Chapter 3 Verbal Communication Verbal Communication Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Verbal Communication

Verbal Communication

Chapter 3


Verbal Communication

• Talking and eloquence are not the same: to speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise speaks.

— Ben Jonson• The notion that thought can be perfectly or even adequately

expressed in verbal symbols is idiotic.

— Alfred North Whitehead• The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one language

and no single language is capable of expressing all forms and degrees of human comprehension.

— Ezra Pound


Learning Objectives

• understand the importance of language • see how language and culture are closely

linked • understand cultural influences on meaning of

words • understand the phenomenon of language

diversity

• understand cultural influences on discourse patterns and thinking patterns


Case 1 A Misunderstanding Caused by a Joke

Roger: Personal Executive, American multinational firm

Rosalita: a Brazilian woman

• Why was Roger confused by Rosalita’s behavior?

• Please give him an explanation.


While-Class Learning

Language Diversity D

Discourse Patterns and Thought Patterns E

Culture and Word Meaning C

Language and Culture B

The Importance of Language A


Text A. The Importance of Language

• the archives of history• human’s one major characteristic: ability to use

language• through it, make contact with outside world• employ words to relate to the past, control over the

present, form images of the future• use words to persuade, to exchange ideas, to express

views, to seek information, to express feelings

Understanding and appreciation of verbal language

as it functions in intercultural communication


Case 2 Slogans and the importance of language

PepsiUS: Come Alive with the Pepsi Generation.Chinese: Pepsi brings your ancestors back

from the grave.

Chevy Nova 切维诺瓦 ( 汽车品牌 )Nova no va no go

• What can be reflected concerning intercultural communication?


Text B. Pre-reading Activity

• How to translate these Chinese names

1. 阿吉 2. 阿祥 3. 阿如 4. 阿意 5. 乐洋洋


Text B. Language and Culture

• 3 categories of relationship between language and culture

1. Language ＋ Culture ＝ A Living Organization

↓ ↓ ↓

Flesh Blood Communication

2. Language ＋ Culture ＝ Swimming

↓ ↓ ↓

Swimming skills Water Communication

3. Language ＋ Culture ＝ Transportation

↓ ↓ ↓

Vehicle Traffic Light Communication



Relationship between language and culture• Language is part of culture and plays a distinct

role in it.

• Language is influenced and shaped by culture, it reflects culture.

• Language is both a means of communication and a channel of culture.

• Language and culture are inseparable.



Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis• a influential, controversial theory

• language helps mould way of thinking, different languages express unique ways of understanding

• language determine thinking patterns

• the greater structural differentiation is, the more diverse conceptualization of the world


Text B. two versions of Hypothesis

Linguistic Determinism (strong version)• Decisive role of language as shaper of thinking

Linguistic Relativity (weak version)• correlation between language, culture and

thought• cross-cultural differences produced in ways of

thinking are relative


Case 3 Snow

• What can be reflected concerning intercultural communication?

• How does this relate to the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis?

• Can you find some similar examples in your mother tongue?


Text C. Culture and Word Meaning

1. Types of Word Meanings

2. Culturally Loaded Words

3. Culture Reflections on Words for Colors, Animals and Plants


Concept

• two legs

• two wings

• a beak

• features


Label

• bird （英语）• oiseau ( 法语）• 鸟（汉语）• 鳥類 ( 日语 )


Words

• Cultural memories

• markers of cultural attention

• Encoded memories

phenomenon concept label


indication

• What is significant to society

• Interpretations of the world

• Social realities

Snow:Chinese (Southern, Northern)

Eskimo


C1. Types of Word Meanings

• Denotative Meaning: objects and concepts

外延意义；指示意义 • Connotative Meaning: feelings and

associations

内涵意义


Denotative meaning

从传统的词汇学角度来讲，词义包括概念意义和内涵意义。

• 所谓概念意义，也叫外延意义或认知意义（ cognitive meaning ），就是词汇的最基本意义，是语言符号所代表的事物的基本特征的抽象概括，常视为词语在字典中的定义或释义。

• Woman: [+HUMAN], [-MALE], [+ADULT]


connotative meaning

• 所谓内涵意义，是隐含于或附加在概念意义上的意义。社会、群体或个人都可以使一个词具有内涵意义，有时还是很不相同的内涵意义。这种差异既可以存在于两种语言、两种文化之间，也可以存在于一种语言和一种文化的亚文化之间。

