Question 1

Gregorio was describing the noises that hens make at his part-time job at the egg farm.He used the word "cackle" as part of his description,an example of __________.

Accepted Answer

"Cackle" is an example of onomatopoeia because it is a word that imitates the sound of the noise that hens make.

Question 2

Dad says to Junior,"Hand me the screwdriver." Junior responds with,"Which kind,a flat-head or Phillips?" Which language barrier is Junior trying to avoid?

Accepted Answer

Junior is trying to avoid vagueness by clarifying which type of screwdriver is needed.

Question 3

To Joseph,a "submarine" is a sandwich.To Alfonse,a "submarine" is a submersible ship.The different meanings Joseph and Alfonse apply to the word "submarine" reflect the idea that __________.

Accepted Answer

Meanings are subjective and are constructed by individuals based on their experiences, knowledge, and context. This is why Joseph and Alfonse have different interpretations of "submarine."

Question 4

When someone uses the word dog and you understand the word to mean "a mangy,dirty,and disgusting animal,like the one that bit me when I was five years old," which level of meaning are you likely applying?

Accepted Answer

The connotative meaning of a word involves the emotions, experiences, and associations that people have with it. In this case, the person's negative experience with a dog in the past has influenced their understanding and perception of the word "dog.”

Question 5

Some people call the late Yasser Arafat a "terrorist," both fearing and reviling him.Some people call him a "freedom fighter," both loving and praising him.The use of these words to describe or evaluate Arafat reflect the power of words to __________.

Accepted Answer

The use of words to describe or evaluate Arafat reflects the power of words to create perceptions. The specific words used to refer to Arafat can shape how people view him and his actions, and can contribute to different interpretations and understandings of his legacy.

Question 6

According to linguist Deborah Tannen,gender plays a significant role in how we interpret verbal messages.For example,women tend to interpret a message based on __________.

Accepted Answer

According to Deborah Tannen, women tend to interpret messages based on how personally supportive the message is perceived to be. They pay attention to the emotional content and underlying social relationships in the communication, which can influence their interpretation of the message. This is in contrast to men, who tend to focus more on the content and logical structure of the message.

Question 7

The __________ level of meaning conveys the feelings and subjective associations a person has for a symbol.

Accepted Answer

The connotative level of meaning deals with the emotional and personal associations that people have with a symbol, word, or idea. This level of meaning is subjective and can vary among individuals. The concrete level deals with literal or physical attributes of a symbol, while the denotative level deals with its dictionary definition. The abstract level deals with conceptual meanings and ideas.

Question 8

Jeannie heard her communication professor use a word that she had not heard before and determined it would be a good idea to find out what the word meant.She consulted two dictionaries to be sure she had the literal meaning of the word.Which type of meaning was Jeannie looking for?

Accepted Answer

Jeannie was looking for the denotative meaning of the word, which refers to the literal or dictionary definition of the word.

Question 9

What is a general characteristic of our Facebook posts,according to research?

Accepted Answer

According to research, people generally communicate more positive emotions in their Facebook posts.

Question 10

What idea suggests that language shapes our thoughts and culture,and our culture and thoughts affect the language we use to describe the world?

Accepted Answer

The idea that language shapes our thoughts and culture, and our culture and thoughts affect the language we use to describe the world is known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis. This hypothesis proposes that the language we speak influences the way we think and perceive the world around us. It suggests that our linguistic categories and structures shape our cognitive processes, ultimately shaping our culture and worldview. This idea is also commonly referred to as linguistic relativity or linguistic determinism. The ladder of abstraction, on the other hand, is a framework for analyzing and categorizing language based on levels of generality and specificity.

Question 11

A confusion of one word or phrase for another that sounds similar to it is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

A malapropism is a confusion of one word or phrase for another that sounds similar to it. It often results in a humorous or nonsensical statement. For example, saying "I am not prone to equality" instead of "I am not prone to anxiety" is a malapropism.

