Review Questions
Chapter 4: Review Questions
These questions are designed to help you understand this chapter’s concepts and express your understanding in your own words. For answers to these questions, please refer to Appendix B: Review Questions via the link below.
- Define the three fundamental characteristics of language.
- Language shapes attitudes through at least four methods of use. Cite a “for instance” example to accompany the four methods.
- Identify four types of “powerless” language.
- Identify specific examples of language that often cause misunderstandings and—citing personal experience, current or historical events, etc.—explain why each is problematic.
- Create four compare/contrast examples of the way language is used to accept or reject responsibility.
- List three common misconceptions about gender and language.
- Complete the Self-Assessment chart titled “Your Use of Language” on page 122. Be honest about yourself. What did you discover from your responses?
Chapter 4: Answers to Review Questions
Your answers should include the following points:
- Language is (1) symbolic and (2)rule-governed, but (3) its meaning resides in people, not words.
- See the examples cited in the text regarding names, credibility, status, sexism, and racism.
- Table 4-1 provides a number of examples that include hedges, hesitations, tag questions, and disclaimers.
- While cultural and cocultural differences do exist, causing statements to be misunderstood, too often the sender is either not precise enough or is deliberately vague. Review the section in Chapter 4 dealing with “Troublesome Language.”
- The four linguistic acrobatic tricks used to accept and/or reject responsibility are detailed in Chapter 4.
- Misconceptions include the following: Women talk more than men. Hormones determine gendered communication styles. Men are from Mars, and women from Venus.
- There is no right or wrong on the Self-Assessment rubric. It is designed to enlighten and educate.