Question 1

In colleges and universities there are many different disciplinary language communities. When a professor from one discipline uses the same technical term as a professor from another discipline, it can be confusing to undergraduates who may not realize that the same word may mean different things in those two different academic language communities. This is why making a correct interpretation of what each professor means requires that the students learn ________.

Accepted Answer

The sentence mentions that technical terms can have different meanings in different disciplinary language communities. Therefore, students need to learn how those terms are used in each community in order to make correct interpretations.

Question 2

George argued that the film Jurassic World did not deserve to be nominated for any science fiction awards because it was not "authentic sci-fi." George's argument depends on stipulating that the boundary of the concept "science fiction" does not include or apply to that film. To do this George uses which of the following devices?

Accepted Answer

George's argument relies on a "donkey cart word," which is a term used to stipulate the meaning of a concept in a specific way for the purpose of an argument, rather than relying on established definitions or external authorities.

Question 3

Simpson wanted to have a face-to-face conversation with the professor about the problems he was having in class. But instead he ended up texting "this is a hard course" to the professor. Because of the shift to written communication, Simpson can expect which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Written communication, such as texting, lacks the opportunity for body language and other nonverbal cues, which can lead to misunderstandings. While Simpson may have greater clarity and precision with his message, there is still a greater risk of miscommunication when relying solely on written communication.

Question 4

Professor Wilson tells his students that only the most important concepts from the chapter will be on the next test. Student A and student B have different ideas about just which concepts are the most important. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Professor Wilson tells his students that only...

Question 5

Suppose you are talking to a friend and you make a gesture that the friend does not understand. So the friend asks you what you are intending to communicate by that. In this kind of a situation your friend is ________.

Accepted Answer

The friend is using an interpretive question to try to understand the meaning behind the gesture. They are not trying to analyze how to replicate the gesture, make an inference, or express disapproval.

Question 6

What is the "first rule of fair-minded interpretation"?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the "first rule of fair-minded...

Question 7

The example in the text about the word person and the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that corporations are persons reinforces the idea that ________.

Accepted Answer

The example highlights how the meaning of a word can have significant legal and societal implications. It demonstrates that the interpretation of language is crucial, and that the meaning of words does matter.

Question 8

Which critical thinking skill, along with the critical thinking habit of judiciousness, is the primary skill for determining the meaning and significance of what is being communicated?

Accepted Answer

Interpretation is the primary critical thinking skill for determining the meaning and significance of what is being communicated, as it involves analyzing information to make sense of it and identify its relevant implications. Judiciousness, or the habit of being cautious and careful in making judgments, also plays a crucial role in this process, as it helps to ensure that interpretations are based on accurate and relevant evidence, rather than personal biases or assumptions. While analysis, evaluation, explanation, and inference are also important critical thinking skills, they are not the primary skills for determining meaning and significance in communication.

Question 9

Saying that a term or expression is problematically vague means that the word or expression ________.

Accepted Answer

A term or expression being problematically vague means that it has unclear boundaries in a given context and purpose, making it difficult to define or understand. It does not necessarily mean that it is difficult to read, inappropriate to use, or has multiple meanings.

Question 10

Professor Smith informed the students of her intention to be a "fair" teacher. One student thought she meant that her approach to grading was going to be objective and just. Another student thought that the professor meant that she had quite modest aspirations for the quality of her teaching efforts. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The situation described involves ambiguity, which occurs when a message can be interpreted in multiple ways. In this case, the professor's statement could be interpreted as either referring to her grading approach or her teaching quality, leading to confusion and misunderstanding.

Question 11

Saying that a term or expression is problematically ambiguous means that the word or expression ________.

Accepted Answer

The term "problematically ambiguous" means that the word or expression has more than one meaning for a given context and purpose.

Question 12

James is in the process of purchasing a new home. He is going back and forth with the sellers over the one issue of the selling price. Neither James nor the sellers want to compromise. Jim thinks the sellers are asking too much. The sellers think Jim is not a serious buyer. Jim and the sellers are engaging in ________.

Accepted Answer

Jim and the sellers are engaging in positional negotiation, where each party is taking a fixed position and unwilling to make concessions. This type of negotiation often leads to a stalemate and can be detrimental to reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.

Question 13

The reason for using the image of both parties to the negotiation sitting on the same side of the table is to illustrate that interest-based negotiation ________.

Accepted Answer

The image of both parties sitting on the same side of the table suggests that interest-based negotiation starts with both parties trying to identify the interests they are trying to achieve. This approach is based on mutual understanding and exploration of possible solutions that satisfy each party's interests, rather than starting from opposite bargaining positions. This approach can lead to more productive and collaborative negotiations, minimizing animosity and hard feelings. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 14

Almost every word in the dictionary has more than one meaning. Why then do we not become confused constantly by this ambiguity? The multiple meanings of most of the words we use do not confuse us because ________.

Accepted Answer

Our ability to use context and purpose to pick out the speaker's intended meaning allows us to understand the correct definition of a word in most situations, despite its potential multiple meanings. The other options do not accurately explain why we are not constantly confused by the ambiguity of language.

Question 15

When the TV sports announcer said that 2015 marked the first time that there was a "real college football champion," the donkey cart word real was being used in order to ________.

Accepted Answer

The use of the word "real" implies that previous national #1 teams were not legitimate champions, which suggests the announcer is twisting the meaning of "college football champion" to exclude them.

Question 16

The book uses the example about "No animals are allowed in the airport terminal except assistance animals" to illustrate the point that ________.

Accepted Answer

The example is used to show that sometimes, even with clear context and purpose, questions may still arise and may not be resolved easily. It shows that rules and regulations can sometimes be complex and require further clarification.

Question 17

Explain why written communication is generally a "poor messenger" as compared to face-to-face conversation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain why written communication is generally a...

Question 18

Jerome asks his colleague the following questions: "Who said that? Where were they when they said it? To whom did they say it?" What is Jerome trying to do?

Accepted Answer

Jerome is trying to establish context for the statement by asking questions about the speaker, the location, and the audience. This is important in understanding the meaning and significance of the statement.

Question 19

What is one reliable way to identify different language communities?

Accepted Answer

Attending to how language communities use particular words, symbols, and expressions is a reliable way to identify them. Language is a fundamental symbol system that people use to create and communicate meaning, and different communities may use different words, slang, or expressions to convey their ideas.

Question 20

Seeking to form an accurate interpretation of a speaker's words, images, gestures, poem, report, and so on, what questions can a person use to discover the speaker's purpose?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Seeking to form an accurate interpretation of...

Quiz 4: Clarify Ideas and Concepts