbolic interaction
D)dissonance theory

Question 7

A person's name generally has no logical connection with the actual person, just as the word "cow" does not look like a cow or sound like a cow.These examples illustrate the principle that the connection between a word and what it represents is

A)context bound.
B)concrete.
C)arbitrary.
D)denotative.

Question 8

Joe tells his wife, Sarah, that he thinks they should "redo" their bathroom as their next home improvement project.Sarah reacts strongly to this suggestion, complaining that, "We don't have enough money to do that!" Sarah thought "redo" the bathroom meant to replace the shower, toilet, and sink and to re-tile the floors and paint the walls.She was relieved when Joe explained that what he meant by "redo" the bathroom was to paint the walls and have the floors refinished.The language barrier Joe and Sarah experienced is called

A)allness.
B)bafflegab.
C)bypassing.
D)polarization.

Question 9

When you use a phrase such as "I felt like a wrung-out washrag after that test!" you are expressing your emotions via a

A)metaphorical image.
B)restricted code.
C)word picture.
D)visual code.

Question 10

Janice and her family are enjoying their dinner meal together when the telephone rings.When Janice answers, the caller says, "Janet, this is Mr.Baxter with ABC Vacations.How are you doing today?" Janice corrects his mistake on her name and tells him that she's in the middle of dinner, to which Mr.Baxter replies, "Oh, I'm sorry, Janice.I just wanted to tell you about our great cruise offer that I can book for you here tonight..." Janice interrupts him, tells him she's not interested, and hangs up on the telemarketer.Which of Jack Gibbs' strategies for creating a supportive climate did Mr.Baxter most likely violate?

A)describe your feelings rather than evaluate others' behaviors
B)solve problems rather than try to control others
C)be genuine rather than manipulative
D)empathize rather than remain detached from others

Question 11

Dad says to Junior, "Hand me the screwdriver." Junior responds with, "Which kind, a flat- head or Phillips?" Which language barrier is Junior trying to overcome?

A)bypassing
B)polarization
C)allness
D)failure to be specific

Question 12

Some people call the late Yasser Arafat a "terrorist," both fearing and reviling him.Some people call him a "freedom fighter," both loving and praising him.The use of these words to describe or evaluate Arafat reflect the power of words to

A)create perceptions.
B)persuade political views.
C)affect and reflect culture.
D)build barriers.

Question 13

Tom was describing the noises that hens make at his part-time job at the egg farm.He used the word "cackle" to describe the sound.This work is an example of

A)onomatopoeia.
B)jargon.
C)malapropism.
D)indexing.

Question 14

When someone uses the word dog and you understand the word to mean "a mangy, dirty, and disgusting animal, like the one that bit you when you were five years old," which level of meaning would you probably be applying?

A)connotative
B)contextual
C)creative
D)reflective

Question 15

According to the model developed by Ogden and Richards, what are the things represented by symbols called?

A)thoughts
B)referents
C)words
D)vocalizations

Question 16

Most everyone recognizes that Professor Williams is a great teacher and researcher and many will be sorry to see him retire at the end of this academic year.Brad, on the other hand, has told people "it's about time that old relic, that geezer, retires.He's WAY too old to still be in the classroom." This is an example of

A)polarization.
B)hate speech.
C)sexist language.
D)static evaluation.

Question 17

After her parents tell her she can't go to the concert, Helga says, "You never let me do anything!" Helga is probably suffering from the language barrier of

A)bypassing.
B)allness.
C)polarization.
D)indexing.

Question 18

When you pursue your own interests without denying the rights of others, you are being

A)nonjudgmental.
B)aggressive.
C)assertive.
D)assumptive.

Question 19

Communication that spontaneously and interactively exchanges messages with another person is called

A)interaction.
B)conversation.
C)dialogue.
D)impromptu talking.

Question 20

David has a habit of screaming, "You idiot!" whenever his brother does something he doesn't like.Which strategy for creating a supportive climate does his outburst violate?

A)Describe your own feelings rather than evaluate others.
B)Solve problems rather than control others.
C)Be genuine rather than manipulative.
D)Be flexible rather than rigid toward others.

Question 21

Language conveys meaning on two levels: content and feeling.

