Deck 4: The World of Words

Question 1

Communication rules tell us.

A) what to say
B) when to speak
C) how to interpret others' communication
D) all of these
E) none of these

Answer 1

D

Question 2

These rules specify how to interpret different kinds of communication. We learn what counts as respect (paying attention), friendliness (smiles or smiley emoticons in online communication), affection (kisses, hugs), and professionalism (punctuality, competence).

A) intuitive
B) constitutive
C) comparative
D) regulative
E) constructive

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Devin is surprised when his friend burps and belches after their dinner together. Devin says, "Burping and Belching is so rude." Devin's perception of his friend's behavior is based on a(n) ____ rule.

A) intuitive
B) constitutive
C) comparative
D) regulative
E) constructive

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a regulative rule of interpersonal communication?

A) You should not speak when others are speaking.
B) Don't speak with your mouth full.
C) Only speak when called upon.
D) Speaking is a way to show you care about issues.
E) When the other person pauses, it's your turn to speak.

Question 5

In some face-to-face business meetings, employees are typically instructed to raise their hands if they would like to make a point. This requirement is a(n) ____ rule.

A) intuitive
B) constitutive
C) comparative
D) regulative
E) constructive

Question 6

The five symbolic abilities described in your textbook are.

A) I, Me, We, She, and He
B) clarification, understanding, restructuring, continuity, and closure
C) definition, punctuation, interpretation, subjectivity, and self-concept
D) definition, evaluation, organization, hypothetical thought, self-reflection
E) circular, rectangular, oval, triangular, and octagonal

Question 7

"When you said my idea was stupid, I felt hurt" is an example of ____ language.

A) I
B) You
C) We
D) They
E) Me

Question 8

Gerda is really upset and she feels like throwing a temper tantrum, even though she's twenty years old. Disregarding the social inappropriateness of her behavior, Gerda beats a door and then kicks it while in a public area. In this instance, Gerda's behavior was motivated by which aspect of herself?

A) Me
B) I
C) symbolic self
D) true self
E) affective self

Question 9

Which is the most abstract term in the following examples?

A) Interpersonal Communication: Everyday Encounters
B) textbook
C) reading matter
D) literature
E) book

Question 10

The wife nags at her husband because he constantly withdraws from her. The husband withdraws, because he feels that his wife is nagging all the time. The difference between how the husband and wife see their communication behaviors is due to differences in:

A) abstraction.
B) punctuation.
C) regulative rules.
D) constitutive rules.
E) ambiguity.

Question 11

A cornerstone of effective interpersonal communication skills is.

A) ensuring that what we say is clearly heard by the listener
B) respecting what others say about what they feel and think
C) making certain to abide by the rules of all speech communities
D) assuming an understanding of how others feel and think
E) clearly telling others when their feelings are unacceptable or inappropriate

Question 12

An example of these rules is when we understand that we can wear jeans and T-shirts to class, but that different clothes are generally appropriate in our workplaces.

A) intuitive
B) constitutive
C) comparative
D) regulative
E) constructive

Question 13

According to Mead, because of the ____ we can set goals for becoming the person we want to be.

A) Me
B) I
C) symbolic self
D) true self
E) affective self

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT a constitutive rule of communication?

A) not turning off a cell phone before class starts is rude
B) using ALL CAPS in e-mails comes across as "shouting"
C) business email must be answered within 24 hours
D) speaking on a cell phone during a movie is inconsiderate
E) wearing a suit is essential to demonstrating professionalism

Question 15

The theory of linguistic determinism states.

A) language determines who we associate with
B) language determines what we can perceive and think
C) we are predestined to speak a certain language
D) the rules of language are clearly defined across situations
E) linguists are the only ones who can develop language

Question 16

In general, masculine-gender speech communities follow this communication rule:

A) Use talk cooperatively.
B) Be expressive.
C) Include others in conversations.
D) Use talk to accomplish practical goals.
E) Show caring through speaking.

Question 17

"One day, I won't have to worry about being single. One day, I'll be married." These statements illustrate how symbols allow for:

A) arbitrary thought.
B) loaded language.
C) hypothetical thought.
D) symbolic organization.
E) symbolic evaluation.

Question 18

These rules specify when, how, where, and with whom to talk about certain things.

A) intuitive
B) constitutive
C) comparative
D) regulative
E) constructive

Question 19

The French word "rue" and the American word "road" mean the same thing in their respective cultures. These different symbols used for the same thing remind us that language is:

A) abstract.
B) ambiguous.
C) arbitrary.
D) inherent.
E) objective.

Question 20

Professor X assigns a paper in which students are to demonstrate "conceptual understanding by applying concepts to the real world." Professor X is surprised when many of the papers are extended examples of personal thought instead of being analyses of observations of society. The difference between what Professor X's words meant to the students and what the words meant to her/him reflects the fact that language is:

A) arbitrary.
B) ambiguous.
C) abstract.
D) inherent.
E) objective.

