Exam 5: Verbal Communication

Researchers estimate that the first humans to speak language as we know it lived in East Africa about __________ years ago.

Which answer best represents the progression of a subordinate to basic to superordinate term?

Linguist John McWhorter notes that many middle-class African Americans typically speak both Black English and Standard American English, alternating between the two, often in the same sentence. This ability is an example of

Whereas a symbol is an arbitrary collection of sounds, a sign

Most languages reflect a gender bias.

Language scholars C. K. Ogden and I. A. Richards employ a triangle to explain the three elements of language, which are

A euphemism substitutes a mild, indirect, or vague term for a harsh, blunt, or offensive one. Which of the following answers represents a euphemism?

Fully modern language probably evolved from simpler languages only 50,000 years ago.

When interacting with others in interpersonal and group contexts, say what you mean by speaking the way you talk, not the way you write.

Chapter 5, Verbal Communication, offers many strategies for improving your language (e.g., minimizing gender bias, swearing, and exclusionary language; expanding your vocabulary; using oral, active, and grammatical language; avoiding gobbledygook). Choose three of these strategies and describe how you can use them to improve your language. Make sure you describe (a) each strategy and provide examples of how to use it, (b) why you need to improve your language in this way, and (c) your plan for improving these aspects of your language.

One way to avoid gobbledygook is to avoid writing sentences with more than 10 words.

In high-context cultures, ____________ language may be perceived as rude, individualistic, and disrespectful.

Most people cannot naturally change the way they use language based on their relationships with other communicators.

The use of jargon is counterproductive and annoying in the workplace and in professional communication.

If the word "computer" evokes a negative image of an increasingly complex software nightmare that frustrates and infuriates you, what type of meaning is influencing your response to the word?

Do women talk more than men? Justify your answer to this question. Provide research examples to support your claims.

Which of the following is the best example of an abstract word?

Robin Lakoff, one of the first linguists to write about gender differences, claimed that women tend to use more tag questions at the end of sentences (such as "don't you agree?" and "haven't you?") than men.

When you use You language, you take responsibility for your own feelings and actions.

The Whorf Hypothesis, even in its most moderate form, highlights the profound connections between language and culture. Explain how this hypothesis influences our interaction with others, particularly in terms of a culture's (1) use of pronouns and (2) verbal directness. Explain how these two aspects of language can differ by culture, and provide examples to demonstrate your understanding.