Deck 6: Language

Question 1

Linguistic relativism is a notion that holds that our cultural worldview is shaped and reflected by the language spoken by its members.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

High-level abstractions can be useful as verbal shorthand between two people who know each other well.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Men discuss with other men the same conversation topics that women discuss with other women.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

American Sign Language is considered a literal system of communication rather than symbolic.

Question 5

Women use more indirect and elaborate ways of talking than men do.

Question 6

Emotive words are words that sound as if they're describing something, but are really announcing the speaker's attitude toward it.

Question 7

Research shows that linguistic differences are more often a function of gender roles than they are of biological sex.

Question 8

Men and women report using language for different purposes.

Question 9

Equivocal words are words that can be interpreted in more than one way.

Question 10

A formal language culture will have different vocabularies for different sexes, levels of social status, different types of occasions, or degrees of intimacy.

Question 11

Statements that contain the word "is" ("Luis is an active guy") may lead to the assumption that people are unchanging.

Question 12

"I'm rather upset" is more powerful language than "I'm upset."​

Question 13

Your text confirms the stereotype that women are more likely to talk about feelings and relationships than men are.

Question 14

A perfectly worded "I" message delivered with total sincerity will ensure that the other person will not get defensive.

Question 15

All human languages are symbolic in nature.

Question 16

Inferential statements are conclusions arrived at from an interpretation of evidence.

Question 17

Relative words gain their meaning from comparison.

Question 18

"No" is so clear and short that it is one of the few words that is never misinterpreted in any intercultural exchange.

Question 19

Syntactic rules govern the grammatical aspects of a language.

Question 20

The U.S.is a high-context language culture.

Question 21

After years of research, it has been concluded that names have little effect on how others think of us and the way we act.

Question 22

Speakers of expressive and elaborate languages, such as Arabic, probably do not value silence as much as speakers with a more succinct style.

Question 23

Communication scholars use the term "cooperation" to describe the way conversation operates when everyone involved uses the same set of pragmatic rules.

Question 24

There are never times when equivocal language can be useful.

Question 25

Communication researchers call the process of adapting one's speech style to match that of others convergence.

Question 26

Syntactic misunderstandings arise when people assign different meanings to the same words.

Question 27

The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis is the best known declaration of​

A)​convergence.
B)​linguistic relativism.
C)​identity.
D)​emotive theory.
E)​pragmatism.

Question 28

When a speaker uses powerful speech pattern he/she​

A)​tends to be received more positively in culture like Mexico.
B)​stresses relational goals over content goals.
C)​may undermine relational goals to accomplish short term goals.
D)​will use very polite phrases and intensifiers.
E)​will be successful in all communication encounters.

Question 29

Language can shape our perceptions of the world.

Question 30

In a low-context language culture, you will notice​

A)​indirect expression of opinions.
B)​use of silence admired.
C)​less reliance on explicit verbal messages.
D)​self-expression valued.
E)​ambiguity admired.

Question 31

Swearing has no useful role in the workplace.

Question 32

"I" language offers a more accurate and less provocative way to express a complaint.

Question 33

Researchers have found that "I/we" combinations have a good chance of being received favorably.

Question 34

Speech can build and demonstrate solidarity with others.

Question 35

There are some occasions when less powerful forms of speech can enhance a speaker's effectiveness.

Question 36

Low-level abstract language can lead to blanket judgments and stereotyping.

Question 37

Turning words into numbers helps make them more concrete and specific.

Question 38

The process of static evaluation implies that people or things are unchanging.

Question 39

Affiliation can be seen in online communities by increased use of "we."

Question 40

Expressions of disapproval are likely to be received more positively if they include a disclaimer such as "I don't mean to sound judgmental but…"

Question 41

"People from the East Coast are rude." Which of the following abstraction problems is illustrated by this statement?​

A)​stereotyping
B)​confusing others
C)​confusing yourself
D)​being too frank
E)​bicoastalism

Question 42

You told Jimmy that I didn't want to go out with him.