• Woman:• Dog:• 英语中的 goose （ a man who is a stupid incompetent

fool ）有“愚蠢、傻瓜”的内涵意义，但汉语中的“鹅”却没有这种不好的内涵意义。


1a. Denotative meaning

Categories • Real objects

• Imaginary things

• Qualities of objects

• Feelings

• States of being

• Abstractions

• Actions


1a. Denotative meaning

Words with one meaning: • report card

Words with more than one meaning:• pot 1) a rounded container

2) a sum of money

3) ruin or deterioration

4) slang for marijuana（大麻） 5 ） a shot in which a billiard （台球的） ball is pocketed

use the correct word in the correct context to denote the intended meaning


1b. Connotative meaning

Culture determines connotations

• different connotations for different individuals, depending on experiences

e.g. your report card

• carefully choose connotative words

• much easier: with many similar experiences; more problematic: from distinct cultures


C2. Culturally Loaded Words

• Exact equivalent terms in any two languages are rare.

• Five categories of words are based on the degree of equivalence.

1) equivalents (or near equivalents)

2) no counterparts

3) the same objects or concepts on the surface

4) only partly equivalent

5) one or two terms in one, but many more in the other


2.1) equivalents (or near equivalents)

• Terms in one language that have equivalents (or near equivalents) in the other language.

• Comparatively there are fewer such words. e.g. 1) fox

2) natural substances: scientific, technological terms

Clone sheep Dolly is dead.


2.2) no counterparts

• 节气： a day marking one of the 24 divisions of the solar year in the traditional Chinese calendar; solar terms

• 中医的经络： the meridian theories of Chinese medicine • democracy ： 1 ） the political orientation of those who favor government

by the people or by their elected representatives ； 2 ） a political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them

• privacy• brunch ： combination breakfast and lunch; usually served in late morning

早午餐• car pool ： a small group of car drivers who arrange to take turns driving

while the others are passengers • commuter ： someone who travels regularly from home in a suburb to work

in a city

• splashdown ： a landing of a spacecraft in the sea at the end of a space

flight 在海中溅落，在海中降落


2.3) same objects/concepts on the surface, different things/connotations

English Chinese

a person’s spouse ： husband, wife, fiancé, or fiancée

爱人

Lover ： a man in love with or having a sexual relationship with a woman outside of marriage

a place where one works ： a school, a company, a factory or any other institution

单位： in China takes care of almost everything we are to encounter in our life and work


2.4) only partly equivalent

• family ： 1 ） a social unit living together

e.g. He moved his ~ to Virginia.

2 ） primary social group; parents and children

e.g. He wanted to have a good job before starting a ~.

• 家庭 : 以婚姻和血缘为纽带的基本社会单位 , 包括父母、子女及生活在一起的其他亲属。

• play ： 1 ） participate in games or sport

2 ） ~ about/around (with sb/sth): (informal) have a sexual relationship with sb, usually with sb who is not usual partner 鬼混；私混

e.g. Her husband is always ~ing around. 总是在外沾花惹草。

• 玩：玩耍；玩弄


2.5) one or two in one, many more in the other

• 祖母，奶奶；外祖母，外婆 1 ） a social unit living together

e.g. He moved his ~ to Virginia.

2 ） primary social group; parents and children

e.g. He wanted to have a good job before starting a ~.

• grandmother 以婚姻和血缘为纽带的基本社会单位 , 包括父母、子女及生活在一起的其他亲属。


2.5) one or two in one, many more in the other

English Chinese

grandmother 祖母，奶奶；外祖母，外婆teacher 教师 , 老师 , 教员 , 导师 , 师长 ,

先生

Translate:

Linda’s brother married Michael’s sister.


C3. Cultural Reflections on Words

• a. Words for Colors • b. Words for Animals

• c. Words for Plants


3a. Words for Colors • Colors have both similar and different meanings in

different languages. e.g. mourning: black? white?

Color Meaning English Chinese

RED

similar: celebrations, joyful occasions

red-letter days, paint the town red 开门红 , 红榜 , 红火 , 又红又专

different red-handed: in the act of committing a crime or other reprehensible act 正在作案的；手染血的 see red: become angry 突然发怒，大怒 red-light district （美）红灯区（城镇中的妓院区）

The Red Lantern Story 红灯记

WHITE

similar: purity, innocence

different white lies: trivial, harmless, well-intentioned untruths

红白喜事： weddings and funerals


3b. Words for Animals • usually have same denotations in different languages, but

very often distinct connotations

Animal English Chinese

dog positive derogative 贬义的

lucky dog ， work like a dog ( 拼命工作 )

狗急跳墙 , 狗仗人势 , 狼心狗肺 , 狗腿子

龙 dragon: fire-spitting monster

龙： symbol of emperor in ancient

cruel and fierce almighty （ having unlimited power 全能的；有无限权力的）

must be destroyed 望子成龙


3b. Words for Plants • usually have same denotations in different languages, but

very often distinct connotations


Case 4 终身大事 • Choose the correct meaning of “ 终身大事” . a. 工作 b. 事业 c. 婚姻 d. 生死

• Why did the American guest have difficulty figuring out the implied meaning?


