Question 1

In the textbook example of the potential multiple meanings of the symbol "table," what principle of language is being illustrated?

Accepted Answer

The principle being illustrated is that language is symbolic, as the word "table" can represent different objects or concepts depending on the context, showing that words are symbols with multiple meanings.

Question 2

Your manager is not happy with the symbol "chairman" and changes it to "chair." The manager is demonstrating that language

Accepted Answer

The manager is demonstrating that language can be gender-inclusive by changing "chairman" to "chair," which removes the gender-specific term and promotes inclusivity.

Question 3

Men's language style has been stereotypically associated with all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Men's language style has not traditionally been associated with wordiness. Instead, it has been associated with directness, clarity, conciseness, and being informative.

Question 4

Connotative meaning when compared to denotative meaning is

Accepted Answer

Connotative meaning refers to the emotions and associations connected to a word, often used in personal and emotional contexts, unlike denotative meaning which is the literal definition found in dictionaries.

Question 5

According to the cooperative principle,being relevant often means speakers need to

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the cooperative principle,being relevant often...

Question 6

Symbols tend to derive their meaning from people and their experience.This illustrates what type of meaning?

Accepted Answer

Connotative meaning is the type of meaning that is derived from people's experiences and emotions associated with a symbol.

Question 7

If you and your friend observe a woman order a drink and he says to you,"What a dog" and you understand him to mean she is not very attractive,what type of meaning are you applying?

Accepted Answer

The meaning being applied is connotative because the word "dog" is being used to refer to a person's attractiveness, which is not the literal definition of the word.

Question 8

According to research by Grice,being informative during interpersonal conversations requires the speaker to do all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Grice's research focuses on the cooperative principle in conversation, which includes being informative, truthful, relevant, and clear. However, the use of different dialects is not directly related to being informative or cooperative in conversations.

Question 9

Misunderstanding occurs frequently online due to the lack of

Accepted Answer

Nonverbal cues, such as tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language, provide important context and meaning to communication. Without them, it is easier for messages to be misinterpreted or misunderstood.

Question 10

In comparing gender and culture and their impact on verbal communication we can conclude

Accepted Answer

The answer of In comparing gender and culture and their...

Question 11

Women's language style has been stereotypically associated with all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Women's language style has been stereotypically associated with politeness, indirectness and tentativeness, flowery adjectives, and wordiness. However, it has not been associated with lacking clarity. In fact, studies have shown that women's language style is just as clear and concise as men's language style.

Question 12

What cooperative verbal communication strategy could Mark use instead of screaming,"You are such an idiot" when he sees his friend do something he doesn't like?

Accepted Answer

Option A uses "I" language and focuses on Mark's concern rather than attacking his friend's behavior or intelligence. It is a more cooperative and respectful way of communicating.

Question 13

Sarah has a short temper and exclaims,"You are such a moron" to her younger brother.What strategy of cooperative verbal communication is she violating?

Accepted Answer

Sarah's statement is not clear and does not own her thoughts and feelings. It is an attack on her brother's intelligence rather than a clear expression of her frustration with him.

Question 14

If you and a friend are discussing the nuances of an abstract word such as white and she types in the word on dictionary.com only to find a myriad of different definitions,what type of meaning is she illustrating?

Accepted Answer

Denotative meaning refers to the literal, dictionary definition of a word, which is what is found on dictionary.com.

Question 15

According to the text,which of the following is considered to be a symbol?

Accepted Answer

Words are considered symbols because they represent ideas, objects, or concepts and convey meaning.

Question 16

If someone from the north said they were going to the shore,while someone from the south said they were going to the beach,what characteristic of language is being illustrated?

Accepted Answer

The difference in terminology used (shore vs. beach) is an example of dialect, which refers to the variation of language used by different groups of people in different regions or social groups.

Question 17

Any language has its own rules,such as spelling,grammar,and the way to pronounce words.This demonstrates what language feature?

Accepted Answer

Constitutive rules define the basic structure and organization of a language, including its spelling, grammar, and pronunciation.

Question 18

Which strategy can be used to achieve cooperative verbal communication?

Accepted Answer

Using "We" language promotes a sense of shared responsibility and encourages cooperation. It reinforces the idea that both parties are working together towards a common goal, rather than placing blame or creating an adversarial dynamic. It can also help to build rapport and establish a sense of unity.

Question 19

Intentional misrepresentation is called

Accepted Answer

Intentional misrepresentation is commonly known as deception, which involves intentionally providing false or misleading information to someone in order to gain an advantage or cause harm.

Question 20

What is considered to be the single most important characteristic of cooperative verbal communication?

Accepted Answer

Honesty is considered the most important characteristic of cooperative verbal communication because it builds trust and ensures clear and effective exchange of information.

Quiz 5: Verbal Communication