04:192:201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Politeness Theory, Tag Question, Jargon

• School: Rutgers University
• Department: Communication
• Course: 04:192:201
• Professor: Entree

Document Summary

Language: the words people use to communicate and knowledge about how to use those words. The nature of verbal communication to create a meaningful message. Abstract language: words with general meanings that refer to broad categories of object, events, or behavior. (this means that words stand for objects, people, ideas, etc. , but words are not themselves the things that they represent. ) Concrete( ) language:words that refer to specific events and behaviors or tangible objects that are available to the senses. Using concrete language may be especially helpful when you want to avoid miscommunication about sensitive issues. Concrete language helps a communication partner to better understand what the other person is thinking or feeling and to form an appropriate response. People pay more attention to persuasive messages that use concrete language (e. g. sugar causes tooth decay and obesity ), rather than abstract or vague terms (e. g. , sugar is bad for you ).