While-Class Learning: Text D

• Language Diversity

1. Dialect

2. Pidgin

3. Lingua Franca

4. Taboo and Euphemism

5. Jargon


D1. Dialect • a variant form of a language

• peculiar to a group of people

• dialects of English British English

American English

Black English

ESL English

international English

regional and ethnic group variants of the language


D2. Pidgin 洋泾浜语

• a special language variety mixing/blending languages

a. for restricted purposes such as trading b. as a result of colonialization in military-occupied areas

• two characteristics a. no native speakers b. simple linguistic and grammatical structure

久违了 !

Long time no see!


D3. Lingua Franca 通用语

• highly valued ， compared with pidgin • for communication purposes between different

groups of people • an international means of communication Latin French English


D4. Taboo and Euphemism 委婉语

• Taboo ： prohibition of a set of avoided behaviors for offensive and impoliteness

• Euphemism: linguistic counterpart substituting the offensive and disturbing vocabulary

• taboo vary from culture to culture, customs and perceptions of the society play an important role

• euphemism: substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt

e.g. “To pass away” is a euphemism for “to die.” more examples?


D5. Jargon 行话

• special or technical vocabularies developed to meet the special needs of particular professions

• language of a professional, occupational, or other group, often meaningless to outsiders


Text E. Discourse Patterns and Thought Patterns

• Sources of miscommunication lie in differences in patterns of discourse, depending on thought patterns.

• Thought patterns vary greatly.

• Two contrasting thought patterns have stronger impact on discourse patterns.

1. Linear and Nonlinear Language

2. Deductive and Inductive Patterns

Chinese synthesis, imagination, unity, subjectivity, and inductive reasoning

Westerners analysis, logic, dichotomy, objectivity, and deductive reasoning


E.1 Linear and Nonlinear Language

a. Linear language 线性语言 1. a beginning, an end 2. logical, object oriented 3. example: English (time as a continuum of past,

present, and future) 4. business practices: short-range planning

b. Nonlinear language 非线性语言 1. circular, tradition oriented and subjective

2. business practices: long-range planning


E.1 Linear and Nonlinear Language

• 5 cultural patterns related to 5 major language groups

1) English 2) Semitic ( 闪语，是古代美索不达米亚语言的一

个支系。闪族人，是起源于阿拉伯半岛的游牧人民。阿拉伯人、犹太人都是闪族人。今天生活在中东北非的大部份居民，不过就是阿拉伯化的古代闪族人的后裔。 )

3) Oriental 4) Romance （罗曼语 , 拉丁系语言 ( 包括意大利语

、西班牙语、葡萄牙语、法语和罗马尼亚语等 )[ 亦作Romanic ， Romance languages] ）

5) Russian


1. 1 English Language Group

• a vertical straight line suggesting of “direction” • linear logical development of paragraph

a topic statement

related supporting ideas

a conclusion

• linearity, directness, clarity, and logic


1. 3 Oriental Language Group

• a circular, spiral line suggesting of “indirection” • organization is “off the point”, “out of focus”,

“indirect”, and even “awkward” for English natives

• incapable of grasping the main idea or not so honest and straightforward as Westerners


E.2 Deductive and Inductive Patterns

Induction particular/minor points general/major topic

Deduction general/major topic particular/minor points

Inductive argument

specific/minor arguments placed first, general statement as a conclusion reached

Deductive argument

general statement/major topic presented first, supporting specific statements followed


E.2 Deductive and Inductive Patterns

Chinese Westernersinductive reasoning deductive reasoning

delay the topic advance the topic directly

inductive discourse patterns

deductive discourse patterns


Findings:

• Both English and Chinese have recourses to the deductive and the inductive.

• Chinese have a preference for the inductive because of reluctance to impose.

• Westerners tend to think Chinese like to communicate in an indirect way.

• Which one to use depends on a number of factors including power difference, social distance and weight of imposition of a request.


Thank You

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Chapter 3 Verbal Communication Verbal Communication Chapter 3