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Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. True or false? On the abstraction ladder discussed in the text, the word “fork” would be more abstract than
the word “utensil.”
a.
True
b.
False
2. True or false? Asking questions is a way of using language to accomplish the functional competency of
informing.
a.
True
b.
False
3. Using abstract words that have unclear or misleading definitions to get out of an uncomfortable situation is
referred to as:
a.
euphemizing.
b.
equivocation.
c.
evasion.
d.
imagining.
4. True or false? Medical jargon like “phlebotomy” is an example of high language.
a.
True
b.
False
5. True or false? When comparing men and women who have equal status, men tend to interrupt more often
than women.
a.
True
b.
False
6. True or false? “I feel like maybe this movie is too violent for us to see as a family.” This statement includes a
disclaimer.
a.
True
b.
False
7. True or false? The functional competency of imagining refers to our ability to use language to play as well as
our ability to think and be creative in communication.
a.
True
b.
False
8. Which term refers to the meaning that words have for people, either because of their definitions or their
placement in a sentence?
a.
pragmatics
b.
labeling
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c.
semantics
d.
abstraction
9. Over dinner, Ashleigh tells her family a hilarious story about how she and her bestie photobombed a couple
trying to take a selfie in the food court at the mall. Her sister laughs and shouts “You’re cray!” While the girls
laugh, their parents stare blankly. The parents are MOST likely confused by the girls’ use of which language
form?
a.
jargon
b.
slang
c.
euphemism
d.
equivocation
10. True or false? Speakers who use qualifiers, hedges, and disclaimers are usually perceived to be uncertain or
hesitant and, therefore, less powerful.
a.
True
b.
False
11. Technical language that is specific to members of a particular profession, interest group, or hobby is referred
to as:
a.
a euphemism.
b.
slang.
c.
jargon.
d.
an abstraction.
12. True or false? Although lower abstractions ensure clarity, we sometimes use high abstractions to accomplish
specific communication goals.
a.
True
b.
False
13. True or false? Pragmatics refers to the meanings words have for people.
a.
True
b.
False
14. True or false? Competent communication through technological media like email requires communicators to
use clearer language than is usually required in face-to-face communication to make up for the nonverbal cues
that are missing.
a.
True
b.
False
15. True or false? The use of politically correct language is unanimously accepted in the discipline of
communication as a positive thing because it removes bias from language and helps people communicate more
clearly.
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a.
True
b.
False
16. True or false? Microaggressions are a type of hurtful language that is more subtle than overtly aggressive.
a.
True
b.
False
17. True or false? Jargon is an informal form of language that is known to most people in a particular culture at
a particular time.
a.
True
b.
False
18. What term refers to a form of accommodation in which a communicator changes his or her regular language
and slang to fit into a particular group?
a.
political correctness
b.
hedging
c.
qualifying
d.
code switching
19. True or false? The term “felon” as a label for a person who committed a crime has widespread negative
connotations.
a.
True
b.
False
20. True or false? Although grammar is important in written communication, the transactional nature of oral
communication means that using correct grammar is not required to communicate effectively.
a.
True
b.
False
21. Antwon compliments his mother’s new hairstyle just before he asks her if she can loan him some money for
the weekend, hoping that this will put her in a good mood and improve his chances of getting the loan. His
compliment is serving which functional communication competency?
a.
feeling
b.
ritualizing
c.
informing
d.
controlling
22. True or false? When Kent, who lives in Illinois, visited his cousins in Los Angeles, he got a confused look
when he asked them if they had any “pop.” After a few seconds, his aunt said, “Oh, you want a soda!” This
demonstrates how geography can account for linguistic differences.
a.
True
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b.
False
23. When Jax’s roommate asks if Jax would bring the roommate’s cat home after the winter holidays, Jax
remembers how his aunt’s house smelled like a soiled litter box and that there was cat hair all over the furniture.
Jax feels a great sense of reluctance. His response is related to what kind of meaning for “cat”?
a.
denotative meaning
b.
connotative meaning
c.
encoded meaning
d.
cognitive language
24. Saying that they “put their dog to sleep” instead of saying that “their dog was euthanized.” This is an
example of:
a.
jargon
b.
a euphemism
c.
an equivocation
d.
evasion
25. How many important aspects of informing exist?
a.
two
b.
three
c.
four
d.
five
26. True or false? When Tom’s manager sat down with him to tell him he was fired from his job at the car
wash, he said, “Tom, I’m going to have to let you go.” This less offensive turn of phrase would be considered a
euphemism.
a.
True
b.
False
27. True or false? Grammar includes rules about how words should be pronounced as well as how they should
be placed in sentences.
a.
True
b.
False
28. The consistently accepted definition of a word is referred to as its:
a.
denotative meaning.
b.
connotative meaning.
c.
encoded meaning.
d.
cognitive language.