A)​inference
B)​fact

Question 43

All of the following statements about gender and language are true except which one?​

A)​Men's speech is more direct and task-oriented.
B)​Women's speech is more indirect and elaborate.
C)​Female speech often contains statements of sympathy and empathy.
D)​Women interrupt men more in mixed-sex conversations.
E)​Women are more likely to use more intensive adverbs than men.

Question 44

Equivocal words​

A)​have more than one commonly accepted definition.
B)​are low-level abstractions.
C)​mean the same to all people and are thus redundant.
D)​have meanings one person can guess at but another can't.
E)​have no known nonverbal signals to accompany them.

Question 45

Succinctness in language is most extreme in cultures where

A)​silence is valued.
B)​the language system is limited.
C)​more than one language is spoken.
D)​verbal fluency is admired.
E)​the use of equivocation is high.

Question 46

Which of the following is the least abstract definition of a successful college experience?​

A)​a better understanding of Western civilization
B)​completion of the requirements listed on page 24 of the college catalog with a grade-point average of 2.0 or higher
C)​the ability to express oneself clearly, understand principles of the arts and sciences, and have some expertise in a chosen field of study
D)​both intellectual and social adjustment
E)​the ability to contribute to society

Question 47

If you take an "easy" class your friend recommended and find it "hard," you have had semantic problems due to​

A)​euphemistic language.
B)​relative words.
C)​equivocal words.
D)​fiction terms.
E)​semantic distracters.

Question 48

If I say "here the drink bring," I have violated a(n) __________ rule of our language.

A)​initial
B)​syntactic
C)​median
D)​semantic
E)​final

Question 49

Jim wrote me a letter to help me get that job.

A)​inference
B)​fact

Question 50

When we study semantic rules, we learn that

A)​words mean a lot in and of themselves.
B)​understanding occurs as a result of users agreeing on the same meanings for words.
C)​words typically can be interpreted in only one way.
D)​meanings rest more in words than in the people who use them.
E)​All of these choices are correct are true about semantic rules.

Question 51

You are trying to hurt me.

A)​inference
B)​fact

Question 52

Syntactic rules of language govern​

A)​the grammar of a language.
B)​the ways in which speakers respond to symbols.
C)​the words that become slang.
D)​the creation of new tactics.
E)​the way that semanticists create meaning

Question 53

Which of the following statements best illustrates a fact?

A)​"It's clear you shouldn't have said that."
B)​"Fact number one: you said a dumb thing."
C)​"It's a fact that playing mind games always backfires."
D)​"I heard you tell Tim you weren't interested."
E)​"You should have thought about the result of saying you weren't interested before you opened your mouth."

Question 54

Why are you mad at me?

A)​inference
B)​fact

Question 55

In cultures that stress formality in language,​

A)​using correct grammar is most important.
B)​language use defines social position.
C)​the people talk less.
D)​there are fewer real friendships.
E)​the people are too stiff to really communicate.

Question 56

Which of the following is a way to avoid the abstraction in the statement "I've got to be a better student"?

A)​"I'm going to spend two hours a day studying."
B)​"I'm going to try harder."
C)​"I'm going to get some help from some places on campus."
D)​"My mother and father will be happier if I'm a better student."
E)​"Instructors like students who try hard."

Question 57

"We" language

A)​may accomplish the goals of "I" language and sound less egotistical.
B)​should be avoided when expressing personal feelings and thoughts.
C)​can signal closeness and cohesiveness with others.
D)​can offend another person in some circumstances.
E)​All of these choices are correct.

Question 58

A speaker's willingness to take responsibility for his/her thoughts or feelings can be indicated by the use of

A)​singular terms.
B)​"I" language.
C)​"you" language.
D)​consequence terms.
E)​euphemisms.

