Scribd
Upload
121 views

The Impact of Language On Communication

This document discusses how language can act as both a bridge and barrier in communication. It begins by explaining the symbolic nature of language and how misunderstandings can arise from differences in semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic rules. Semantic rules govern meaning, syntactic rules govern grammar, and pragmatic rules govern implied meanings based on context. The document uses examples of letters and workplace interactions to illustrate how misunderstandings can occur when people interpret language differently based on these rules. It argues that language shapes not just individual interactions but entire cultural attitudes as well.

Uploaded by

Time to Fun
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
121 views

The Impact of Language On Communication

This document discusses how language can act as both a bridge and barrier in communication. It begins by explaining the symbolic nature of language and how misunderstandings can arise from differences in semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic rules. Semantic rules govern meaning, syntactic rules govern grammar, and pragmatic rules govern implied meanings based on context. The document uses examples of letters and workplace interactions to illustrate how misunderstandings can occur when people interpret language differently based on these rules. It argues that language shapes not just individual interactions but entire cultural attitudes as well.

Uploaded by

Time to Fun
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 17

THE IMPACT OF

LANGUAGE ON
COMMUNICATION
As Bridge or Barrier
Language slide-1
 language is clearly a marvelous tool
Without language, we would be more ignorant,
incompetent, and isolated.
 After a quick explanation of the symbolic nature of
language, we examine the sources of language-based
misunderstandings.
 We then move beyond the challenges
of simply understanding one another and explore how the
language we use affects the climate of interpersonal
relationship.
Continue;- slide=2
 Finally, we broaden our focus even more to look at
how linguistic practices shape the attitudes of entire
cultures.
Language as Symbolic slide=3
 Nature of language is symbolic.
 In the natural world, signs have a direct connection
with the things they represent.

 For example, smoke is a sign that something’s


burning, and a high fever is a sign of illness.
understandings and
Misunderstandings slide - 4

 Language is rather like plumbing: We pay the most


attention to it when something
goes wrong. But the problems that arise from
misunderstandings aren’t always
immediately apparent, and they occur more often
than we imagine.
 Most people vastly overestimate how well their
explanations get through and how well they
understand others.
Continue;- slide=5
 Because misunderstandings are the greatest cause
of concern
for most people who study language, we’ll begin
our study by looking at sets of rules
we use to understand—and sometimes
misunderstand—one another’s speech.
Understanding Words: Semantic Rulesslide - 6

Semantic rules reflect the ways in which users of a


language assign meaning to a particular linguistic
symbol, usually a word.

Semantic rules make it possible for us to agree that


“bikes” are for riding and “books” are for reading,
and they help us know who we are ?
Continue;- slide 7
 Without semantic rules, communication would be
impossible because
each of us would use symbols in unique ways,
without sharing meaning.

 Semantic misunderstandings arise when people


assign different meanings to the same
words.
Understanding Structure: Syntactic Rules slide - 8

 Syntactic rules
 govern the grammar of a language. You can
appreciate how
syntax contributes to the meaning of a statement by
considering two versions
of a letter.
LETTER 1 slide-9
 Version 1

Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are
generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to
being useless and inferior.
You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no
feelings whatsoever when we’re apart. I can be forever happy—
will you let me be yours?
Mary
Letter 2 slide - 10
 Version 2
Dear John:
I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are
generous, kind,
thoughtful people, who are not like you. Admit to being
useless and inferior.
You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have
no feelings whatsoever. When we’re apart, I can be forever
happy. Will you let me be?
Yours,
Mary
Continue slide - 12
 Semantic rules don’t explain why these letters send
virtually opposite
messages. There’s no ambiguity about the meaning
of the words they contain:
love, kind, thoughtful, and so on. The opposite
meanings of the letters came
from their different syntax.
Understanding Context: Pragmatic
Rule slide - 13

 Study of hidden meanings, meaning which is not communicated in words.


 To appreciate a different type
of communication challenge, imagine how a young
female employee might struggle to make sense of her
older male boss’s statement,
 “You look very pretty
today.” She almost certainly would understand the
meaning of the words, and the syntax is perfectly
clear. Still, the boss’s message could be interpreted in
several ways. You look nice today.
Continue;- slide-14
 Was the remark a simple compliment?
A come-on? Did it contain the suggestion that she
didn’t look nice on other days? n’t look nice on
other days?
If the boss and employee share the same
interpretation of the message, their communication
would
be smooth. But if they bring different perspectives
to interpreting it, a problem exist
continue slide- 15
 Some pragmatic rules are shared by most people in
a culture. In North
America, for instance, competent communicators
understand that the question
“How’s it going?” usually isn’t really a request for
information. Anyone familiar
with the rules of conversation knows that the
proper answer is something like.
Continue slide 16
 “Pretty good. How’s it going with you?” Likewise,
most people understand the
pragmatic rule that says that “Would you like
a drink?” means “Would you like an alcoholic
beverage?” whereas “Would you like something to
drink? Is more open ended question.
The End

You might also like