Question 12

Joe tells his wife,Serafina,that he thinks they should "redo" their bathroom as their next home improvement project.Serafina reacts strongly to this suggestion,complaining that,"We don't have enough money to do that!" Serafina thought "redo" the bathroom meant to replace the shower,toilet,and sink and to re-tile the floors and paint the walls.She was relieved when Joe explained that what he meant by "redo" the bathroom was just to paint the walls and have the floors refinished.The language barrier Joe and Serafina experienced is called __________.

Accepted Answer

The language barrier experienced by Joe and Serafina is called bypassing. They were using the same word but meant different things by it, leading to miscommunication and misunderstanding.

Question 13

According to the model developed by Ogden and Richards,what are the things represented by symbols called?

Accepted Answer

According to the model developed by Ogden and Richards, symbols represent referents or the things they refer to. Thoughts and vocalizations are not explicitly mentioned in this model, and while words are important as symbols, they are not the referents themselves.

Question 14

Your friend approaches you and says,"Try your best not to picture a fat panda bear." This,of course,causes you to imagine a fat panda bear.Which power of words does this demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

This demonstrates the power of words to influence thoughts. The friend's statement prompted the person to imagine a specific image in their mind, even though they were asked not to. This shows how words can plant ideas and images in our thoughts.

Question 15

Celia uses __________ as she listens to her partner by occasionally interjecting with responses such as "Oh,I see" and "Uh-huh" to show she is interested.

Accepted Answer

Backchannel talk refers to the responses or utterances an individual makes while listening to another person to convey attention and interest, without interrupting the speaker. Examples of backchannel talk include "uh-huh," "I see," and "yes." Therefore, Celia is using backchannel talk as she listens to her partner.

Question 16

According to researcher John Seiter,how might the use of demeaning terms affect how those persons are perceived?

Accepted Answer

The use of demeaning terms is likely to create a negative perception of the person being targeted. Such terms are often seen as disrespectful, hurtful or offensive, and are likely to make the target feel disrespected or unwelcome. This can lead to a lack of trust or confidence in the person using such language, and may damage relationships or professional reputations. Therefore, it is important to avoid using derogatory or demeaning terms when talking about or referring to others.

Question 17

After her parents tell her she can't go to the concert on Tuesday,Gael says,"You never let me do anything!" Since Gael's parents allow her to stay out late each weekend,her reaction seems to exhibit the barrier of __________.

Accepted Answer

Gael's reaction is an example of allness, which occurs when we make broad, sweeping statements without taking into account specific examples or contexts. Gael's parents have allowed her to stay out late each weekend, indicating that they do allow her to do things, but Gael's reaction ignores this and paints her parents as always restricting her.

Question 18

A person's name generally has no logical connection with the actual person,just as the word "cow" does not look like a cow or sound like a cow.According to American linguist Charles Hockett,these examples illustrate how the connection between a word and what it represents is __________.

Accepted Answer

The word "arbitrary" means "based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system." In this context, it means that there is no inherent connection between a word and what it represents; the connection is arbitrary or random. This is the best choice because it accurately reflects the point made in the passage about the connection between a person's name and the actual person, as well as the comparison to the word "cow." The other answer choices are not as accurate or relevant.

Question 19

What seeks to explain how societies are bound or linked together through their use of symbols?

Accepted Answer

Symbolic interaction theory seeks to explain the ways societies are bound or linked together through their use of symbols.

Question 20

Indexing your comments and remarks is a way to avoid which word barrier?

Accepted Answer

Indexing is a communication skill used to avoid the "allness" barrier, which is the tendency to make sweeping generalizations about a person or group based on limited information. It involves acknowledging that individuals may have unique experiences, perspectives, and characteristics that influence their behavior and beliefs, rather than assuming that they are all the same. The other options (A, C, D) are not related to indexing specifically.

Quiz 6: Verbal Communication Skills