Question 1

While Marcus has no idea who is in charge of the company, he is sure that the chairman will be fair and he will also see Marcus as a possible candidate for the job. Marcus's thinking demonstrates the idea of _____ language.

Accepted Answer

Marcus uses generic language as he refers to the chairman without specifying or knowing their gender, age or any other specific traits.

Question 2

Which of the following would be considered a supportive response?

Accepted Answer

A supportive response involves describing what the speaker is experiencing or feeling. Providing evaluation or being rigid may come across as judgmental or dismissive, while detachment may make the speaker feel ignored.

Question 3

Gregory thought the women who moved in next door probably "wore the pants in the family." This was his subtle way of saying he thought they were lesbians. His use of words is an example of _____ language.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Gregory thought the women who moved in...

Question 4

Pam and Terry were discussing their current relationship. Pam digressed from the current situation and began to talk about what Terry had done in the past to hurt her feelings. This behavior is referred to as _____.

Accepted Answer

Gunny-sacking refers to bringing up past grievances or issues in a current discussion or argument, often as a way to "store them up" and use them later as ammunition.

Question 5

Kendra works in a high-technology field and when talking to friends outside of work, she often throws in acronyms from her job that no one else understands. These acronyms are an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

Bafflegab refers to confusing or unintelligible jargon, often used to impress or confuse others, which fits the use of acronyms that others do not understand.

Question 6

Rachel urged her Aunt Sandy to donate a large sum of money to a local club where Rachel was a member, by saying, "The club would be able to help more people in the community." Rachel knew that if she could bring in the most donations she would win an all-expenses-paid trip to California. Rachel's communication was _____.

Accepted Answer

Rachel's communication was manipulative because she was urging her aunt to donate a large sum of money to the club for her own personal gain (winning a trip to California) rather than genuinely wanting to help the community.

Question 7

Which of the following exemplifies the concept of polarization?

Accepted Answer

Polarization refers to the division of a group into opposing sides or beliefs. Kevin's statement creating a binary opposition ("with me" or "against me") exemplifies polarization.

Question 8

In response to his son's request, Tom said, "I don't care what you want! You'll do what I tell you to do because I am your father!" How would you most accurately categorize this response?

Accepted Answer

Tom's response displays a hierarchy where he sees himself as superior to his son. He is not interested in an equal discussion or negotiation but rather asserts his authority as a father.

Question 9

Using the terms "husband and wife" rather than "partner" demonstrates _____.

Accepted Answer

Using the terms "husband and wife" assumes a binary, heterosexual relationship which can be exclusionary and demonstrates a heterosexist bias. It ignores the fact that many people are in same-sex relationships, non-binary or gender non-conforming.

Question 10

Kevin uses words like "councilman and mailman" even though he knows not everyone in these jobs is a man. Kevin is using _____ language.

Accepted Answer

Kevin is using generic language, which refers to words that are traditionally masculine but can include people of any gender.

Question 11

Maddie told Hattie during their discussion on spirituality that Hattie just didn't "get it," which made Hattie feel disrespected and she became a bit hostile. Maddie's comment is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

Maddie's comment is an example of trigger words, as it provoked a strong emotional reaction from Hattie, making her feel disrespected and hostile.

Question 12

Samuel calls elderly people, "old geezers." This term demonstrates biased language based on ___.

Accepted Answer

The term "old geezers" is a derogatory term used to describe elderly people based on their age, indicating bias against older individuals.

Question 13

Greg has just started his new job and is feeling overwhelmed with projects that are coming due in a short time. He is talking with Julia, his friend and coworker. Julia responds by relating the frustration and confusion she felt when she started the job and offers to help Greg get back on track with his projects. Julia's understanding of how he felt is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

Julia's ability to relate to Greg's feelings and offer help indicates empathy, or the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Neutrality refers to being impartial and unbiased, manipulation refers to attempting to control or influence someone, and apathy refers to a lack of emotional response.

Question 14

Which of the following demonstrates the use of a gender-neutral term?

Accepted Answer

The use of "firefighters" instead of "firemen" is a gender-neutral term.

Question 15

By using _____ language, a speaker becomes more other oriented, which will have a positive effect on his or her relationships.

Accepted Answer

Inclusive language includes everyone and seeks to avoid excluding any particular group. This demonstrates sensitivity and respect towards others, which can improve relationships.

Question 16

Fred tells inappropriate jokes that make fun of people who are gay or lesbian. What type of language is Fred using?

Accepted Answer

Fred is using language that is derogatory and demeaning towards people who are gay or lesbian, which is commonly known as homophobic language.

Question 17

When she is angry with Robert, Alice tends to call him a "jerk," as she storms out of the room. She knows this term gets a response from Robert every time she uses it. The term "jerk" is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

A trigger word is a term that elicits a strong emotional response in someone, and in this case, Alice knows that calling Robert a "jerk" will get a response from him.

Question 18

Whenever Mason wanted to talk about something serious with his girlfriend, she refused and told him to "relax." This made him angry as he felt like she was telling him his thoughts weren't worthy. In this instance, "relax" is a _____ word.

Accepted Answer

"Relax" is a trigger word as it elicits a negative emotional response from Mason. He perceives it as dismissive and invalidating of his thoughts and feelings.

Question 19

Thomas's mother told him he was either going to love high school or he was going to hate it. The extremes in her language are an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

The extremes in language used by Thomas's mother are an example of polarization, which means presenting things in black-and-white terms with no shades of gray or subtleties.

Question 20

At the beginning of the presentation, Trevor said, "Ladies, do you have problems getting your boyfriend to watch something other than football?" What type of language is Trevor using?

Accepted Answer

Trevor's statement assumes that all women have boyfriends and that they are interested in getting them to watch something other than football, which reflects heterosexist language by assuming heterosexual relationships as the norm.

Quiz 3: Understanding Verbal Messages