Language
(verbal communication)
Professor Patricia Harris-Jenkinson
Language
(verbal communication)
Distinction between verbal communication
(language) and nonverbal communication:
Verbal = words (can be written)
Nonverbal = everything but the words
This lecturette will cover:
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Language meanings
Differences between written & oral styles
Suggestions on language use
Language techniques (literary styles)
Suggestions for using language effectively
An Effective Speaking Style:
• Helps gain and maintain attention
• Helps your listener understand your message
• Helps your audience remember your message
Language Meaning:
Denotation & Connotation
• Different types of meanings attached to
words
▫ Denotation - the primary associations a word
has for most members in a given linguistic
community (dictionary definition)
▫ Connotation - other, secondary associations a
word has for one or more members of that
community (the “feelings” people have about
the words they use)
Language Meaning:
Denotation & Connotation
• Different types of meanings attached to
words
▫ Denotation - the primary associations a word
has for most members in a given linguistic
community (dictionary definition)
▫ Connotation - other, secondary associations a
word has for one or more members of that
community (the “feelings” people have about
the words they use)
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Differences Between
Written & Oral Styles
• Oral is more personal than written
• Oral is less formal than written
• Oral is more repetitious than written
• Oral requires more elaboration than
written
Language should be:
• Concrete
• Vivid
• Simple
• To the point
Arrange from the most abstract to
the most concrete
• vehicle, automobile, Corvette,
transportation, sports car
• novel, reading material, The Hobbit,
book
• entertainer, comedian, celebrity,
Bill Cosby
• fruit, Navel, citrus, plant, orange
Language should be:
• Concrete
• Vivid
Vivid language
From: Ashöka West End restaurant (Indian Food)
Jalandhri - A potent fusion of ginger, garlic,
onions, peppers, coconut cream, and fresh
herbs simmered in a chili sauce.
Malaindar Curry with Garlic - Spinach
puree simmered with lashings of green chili
and garlic a dash of fresh cream, available in
chicken, lamb, or king prawn.
Language should be:
• Concrete
• Vivid
• Simple
• To the point
Language should be
correct and accurate
• Good and varied vocabulary
▫ malapropism
• Proper grammar
• Clear (and unambiguous)
Language should be
correct and accurate
• Good and varied vocabulary
▫ malapropism
• Proper grammar
• Clear (and unambiguous)
• Precise
On Precise Language:
The difference between the almost right word and
the right word is really a large matter—
it’s the difference between the
lightning bug
and the lightning.
Mark Twain
Language should be
correct and accurate
• Good and varied vocabulary
▫ malapropism
• Proper grammar
• Clear (and unambiguous)
• Precise
• Properly pronounced
Kinds of Mispronunciation
• Misplaced stress/accent
• Omission
comparable
com par’ a ble
comp’ ra ble
X
February
• Additional sound
wash
warsh
• Sound substitution
gei t
Sources of Mispronunciation
• Left-over childhood errors
• Regional pronunciation
• Sounding it out phonetically
▫ You don’t know the word
▫ You’ve seen it written but
not pronounced
victuals
Techniques
• Metaphor
• Simile
• Alliteration
• Assonance
• Parallelism
• Antithesis
• Personification
For more techniques and examples
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/
Suggestions for
Using Language Effectively
• Consider your words
▫ Use words appropriate for your audience and your
topic
▫ Use short, common words effectively
• Improve your written and spoken vocabulary:
▫ Learn to use a dictionary and book of synonyms &
antonyms
▫ Have, at your command, more than one
word/expression for the same concept
▫ Develop a habit of careful writing
continued...
Suggestions for
Using Language Effectively
continued
• Look at style used elsewhere
• Use stylistic techniques:
▫ When you want to capture your audience’s
attention or remember your key ideas
▫ To economize your words
• Practice
▫ Use stylistic techniques in your messages (formally
and informally)
▫ Out loud and often
• Try to be original
• Don’t overdo it