Question 59

Making an inference is a reasonable thing to do relationally as long as​

A)​you make a number of them.
B)​you wait for the other to infer also.
C)​the other person understands you.
D)​you identify the inference to the other person.
E)​you first describe the observable behavior that led to the inference.

Question 60

Your children are disruptive.

A)​inference
B)​fact

Question 61

In your own words, explain the statement "meanings rest more in people than in words." Cite examples from your own experience.

Question 62

Of the following statements, which is not characteristic of powerful speech?

A)​It can help candidates in job interviews.
B)​It often results in a favorable impression.
C)​It is always preferred over less powerful forms of speech.
D)​It gets different results in different cultures.
E)​All of these choices are characteristic of powerful speech.

Question 63

Analyze a recent misunderstanding that occurred because you and another person relied on different sets of semantic or pragmatic rules.How could the situation have been avoided? What advice could you give to others about this area of communication?​

Question 64

Statements that basically cancel the thought that precedes them are

A)​"it" statements.
B)​"but" statements.
C)​"we" statements.
D)​"I/we" statements.
E)​"you" statements.

Question 65

Describe what abstract language is and how you use unnecessarily abstract language that causes communication problems.Give at least five examples.Tell how you could lower the level of abstraction in each of the examples you have given or provide reasons why the higher-level abstraction is justified and relationally beneficial.

Question 66

Convergent speech patterns

A)​demonstrate superiority over others.
B)​express power and a sense of formality.
C)​demonstrate affiliation with one another.
D)​always utilize "I" statements instead of "you" statements.
E)​None of these choices are correct.

Question 67

"Frank is lazy" is an example of which semantic problem?

A)​equivocation
B)​relative language
C)​abstraction
D)​static evaluation
E)​none of the above

Question 68

Communication researchers call the process of adapting one's speech style to match that of others

A)​identity.
B)​convergence.
C)​divergence.
D)​semanticism.
E)​agreement.

Question 69

A female employee may rely on __________ to interpret her older male boss's statement, "You look very nice in that sweater."

A)​semantic rules
B)​syntactic rules
C)​pragmatic rules
D)​abstract language
E)​relative words

Question 70

The Star Wars character, Yoda, is following a different set of __________ rules when he says things like "the dark side are they."

A)​pragmatic
B)​semantic
C)​syntactic
D)​all of the above
E)​none of the above

Question 71

How could you increase the power of the statement "I, uh, think I'd be a little happier if you could make it on time.Okay?"?

A)​Revise the sequential placement.
B)​Use perception checking.
C)​Use more disclaimers.
D)​Add a tag question.
E)​None of the above increases the power of the statement.

Question 72

Highly abstract language can lead to which of the following problems?

A)​stereotyping
B)​misunderstandings
C)​blanket judgments
D)​confusion
E)​all of these choices are correct

Question 73

According to your text, each language has its own unique style that distinguishes it from others.Explain the three ways verbal styles vary across cultures.Include examples in your discussion.

Question 74

Which of the following is an accurate statement from the "Swearing at Work" reading?

A)​Hearers who are surprised by a speaker's swearing are likely to deem the person as incompetent.
B)​Swearing can express emotional intensity.
C)​Swearing can be a term of endearment.
D)​Not swearing can violate the norms of some organizations.
E)​All of the above are accurate statements.

Question 75

"Language is power." Discuss this statement, using (a) an explanation of the types of powerful/powerless language given in your text, and (b) examples of these types of language in your own life.

Question 76

Three linguistic habits often cause disagreements: fact-opinion confusion, fact-inference confusion, and emotive language.Explain two of the habits and provide examples in your answer.

Question 77

A behavioral description should include

A)​who is involved.
B)​in what circumstances the behavior occurs.
C)​the specific behaviors.
D)​All of these choices are correct.
E)​None of these choices are correct.

Question 78

What type of misunderstanding occurs when people assign different meanings to the same words?

A)​syntactic
B)​pragmatic
C)​semantic
D)​disruptive
E)​linguistic relativism