Question 21

Some people feel awkward when they first start using this language.

A) I
B) You
C) We
D) They
E) Me

Question 22

Symbols are neutral descriptions of phenomena.

Question 23

Interaction punctuation can be objectively defined.

Question 24

____ language is more descriptive than you language.

A) I
B) You
C) We
D) They
E) Me

Question 25

Qualities of symbols include all of the following except:

A) arbitrariness
B) ambiguity
C) abstraction
D) attribution
E) both arbitrariness and abstraction

Question 26

____ language may be acceptable or even appreciated when it conveys praise of another.

A) I
B) You
C) We
D) They
E) Me

Question 27

____ language provides concrete descriptions of behaviors we dislike without directly blaming the other person for how we feel.

A) I
B) You
C) We
D) They
E) Me

Question 28

Language is a primary tool that social movements use to change cultural life and meanings.

Question 29

According to Judi Miller (1993), children begin to understand and follow communication rules as early as 1 to 2 years of age.

Question 30

____ language is more honest.

A) I
B) You
C) We
D) They
E) Me

Question 31

We follow communication rules even when we are not consciously aware of them.

Question 32

Speech communities are not necessarily defined by geographic locations and boundaries.

Question 33

To take responsibility for your own feelings, rely on ____ language.

A) I
B) You
C) We
D) They
E) Me

Question 34

Using ____ language allows you to own your own feelings while explaining to others how you interpret their behaviors.

A) I
B) You
C) We
D) They
E) Me

Question 35

As our symbols become increasingly abstract, the potential for confusion decreases.

Question 36

The I and ME aspects of self are opposing forces.

Question 37

____ language tends to be accusatory and abstract.

A) I
B) You
C) We
D) They
E) Me

Question 38

According to your text, misunderstanding is less likely when we are conscious of

A) our I language
B) our you language
C) levels of abstraction
D) speech community
E) punctuation

Question 39

All of the following are five ways that symbolic abilities affect our lives except:

A) Definition
B) Evaluation
C) Organization
D) Self-Reflection
E) Self-Monitoring

Question 40

Saying, "I've had a similar experience," is a way to respect others' experiences.

Question 41

In Chapter 3 on perception and communication, the author stated that there is no intrinsic meaning in phenomena but that humans actively construct meanings and attach values. In Chapter 4, the author argued that language is powerful and that values inherent in the words we use shape our perceptions and those of others. Do these two statements contradict one another? Craft your answer in relation to the notions of hate speech and loaded language. (Be sure to distinguish between these two notions in your answer and provide concrete examples to support your point).

Question 42

What is the Whorf-Sapir View of language?

Question 43

Research shows that we are more likely to recall behaviors that are consistent with our labels for people than behaviors that are inconsistent.

Question 44

A common instance of conflicting punctuation is the demand-withdraw pattern.

Question 45

Why is it important that we don't have to be aware of communication rules to follow them?

Question 46

A study by Victoria DeFrancisco (1991) revealed a clear pattern between spouses, in which husbands interrupted wives and were unresponsive to topics wives initiated. Both husbands and wives were unaware of the rules, but their communication nonetheless sustained the pattern.

Question 47

The author of your text argues that language is arbitrary, ambiguous, and abstract. Explain each of these terms and their implications for our communication with others.

Question 48

The informal style of writing common in e-mail, text messages, and social network postings is beginning to affect writing in more formal contexts.

Question 49

Meiko is not very good at communicating. How can you help her become a better verbal communicator?

Question 50

Describe the genesis of feminine and masculine speech communities and explain the kinds of rules for communicating that each speech community instills in its members.

Question 51

For the most part, we're not conscious of the rules that guide how, when, where, and with whom we communicate about various things.

Question 52

What are constitutive rules? How do they differ from regulative rules? Also, be sure to give an example?

Question 53

Although words don't mean exactly the same thing to everyone, within a culture many symbols have an agreed-upon range of meanings.

Question 54

Regulative rules do not vary across cultures and social groups, so what is acceptable in one context may be regarded as inappropriate elsewhere.

Question 55

Define static evaluation and explain what Chapter 4 suggested as a method of avoiding static evaluation in our thinking. Provide a concrete example of the method in a real-life situation.

Question 56

Communication does not reflect cultural values and perspectives.

Question 57

Cultural understandings of other sexual activities have been similarly reformed by the coining of terms such as sexual harassment and marital rape, both of which characterize activities previously perceived as acceptable.

Question 58

Couple counselor Aaron Beck (1988) reports that overly general language distorts how partners think about a relationship.

Question 59

Your textbook states that respecting what others say about what they feel is a cornerstone of effective interpersonal communication. Describe some strategies for respecting what others say and feel.

Question 60

Constitutive rules specify how to interpret different kinds of communication. We learn what counts as respect (paying attention), friendliness (smiles or smiley emoticons in online communication), affection (kisses, hugs), and professionalism (punctuality, competence).

Question 61

Give an example of punctuation and explain how punctuation shapes meaning.