29. True or false? When Adrian’s professor says he will have to give a presentation in class, Adrian feels his
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heart start to race and his palms begin to sweat. Adrian probably reacts this way because his denotative meaning
for the word “presentation” is unpleasant.
a.
True
b.
False
30. In which context would you be MOST likely to use high language?
a.
You meet your friends for coffee at cafe.
b.
You interview for an internship at an advertising agency.
c.
You run into your best friend’s dad at the mall.
d.
You meet for a study session with friends from your sociology class.
31. True or false? Using informal language within a conversation can create a comfortable and informal context.
a.
True
b.
False
32. True or false? There are no benefits to labeling a person.
a.
True
b.
False
33. True or false? When someone says a disagreement is related to semantics, the person is suggesting that the
root of the problem is disagreement about the meaning the words have to the people involved.
a.
True
b.
False
34. True or false? Equivocation is a type of abstract language that is sometimes referred to as a “lie of
omission.”
a.
True
b.
False
35. True or false? Every word has both a denotative and connotative meaning.
a.
True
b.
False
36. Grammatical rules that dictate how words should be pronounced are referred to as:
a.
syntactical rules.
b.
phonetic rules.
c.
phonological rules.
d.
articulation rules.
37. True or false? Feeling is one of the important aspects of informing.
a.
True
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b.
False
38. True or false? On their first date, Brinley asked Colby, “What do you do for a living?” Colby responded
vaguely, “Oh, I work in retail.” Brinley had to ask, “What types of stores?” and “What types of positions have
you held?” in order to get Colby to provide any specific details. We would categorize Colby’s initial highly
abstract response as equivocation.
a.
True
b.
False
39. The communication competency of expressing feeling emphasizes that emotions are deeply personal and
that there are no real standards of appropriateness or effectiveness for how we express feelings.
a.
True
b.
False
40. The system of symbols (words) we use to think about and communicate experiences and feelings is called:
a.
denotative code.
b.
connotative code.
c.
language.
d.
body language.
41. Provide an example of a context in which high language would be appropriate and an example of a context
in which low language would be an appropriate choice.
42. Contrast the difference between slang and jargon.
43. Define and provide an example of a euphemism.
44. Synthesizing what you know about the situational context, the relational context, and the cultural context,
illustrate how language is bound by, builds on, and creates culture in each context.
45. In your own words, what is the difference between semantics and pragmatics?
46. Explain both the negative and positive sides of gossip.
47. Define and give an example of a tag question.
48. Define the difference between denotative meaning and connotative meaning.
49. Define the process of code switching.
50. What is the difference between hate speech and hurtful language?
51. Why is the use of abstract language described as a language problem? Why and how would someone
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intentionally use abstract language to accomplish his or her communication goals?
52. Considering what you have learned throughout this chapter and others, explain why it is important to label
the things in our world, including people. Why is labeling problematic?
53. Tanya is a student who attends college in her hometown. She has recently landed a summer internship at a
prestigious law firm in New York City. She’s an intelligent woman and works hard—she is a star among her
college peers, yet her colleagues dismiss her questions and comments in meetings because of her casual,
informal low-language. They don’t seem to understand what she’s saying and do not seem to recognize her
intelligence. Give Tanya some advice about her linguistic challenges using concepts from the text. Specifically,
what can Tanya do to manage this communication problem?
54. Why might jargon cause miscommunication in some contexts?
55. Describe the differences in traditionally masculine and feminine language use. Why is it useful for us to
understand these differences? In what ways is it problematic to define particular language patterns as masculine
or feminine?
56. Define the concept of politically correct language. How do the principles of cognitive language illuminate
the underlying assumptions of the political correctness movement? What do you understand to be the pros and
cons of using politically correct language?
57. List and explain the five functional communication competencies.
58. Where do profane words and expressions get their meaning and social impact?
59. Briefly describe the meaning of the abstraction ladder. What is the difference between words at the top of
the ladder as compared to the ones on the lower rungs?
60. Provide a brief example to illustrate how we use the ritualizing function of language.
61. What do we mean when we say that competent communicators use language that meets a standard of
civility, and how does that differ from rude or profane language?
62. Explain what we mean when we say that language is symbolic, informed by our thoughts, ruled by
grammar, bound by context, and that words have multiple meanings.
63. What are the challenges of using communication technology to communicate verbally? What can we do to
manage those challenges? In what ways have technologies like email, chat, and text messaging changed the way
we communicate verbally?
64. Using a brief narrative example, illustrate how a person might understand how to use language semantically
but not grasp how to use those same words on a pragmatic level.
65. Overall, what has research shown are the differences between how communicators identifying as men or
women view the purpose of communication?
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