Question 22

When Justin hears the word "buggy," he thinks of a swamp-like area he lived in when he was younger.In the triangle of meaning, the memory he has for the word buggy is called the referent.

Question 23

The denotative level of meaning conveys the feelings and subjective associations a person has for a symbol.

Question 24

Assertiveness is self-oriented.

Question 25

Ethan realizes that when he communicates with Ji, who is an international student from South Korea, he may need to be sure that that his messages are more explicit, but they should not be condescending.This is an example of which of the following?

A)word picture
B)apology
C)elaborated code
D)polarization

Question 26

One study found that people who described the world in pessimistic terms when they were younger experienced negative health effects at middle age.

Question 27

The meaning of a symbol, such as a word, can change from culture to culture.

Question 28

Indexing your comments and remarks is a way to avoid which of the following word barriers?

A)words are arbitrary
B)allness
C)static evaluation
D)polarization

Question 29

When describing how you view a situation, using sarcasm can take some of the negativity out of the description.

Question 30

It is best to apologize immediately after you have made a mistake.

Question 31

In response to his son's request, Dad says, "I don't care what you want.You'll do what I tell you, when I tell you, and that's that!" Which strategies for creating a supportive climate does his outburst most likely violate?

A)Solve problems rather than control others.
B)Be genuine rather than manipulative.
C)Empathize rather than remain detached from others.
D)Describe your own feelings rather than evaluate others.

Question 32

Carly heard her communication professor use a word that she had not heard before and determined it would be a good idea to find out what the word meant.She consulted two dictionaries to be sure she had the literal meaning of the word.Carly was looking for which of the following meanings?

A)connotative
B)abstract.
C)denotative
D)onomatopoetic

Question 33

A malapropism occurs when two people use the same word to mean two different things.

Question 34

Open-ended questions create a more defensive climate than critical comments.

Question 35

Paul, who is slightly mentally challenged, laughs right along with the people who call him "the tard" at work.According to the research of John Seiter and his colleagues,

A)as long as it's clear to everyone that "the tard" is a term of endearment, it probably won't affect how Paul is perceived by his coworkers.
B)Paul is more likely to be perceived more sociable by his peers for going along with this harmless and mostly affectionate nickname.
C)Paul is more likely to be perceived as less trustworthy than if he was referred to in more positive terms.
D)The people who use this nickname when referring to Paul are likely to lose their jobs if overheard by their boss.

Question 36

We are more likely to apologize to people we barely know than we are to those with whom we share an intimate relationship.

Question 37

To Joseph, a "submarine" is a sandwich.To Alfonse, a "submarine" is a submersible ship.The different meanings Joseph and Alfonse apply to the word "submarine" reflect the fact that words are arbitrary.

Question 38

The way we talk to another forms the basis of a relationship with that person.

Question 39

A restricted code is a set of words that has a particular meaning to a person, group, or culture.

Question 40

When Cecilia is listening to her partner, she occasionally interjects, "Oh, I see" or "uh-huh" during the interaction, Cecilia is using backchannel talk.

Question 41

Use the word "fish" to describe the relationships between referents, thought, and symbols in the triangle of meaning developed by Ogden and Richards.

Question 42

What is the essence of linguistic determinism?

Question 43

Describe an effective apology and explain when it's most appropriate to offer it.

Question 44

Gregor's parents asked him how he liked the concert last night.Gregor responded with, "Wow, it was totally bad! I'm going out to get the group's CD." His parents wonder, "If the concert was bad, why would you want to get the group's CD?" Explain the language barrier most likely involved in this exchange.

Question 45

Explain the concept of extended "I" language and how it can help soften what could be perceived as a harsh message.Give an example.

Question 46

Explain symbolic interaction theory and its relevance to the study of interpersonal communication.

Question 47

Describe the difference(s)between assertive and aggressive communication and why one is preferable over the other.

Question 48

What is worldview and how does our worldview affect our interpretation of our experiences?

Question 49

Name the two concepts that form the basis for the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, and define what this hypothesis suggests.

Question 50

Hernando has taken on a new case with a patrol officer, LaTonya.He is just meeting LaTonya and wants to get better acquainted.Help Hernando by giving him suggestions to start a successful conversation with LaTonya and to sustain it.